Steve Estes

December 21, 2009

My goal as I have been writing to you about the staff who work here was to end with writing about one man who plays a vital role in everything that goes on here.  That would be the pastor of the church that we and our boys attend – Steve Estes.  That was my goal.  But it was not our Lord’s.  In His sovereignty, God saw fit to bring Steve home earlier than any of us wanted.  Steve passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in his home Saturday morning, December 19, 2009.  Below is his obituary as found in our local paper this morning.

GRIDLEY — Pastor Steven R. Estes, 53, of 4879E 1250N Road, Gridley, passed away at 9:35 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 19, 2009) at his residence.  His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Salem Church, rural Gridley. Pastor Mark Barlow will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, LeRoy. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Salem Church. Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home, El Paso, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Steve was born Dec. 10, 1956, in Peoria, a son of James M. and Mary K. Forney Estes. He married Jacqueline S. Polson on Aug. 21, 1982, in Bloomington. She survives.  Survivors include his parents, James and Mary Estes of Graymont; two brothers, Timothy J. (Pamela) Estes of Dale City, Va., and Joseph M. Estes of Graymont; one sister-in-law, Jeralyn K. (Kevin) Morefield of Arrowsmith; seven nieces, Jazmine, Maya, Izabella, Lindsey, Raven and Katherine Estes, and Amanda Streenz; and three nephews, Tim, Justin and Jeff Morefield.  He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents; one sister-in-law, Nancy Lynne Polson; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jack and Ruth Polson.

Pastor Estes served at Boynton Mennonite Church, Hopedale, and later at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community as chaplain. He was also interim pastor at Flanagan Mennonite Church and Praireview Mennonite Church, rural Flanagan. He was serving as senior pastor at Salem Church, rural Flanagan, and as chaplain at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community. He authored over 12 books on Mennonite history.  He was a member of the Mennonite Genealogical and Historical Society, Flanagan Ministerial Alliance and Salem Ranch Board.

Steve was a joyful man of God and lived his life according to God’s word. He loved his wife, his family, God’s people and God’s glory. He was an encourager, a teacher, a preacher, and a compassionate, God-glorifying man. His passion for the Lord was deep and love for Jesus was great. Steve Estes will be deeply missed.  Memorial contributions may be directed to Salem Church, Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community or Salem Ranch.

Many things could be said about Steve, and will be said about him in the coming weeks and months, but two things are for sure.  Steve loved Jesus and he wanted you to love Jesus too.  Steve had a joy in his heart that can only come from a relationship with Christ.  And he shared that joy that was in heart with anyone who would listen.

Steve poured his life into everyone around him, because he truly loved people.  When you were with him, it was like you were the only person in the room.  All of his attention was on you, and how he could minister to you in Christ.  Steve exuded Christ.

Steve’s ministry was not limited to the church and local community.  Steve was integral to Salem.  He served on our board of directors.  He led chapel here for our boys on Wednesday afternoon and did the nightly devotion with them on Wednesday as well.  He spoke at every boy’s graduation and sent them off with prayer.  He was my friend.

We will miss you Steve.  You have left big shoes to fill.  But God is faithful and He will provide for us.  We just weren’t ready for you to be gone.

Brent

Ann Travers

December 7, 2009

Perhaps there is no one person who sums up the ministry of Salem better than Ann Travers.  As is the case with many of the Salem staff, Ann wears more than one hat.  To begin with, she is one of our school teachers.  With a focus on Language Arts, art, poetry, current events, and creative writing, Ann ensures our boys maintain the skills needed to communicate effectively.  Many of our students under her tutelage have poems published in yearly editions of poetry books.  She maintains an orderly classroom and plays classical music throughout the day, ensuring a positive learning environment conducive to getting the best out of her students.

But that is not all.  Ann is also our lead horse instructor.  She is the one who teaches the boys, not only how to ride, but also how to groom, the different parts of a horse, proper care of the animals, and the overall welfare of the horses, which are also a big part of Salem.  Her love for these animals is very evident as one watches her train the boys in all aspects of horsemanship.

