Our Values
|
|
Open Door For Teen's, Inc. is dedicated to
carrying out the Biblical precepts as related to the
family. This is the Lord's ministry, entrusted by the
Board of Directors.
|
We Believe the Following:
|
- We believe that all life is created by God,
and that children are a gift from Him. As the
Lord enables us, we endeavor to protect the born and
unborn, believing that all persons have a right to
live.
- We are dedicated to supporting the family,
and believe that marriage is the core of the family
unit. Marriage is sanctioned by God and ordained
for His glory. It is a lifelong commitment, despite
the stresses our world puts on it.
- We believe in the Lord's mercy and grace for
all persons, regardless of their past
transgressions. The death of Jesus Christ on the
cross is the payment for sins, and trusting in Him,
the only way of forgiveness and eternal life. We
pledge to share this Good News with everyone we
serve.
- Open Door for Teens, Inc. is dedicated to
integrity before the Lord and those we serve. We
commit ourselves to accountability - both
spiritually and financially.
|
History: In the Beginning
|
|
Open Door For Teens, Inc. became a reality in
1990, through a seed planted by the Lord in the hearts
of Paul and Jill Keenon years before.
Paul had worked with troubled Teens in his job and
saw many come to
Christ.
Jill's desire to work with Teens was fueled when she was
a teenager, by a series of books about troubled girls by
John Benton. Paul and Jill had no knowledge of the
others prompting by the Lord to become Foster Parents
and came together with the decision already made. They
were youth leaders at Warrenville Bible Chapel and in a
couple of years they brought in the "fringe kids" from
the neighborhood. This group grew from about nine (9)
to forty (40) kids. The die was cast!
Then in 1983, Paul and Jill became House Parents for Wheaton Youth Outreach, now known as Community
Outreach Ministries. WYO honed their parenting
skills in the seven years they fostered teens in WYO
homes. While the Keenons worked with WYO, they
"Foster-Parented" over one hundred (100) teens.
|
Seems Like Yesterday
|
|
In 1990, WYO changed it's direction of ministry, so
Paul and Jill decided it was time to strike out on their
own. And has it been blessed! Since the inception of
ODFT the Keenons have parented over another one
hundred fifty (150) teens!
|
Supporting Our Foster Parents
|
|
A board was formed and it soon became apparent that,
not only did the Teens need help, but so did the Foster
Parents. They needed relief from the 24/7 pressures of
Foster Care and had their own physical needs as
well. Some just needed help in getting started, so the
Board formed the
Foster Parent
Supplemental Support Program to meet these needs.
And that's where we are today.
For more info you can download the following
documents:
Open Door for Teen's, Inc. Brochure
Open Door for Teen's, Inc. Fact
Sheet
|
