In September 1991 Jill and I set out on a journey that no one could have foreseen except the Lord. Over those years we have seen our three homes, with seven different foster families, minister to over four hundred teens that needed to be delivered from abuse and neglect. The teens came with unspeakable physical damage and psychological trauma, much of which could only be explained by experts who continually had to change their assessments of the damage over years of studying our foster children.

 

Our team has ministered in love, discipline, consistency, and an endless amount of expended energy. We have seen dozens come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus and many grow stronger in their faith. God has blessed! Then He called us to talk with other families who, like ours, had troubled children with parents who needed to have friends come alongside of them in their troubles. We formalized this into "Families Helping Families". Over the years this has begun to be the farthest reaching ministry of all the services we offer, but the least visible. It is similar to the adage that says "Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime"—Author unknown. Our files are stuffed with names of families we have ministered to, empowering them to keep their teens and young children at home, instead of in one of our homes or jail.

 

Part of the problem may have come from the "appearance" that ODFT was not ministering to people with our homes. Let's look at that. Our homes and our staff have been ministering to families in all the homes, but not in the traditional manor ODFT had in the past. Our homes have never been empty! Needy, indigent families have always occupied our homes when we did not have foster parents to foster children in them. The Coloma Pl Home is the one in question; the Morse St. and Glencoe St. homes have always been in full operation as designated. The one exception was when one of our beloved foster parents became sick and his family needed to continue to live in the Morse St. home until he went home to the Lord and they could purchase a home of their own.

 

The Coloma Pl. Home has had an excellent track record until a mishap with one foster parent. As we waited for healing from this mishap several families that had no other place to live, who had multiple toddlers and children of school age, lived in the home. Once we were past the need for these families the configuration of foster care in Illinois had changed. Rather than go into many legal and technical explanations, suffice to say our product was not as viable as it once was.

 

So, Jill and I began to pilot a program for older teens and young adults in our home (not foster care). We have been successful. We then began to move in that direction in the Coloma Pl. Home. As some time went by we found that this living situation was not viable for the new house parents and their biological family. They are in the process of finding their own home. So, we are in the process of retooling from all foster care to foster care with long term transitional housing for young women. This program will probably not serve the category of young women that are being served by other local agencies. We will serve those needing more of a relationship orientation, with love and structure, long term.

 

As a business man I think like this: if my round widget is no longer needed I don't fold up my company I retool to make a square widget that people will buy. That is exactly what we are doing. The need for long term care for older teens and young adults is a viable product and we have been reassured that there is a need in DuPage county for long term care for those that are not capable of living alone and need structure.

 

Now, back to the current problem as to why we are where we are. As the work grew and the need for funding grew I was out of my league. All of us at Open Door have learned to work with hurting people and to be blessed by the personal growth we have witnessed in their lives. But, our attention, and particularly my attention, has been pulled away from a very necessary part of continuing in any ministry, raising the funds to carry out the work. For sixteen years I was successful enough. I felt much like Moses did when five times he was called by God and Moses tried to beg out (Ex 3:11-13). God kept calling him. I kept trying to fund-raise on my own, with the help of some friends. But, I have run out of friends who can continue to give, but I still feel God calling me to speak His word to all who need Him and provide a home to all who need His safety. I no longer feel His calling to beg for money. It may be my own tiredness or just a time for a change.

 

During the last few years I have not ministered to our donors and I have not cultivated new donors or grants as I had in past years. There can be many situations and excuses for not receiving the funding we need but they don't matter. I can't read the financial ups and downs of the economy, but I do know we don't have what we need to continue.

 

We are in crisis and I blame no one but myself. I wear too many hats; Executive Director, counselor to boys and families, youth leader, event organizer, and fundraiser. I lost focus on the fundraising area when the actual work of helping people grew. Also, I have grown a bit weary of the constant struggle to provide for so many people monetarily. We need your help to continue helping families. I have never made an appeal like this before but we need regular donors to give monthly or a large sum annually. Our fundraising gimmicks (Bowl-A-Thon and Golf Marathon) only go so far at providing for our expenses.

 

This year we are $30,000 behind in annual giving compared to last year at this time. In sixteen years we have never missed a payment or payroll and never had to beg for help. This problem exists without the added costs of the new program that will not receive DCFS or DuPage County Juvenile Probation board payments. This is an honest appeal.

 

I go to the post office to our mail box almost every day. Often, I take one of my children or grandchildren with me. They all know what to do. They know that I pray at the mail box and that prayer is that there is enough money in the box for ODFT to continue and if there isn't we know that it is God's money and He will do with it as He wishes. If He wants ODFT to go on then God's people will respond. If there is not enough money then I know we are done and I will get another job. To me it is that simple. God provides one way or the other. I prefer to continue but He may have another plan. You be the judge!

 

First, and for most, anyone who knows Jesus as his or her personal Savior can pray for the needs of Open Door and He will answer. Sign up by sending your e-mail address to me at ODFTinc@ameritech.net or by return mail to PO Box 1244, Wheaton, IL 60189. Or call ODFT at 630 665-7745 and leave your e-mail or snail mail address. (Join the group; we have about 250 adults and 160 teens signed up to pray weekly).

 

Second, send any amount of money you can sacrifice for our needs, a one lump sum emergency gift to get us out of the debt.

 

Third, also sign up for a monthly donation. This can be done by automatic withdrawal monthly (brochure enclosed), or a check monthly (pledge form enclosed).

 

Fourth, Volunteer to contact your friends, your company, and churches on our behalf. Speak to others for ODFT; introduce me (Paul) to people who I can tell about the work of ODFT.

 

Fifth, volunteer to be a "Lady Advocate"! We need women to come along side of one young woman at a time. You would help drive them to appointments, find work, and county services.

 

Sixth, if you are professional like a doctor, dentist, lawyer, auto mechanic or accountant we need you to provide your basic services pro-bono (public good) to our young ladies.

 

Seventh, volunteer to do or provide for home repairs. There are many to do. Time and teens deteriorate homes mercilessly.

 

There are many people to help and several ODFT has turned down in recent weeks. We could not help because of space availability and money. This hurts us to the core. We are here to help and that is what we believe God intends us to do. If you believe in what we are doing, now is the time to give, and if you ever thought about giving big or long term now is the time to sign up.