Additionally, because of the environment she finds herself in as classroom teacher and horse instructor, she also finds herself at times in the role of counselor.  Ann takes a no-nonsense approach with the boys, which is exactly what they need much of the time.  She is the first one to compliment them when they do well, and the first one to correct them when they are not working up to their potential.  Her approach can be like the gentlest of mothers, or with the firmness of a coach as the situation dictates.  But one thing is for certain; Ann loves these boys.  Day after day she pours her heart out to them in an effort to ensure their success once they leave Salem.

Thanks Ann for being part of the Salem team.  Your value here is without measure.  We are glad you have given yourself to minister to these boys.  It is very evident in the lives of our boys that your effort is not returning void.

Brent

Joseph and Elizabeth

November 16, 2009

One of the things we try to do at Salem is to model healthy marriages to our boys.  That is why we utilize a houseparent model.  We have one couple who work two nights a week and all day on Sunday.  With the addition of Joseph and Elizabeth Keen, we are now able to staff six nights a week in our phase 3-4 cottage with a married couple.

Joseph initially came to us in June and has worked as a residential counselor since then.  Elizabeth came on this month and the change has already been most positive.  Although only married for a couple of years, they bring a strong relationship and a desire to please the Lord to the boys at Salem.

Young and energetic, they are able to connect with boys on a personal level, while still maintaining a sense of order in the cottage.  Additionally, they provide a great example of a biblical marriage to the guys.  Our boys are able to see them formulate a plan, work together through an evening routine, resolve problems, and reach decisions in ways that, whether they have this situation at home or not, reinforces how to live life in the context of healthy functioning family system lived for the glory of God.

Additionally, Joseph is a founding pastor of a local church plant in our area and Elizabeth is preparing to go back to school for nursing, so they stay very busy; but never too busy for the needs of our boys.  Thanks Joseph and Elizabeth for being part of the Salem team.  We are very grateful to have you here.

Brent

Adam Godfrey

October 20, 2009

Every organization needs a ‘techie.’  You know the guy.  The one who is up to date on the latest trends concerning the cultural, computer, entertainment, movie, sports, tv, etc. industries.  The one who seems to know what no one else knows regarding what young people are relating to today.  We have one too.  Ours is Adam Godfrey.

Adam is one of the counselors at Salem, has been with us for about a year and a half, and entered a whole new world when he came to Salem.  Adam came to us from Louisville, KY, where there is a little bit of everything, to Flanagan, where there are….cornfields.  He went from an environment where he was dodging sports cars to one where he is dodging tractors.  He traded in lattes for Folgers, and the neighborhood eclectic community for the Wal-Mart 12 miles away.  But we are glad we were able to steal him away from the city.

There are two main things I think of that Adam brings to Salem.  One is his knowledge of culture and the things that make up the world of the average teenage boy.  He can speak the language of today’s youth, which enables him to connect quickly with the boys who come to Salem.  I frequently find myself asking Adam who a certain person is or about a specific music artist that I have heard the boys mention because I don’t have a clue.

But secondly, Adam is able to take that entertainer, show, technological issue, etc, and bring it back to the Gospel.  He is able to help the boys see how the messages that are being put out in today’s culture are or are not in conflict with what is contained in Scripture.  This gives Adam a special audience with our boys, as they see him as ‘the cool guy’ in the midst of us ‘oldtimers.’  He communicates with them on their level, in a God-honoring, Christ-exalting way.  And the boys listen and their lives are changed.

Thanks Adam for being at Salem, for your ministry to the boys, and for helping us stay up to date with the world of our boys.  We are glad you’re here.

Brent

Soccer State Title

October 4, 2009

This past Saturday, our guys competed in the IIAA state soccer tournament.  The boys usually qualify for the state meet in about all the sports we compete in.  And we have won our share of state titles in the past in various sports.  But the soccer state title is something that has eluded us as long as we have been competing.  But Saturday, that changed as our boys finally won the title against the same team that usually eliminates us from competition.

Salem won the first game 3-0.  It was a good team effort against another team that, although who also put in a commendable effort, was out-manned from the beginning by our boys.  Our guys then had about 20 minutes to be ready for the next game.  Game 2 was a revenge match for the boys, playing against a team that gave them their only loss of the season.  After a scoreless first half, the boys got busy and scored three goals and held the other team scoreless to win 3-0 and avenge the loss from earlier in the season.

