Rocky Mount

July 2, 2009

What do extreme heat, high humidity, and 28 people with a passion to build relationships with young men and serve others through construction all have in common?  They all descended on Salem Ranch the week of June 21.  Once again our great friends from Calvary Baptist Church, in Rocky Mount, NC came and did amazing things at Salem, through rebuilding our facility.  But more importantly, they were instrumental in rebuilding lives.

The team of Bob, Bryan, Steve, April, Cindy, Jeff, Allison, Roseanne, Jessica, Carl, Kay M., Ms. Julia, Zachary, Chad, Kim, Bradley, Clint, Larry, Kay C., David, Larry, Alvaro, David, Scott, and Hope (pictured) and Earl, Donnie, and Scott H. (not pictured), almost did not make it here.  After many delays, and a planes, trains, and automobiles type adventure, everyone arrived in three different groups throughout the day on Father’s Day.

The group did not waste a minute getting started, and in what seemed like no time we had new classrooms, a new family room for counseling, new stall fronts in the barn, repairs to our gym roof, new doors to the gym, and a spotless kitchen.  You would need to see the pictures to get the full effect and they will be posted as soon as possible.  It is nothing short of a miracle what these great people are able to accomplish in a week’s time; even more so when you throw in temperatures in the mid 90’s and high humidity the team had to deal with the entire week.

But that is dwarfed in comparison to the effect they have on our boys and our staff.  The group is always a huge encouragement to the staff here.  It refreshes our souls to meet with a large group of like-minded believers who, just about the time we think we are making no difference in the lives of our boys, affirm that we are.  They are the ones who exhort us to continue the work of the ministry to the glory of God.  They are a group who we know have our backs.  They are invaluable to us.

But most of, they impact our boys.  Each of our guys has a story of how someone on the team impacted them.  Many times during the week I was wandering through the grounds at ten or eleven pm, and almost always, there were pockets of the team and kids meeting together, discussing hurts and pains, and how Christ is the Ultimate Healer to all of us.  And it was not just the boys sharing with the team.  The team was often just as transparent as the boys in sharing struggles they have in their own lives and how Christ working in them is how they have made it through those difficult times.

I am asked all the time, what makes Salem work.  And my answer is always the same.  Salem works because change happens in the context of relationships: with the Lord first and with one another second.  Nowhere was this more evident then at Salem the week of June 21, 2009.  Rocky Mount, you guys are awesome.  Thank you for giving to the Lord.  Ours are lives that were changed.  We are so glad you came.

Brent

Linda Lindley

June 8, 2009

If you have ever led an organization, no matter how big or small, then you know there is one person you can always count on to keep you out of trouble.  Linda Lindley is that person at Salem.  Linda wears many different hats, and she approaches everything she does with the best interest of Salem and our boys at heart.

To begin with, Linda runs our front office.  That means directing phone calls, handling incoming and outgoing mail, taking care of billing, ordering materials, and everything else that goes with making sure an office runs smoothly.  She is also the resident Salem beautician who keeps the boy’s hair looking presentable.

In addition, she is our kitchen cook.  She orders, tracks, and prepares Salem food.  She ensures that we eat healthy, nutritious, well-balanced meals.  She is in charge of all things food related.  She also makes incredible desserts on a daily basis that treat the palates of over twenty teenage boys as well as the staff.  Linda also substitutes in the classroom on occasion, and is in charge of our yearly auction and golf events; the two primary fundraisers at Salem.  Finally, she coordinates the Rocky Mount, NC mission team event every year.  They are a group that comes to Salem and gives us an extreme ranch makeover of sorts.

But there is one more thing that Linda does that is much more important than all of these things combined: she provides that motherly touch to our boys.  She is both their fiercest advocate and their harshest critic.  She is there for them to lend an ear or to give an earful.  She is there to bandage a wound or to tell them to quit acting like a baby.  But above all of this, she loves them unconditionally.  The moms of our boys can rest assured that Linda is going to handle their kids as she would her own; which is with much grace and love.

Thanks for all you do at Salem, Linda.  But mostly, thanks for who you are.  You are a blessed asset to the mission of Salem.

Brent

Justin Watford

May 20, 2009

Elvis in the house!  That is what you might hear when Justin Watford, one of our residential staff counselors, walks into the room.  That is because Justin is a great impressionist.  There are not many people that he cannot imitate.  Frequently he has the rest of us falling on the floor laughing at his latest rendition of Dr. Phil, a relative, or even one of the staff.  He is great at picking up the nuances of each person’s character.

But there is One in particular who Justin tries his best to imitate.  That is his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Justin does his best each day to live a godly life and to provide to our boys a role model based on the life of Christ.  And it is a role that Justin portrays well.  He is gentle when the situation calls for gentleness, and yet can be firm when firm is needed.  He can be a great encourager and a great exhorter, depending on what is needed in the moment.  But in all of these things, Justin imitates his Lord in his grace toward others.

One of the ways Justin best demonstrates his love and concern for our boys is through activity.  Justin rarely leaves campus by himself.  He frequently has a couple of boys with him when he leaves.  Whether he is going to rent a movie, heading out to Wal-Mart, more affectionately known here as ‘Wat’-Mart, or going to a museum, zoo, or movie set, Justin, at his own expense, takes boys with him.  He gives of his own time, talent, and treasures to ensure our boys know that someone cares for them.