Once again, they had about 20 minutes to get themselves ready for the championship game against the perennial champion in this sport.  This is a team who we have had a great rivalry with over the last few years.  In fact, we defeated this team in the bottom of the seventh inning this summer to win the softball state.  We started strong, taking a 1-0 lead in the first half, which quickly became 2-0 early in the second half.  The opposing team did not give up though, scoring twice in the last few minutes of the game to send it to overtime.

One minute into the three-minute overtime, we scored to take a 3-2 lead, and were able to hang on for the last two minutes to claim the title.  It was a very exciting way to end a great day.  Congratulations to Corbin, Alex, Buck, Nick, Logan, Juan, Ronny, David, Jon, Ben, and Antonio.  You guys were great, you deserved to win, and you represented Salem well both in attitude and participation.

Brent

Graduating Chasen

September 16, 2009

Once again, we had the opportunity to graduate one of our boys last week.  Chasen finished the program and went home for good after being here for 21 months, or as his mother put it at his graduation, 649 days.  It was a great celebration and an opportunity to send a young man off with great fanfare and a lot fun.

Chasen was not unlike many of the boys who come here.  Trouble at home, trouble in school, and by his own admission very lazy.  Much of Chasen’s progress at Salem seemed to have been the classic two steps forward and one step back.  But Chasen is also a very determined young man who never gave up.  He worked very hard and has some great dreams of what he would like to accomplish in the future.

There are many things that set Chasen apart, but let me mention two.  One was his smile.  Chasen was told more than once that he had a smile that would get him into and out of much trouble throughout his life.  You cannot help but smile yourself, when no matter what the situation, Chasen would interject some humor, smile and laugh, and things would be better.  We will miss his smile greatly.

The other thing was his humor.  Chasen is one of those kids who can get away with saying things no one else can say.  I am not sure how that works, but he has it down to a science.  During his time here, he frequently had some well-timed humor to make a bad situation bearable.

But one significant thing we take away from Chasen being here, is just how hard it is on the parents.  While we talked about his time here as ‘being a long time,’ or ‘months,’ his mother reminded us—649 days.  To her it was an eternity.  Every day was one day her son was not with her.  And it reminded us of the enormous task and privilege we have, and responsibility we carry, in ministering to these boys.

Chasen, you are an awesome kid and you will accomplish much in your life.  And Kim, thank you for sharing him with us and calling to mind our mission.  We will miss you both.

Brent

Kevin Lindley

September 4, 2009

If you live on a horse ranch, a vital person to have is a cowboy.  Without someone who knows about horses, and how to care for them and break them so they can be ridden, it would not do much good to have them.  At Salem, we have one of the best in Kevin Lindley.

Kevin runs the barn.  He is responsible for all things horse related.  He ensures they have food and bedding on hand.  He coordinates the veterinary care the horses need.  He breaks them so that we have lesson horses for the boys.  He is in charge of Friday stall cleaning.  He makes sure they get fed and watered every day.  He maintains fencing and stalls in good order.  There is more, but you get the idea.  For those of you who have owned a few horses, you know it is a task.  Now imagine having oversight of 40-50 horses, and the task becomes very large.

In addition to working the ranch part of Salem, Kevin also has much interaction with our boys.  From teaching them how to ride, to taking them to horse shows, to making repairs with them, Kevin is there to teach the boys a good work ethic.  Kevin works hard and expects the same from the boys.  ‘If you have enough time to do a job twice, then you have enough time to do it right the first time,’ is something that the boys will hear from him often.

Kevin can often be seen late at night after everyone else has gone home out in the barn breaking horses so that they can be sold for a higher price, or simply because we need more lesson horses; or maybe just because he wants to ride.  Riding can be a great stress reliever, and we will often find our boys spending time out with the horses if they get some free time.  Kevin helps our guys develop a love and appreciation for our four-legged friends.  Thanks for all you do Kevin.  You are a valuable asset to the ministry at Salem.

Brent

Dale and Matthew

August 18, 2009

It is truly a great day at Salem when we have the opportunity to graduate one of our boys from our program.  The last two weeks have been especially great due to the fact that we have been able to graduate not one, but two kids, who are now back in their homes and off to good starts toward getting the rest of their lives back on track.

Dale was with us for about 16 months.  He made great strides when he was here.  He went from a shy, depressed, withdrawn individual to a young man who was leading bible studies in the cottages and challenging his peers to live right before God.  These were not merely changes to move through our program.  Dale is a new kid.  He is a kid with a purpose.  And that purpose is to know Christ and to make Him known.  Dale has transitioned well back home and we are excited to hear reports in the future about how God is working in his life.

Matthew was with us a little longer-about two years.  He also made huge changes in his life during the time he was at Salem.  Not only physically, as he grew several inches and transformed from looking like a little boy to a maturing teenager, but also in every other way.  He made great progress in school, learned how to interact with others in appropriate ways, and is striving to do the things he needs to do to be successful at home.  One of the great things about Matthew is that he takes a strong stand for the rights of unborn children.  He is not afraid to speak his mind regarding this issue.  We are very encouraged Matthew by your dedication in standing up for these little ones.

Salem is very proud of both of these young men.  They have made tremendous strides in their time here, and we have grown to love both of them.  We will miss them both immensely, but they are back where they should have been all along-at home.  Our prayers are with them that make right decisions in the future.  Great job guys!!!

Brent

Mike Hansen

August 11, 2009

One of the things we pride ourselves on here at Salem is being able to offer our guys a top-notch education.  That would not be possible without someone heading it up who has both a handle on the academic/administrative side and the relational side.  Most of the time, the head master is very gifted in one or the other of these areas, but not both.  Salem is blessed to have someone in Mike Hansen who is gifted in both.

Mike has been at Salem going on five years now.  He has built and is building a school that started off very basic with little resemblance to any type of a typical classroom, to a school that hopes to reach full accreditation by 2011.  He strives to make sure the boys have the best curriculum available.  He spends extra time writing grants in an effort to get things for the school that our resources simply do not allow us to buy.  And he is very knowledgeable in what makes for a successful school.

But, for all the value he brings to Salem professionally, he brings even more on a relational level.  He has seen many boys come and go.  There is not much that happens here that really surprises him anymore.  But Mike has a great ability to read a situation that is occurring with one of our boys, and to bring just the right words delivered in just the right manner that speaks wisdom into their hearts.  Sometimes that is in a gentle yet firm way, and sometimes a little more forceful, but never without grace and love and care and concern for whichever boy he is speaking to at the moment.

Mike is a tremendous asset to Salem.  We would not be as effective at reaching the hearts of young men without him.  Thanks Mike, for all you do.  I, along with the rest of the Salem team and the boys, are blessed to work with you.

By the way, Mike will also be a member of Team USA in the Deaf Olympics this September in Taipei, Taiwan.  Bring home the gold Mike!  We will all be cheering for you.

Brent

Joe and Brenda Coe

July 20, 2009

One of the things we try to do at Salem is model godly family relationships to our boys and families.  We try to give them a proper biblical framework from which to operate at a basic family level, so that when the boys go home for good, they have an understanding of what that looks like.  Nowhere is that more evident than with our houseparent couple Joe and Brenda Coe.

Joe and Brenda came to us last November and live in one of the cottages adjacent to the boys.  They work three to four evenings per week and are there many mornings to wake the boys up and get their day started.  They are no strangers to ministry or to working with teenage boys.  They came to us from Georgia where they worked with delinquent and state kids in a group-home type environment.  Additionally, they were missionaries in Venezuela for eight years.

Having raised three children themselves, they bring a great deal of experience, patience, and wisdom to Salem.  One of the best things they bring though is the example of what a truly biblical marriage looks like.  Our boys get to see Joe and Brenda interact with one another on a daily basis.  They learn first-hand about love and forgiveness.  They learn what it means to base your marriage on Christ.  They learn that a couple who have been married for over 25 years can still have a great time with each other.  They learn the value of hard work and doing things right the first time.

We are extremely grateful the Lord brought Joe and Brenda to us.  Joe’s ‘nose to the grindstone approach’ and his willingness to talk with the boys about anything at anytime, and Brenda’s firm yet gentle sweet spirit in dealing with our guys through challenging life situations are a tremendous asset to the ministry at Salem.  Thanks Joe and Brenda for all you do.  Your love for the Lord is evident in all you do here.

Brent