Justin has been at Salem for several years, and we hope we have several more with him.  One of the things we tell parents and others about Salem is that is not a job for our staff.  This is not a career. It is not something they are doing until they find something better.  It is a ministry.  It is who we are.  We do this because we love God and we love kids.  Nowhere is this more evidenced than in Justin.  Thanks for being part of Salem, Justin.  You are awesome!

Brent

Ben Murphy

May 3, 2009

If you have not yet heard of Ben Murphy, it would not surprise me.  Not because Ben is not worth knowing, because he is.  You probably have not heard of him because Ben does not seek attention for himself.  His goal in all he does is to point people to Christ.

Ben is one of the two primary counselors at Salem.  He has been at Salem for several years.  At any one time, he will carry a caseload of about 10-12 boys.  He provides weekly therapy for the guys under his care, as well as meeting with their families and providing family therapy.  He also occasionally meets with the boys in groups to discuss situations and life issues that several of the boys may have in common.  Additionally, he leads chapel once a week and works a couple of shifts a week in the cottage.

We often hear someone say jokingly, ‘humbleness is one of my best qualities,’ but truly this is the case for Ben.  He is a very humble man who desires to see the boys and their families restored to one another and to Christ.  Ben takes a God-centered approach to all he does.  Ben is the one who encourages the staff to pray for our families.  He is the one who, although he has a master’s degree, continues to study to show himself an approved workman.  He is the one who volunteers to take boys home for holidays and for weekends if they are unable to go on home visits.

Ben has a great ability to bring the Gospel into every situation our boys face.  He brings to Salem his own life experiences, his knowledge and wisdom, humor, and a love for others that is evident in all he does.  He is a very valuable asset to our ministry here.  So if you do not know Ben, I would encourage you to seek him out if you visit us.  You will probably have to have someone point him out though, as he is likely selflessly ministering to someone else and is not aware of your presence.

Brent

Andrew Easling

April 23, 2009

Like most of the staff, Andrew wears many hats at Salem.  He also brings many skills.  Andrew works as part of our maintenance staff, is the vocational director of our school, and pulls shifts in the cottages.  So in any one week, you might find Andrew cutting grass, teaching the kids how to work on a car, and/or playing basketball with the boys. He truly is a jack-of-all-trades.

But not only does Andrew bring good labor and physical skills to Salem, he also works hard to develop himself on a personal level.  Andrew is an avid and skilled violin player as well as an aspiring and incredibly talented artist.  If you came to our auction, you saw some of his work on display there.  He also takes his walk with the Lord seriously, studying the Word to show himself ‘a workman who is not ashamed’ (2 Tim. 2.15).  Andrew is well on his way to becoming a true renaissance man.

All of this would be worthless at Salem if it were not for one thing: in addition to all of this, Andrew loves the kids he works with here.  They may not always believe it, because Andrew expects much from the boys.  But it is out of his concern that they become men who are ready to lead families and communities that he pushes them hard.  And Andrew does not just give orders to the boys and sit idly by.  He is right there with them, doing everything himself that he requires of them.  He has a tremendous work ethic.  Andrew does not just do a job to get it done.  Everything he does, he does to the glory of God.  That is true leadership.

Thanks for your ministry at Salem Andrew.  Your work is helping our boys become men.

Brent

Jo Simmons

April 7, 2009

Let me introduce you to Jo Simmons.  Jo very effectively runs the equine program at Salem Ranch.  Through her direction, each of the approximately fifty-five horses we may have in our ranch at any one time gets the proper care they deserve.  Jo does not keep her love of horses to herself however.  It is a contagious love that one cannot help but see when she starts talking about them.  Just spend five minutes with her and as she shares her passion she will either be beaming with joy at success stories with kids and horses, or tearing up with sadness at the poor care some horses receive outside of Salem.

Jo shares that love with each of the boys who come to Salem.  Part of the program here involves the care of our horses.  Jo shares her expertise with the boys on a variety of horse-related manners, always with the care and patience that come with the role of an appropriate mentor.  She takes boys, some of who have never even seen a horse, and teaches them how to ‘read’ one.  She teaches them how to groom them, feed them, care for them, and handle them.  But she does not do this from a distance.  Jo is right in there with them, showing them first-hand what needs to be done.

Jo’s love for horses and our boys also plays itself out in her love of Salem.  Jo has been here many years and has seen the best and worst of life at Salem.  And yet she endures with the same determination as the horses she loves can sometimes show; a never give-up, push until she cannot push any longer desire to see Salem succeed, and even more importantly, to see the lives of our young men changed from failure to success.

You are a real jewel Jo.  Thanks for your patience, endurance, and wisdom.  You are making a difference in the lives of our boys.

Brent

Greg Richardson

March 28, 2009

‘It’s a beautiful Jesus morning!’  This is what our boys may hear in the morning if Greg is working.  And as much as they tease him about it, they love it, because they know Greg loves Jesus.  And they know his love for Jesus plays out in his relationship with them. 

Greg is one of our residential staff members, as well as the one who does much of our developmental, website, and computer work, so he has his hands in a lot of what we do here at Salem.  Among the boys, Greg is known as ‘the hustler,’ because of his ability to get our guys benefits in exchange for us helping out in different things.

Greg has a tremendous relationship with our guys.  His calm demeanor always works to de-escalate potentially volatile situations.  Greg has a unique ability to bring calmness to challenging situations with the guys, to talk them down, and then to bring the issue back to their need of Christ and how He alone can help them in whatever situations they may find themselves in both in the present and in the future.

Greg is also a vital mouthpiece for Salem.  He understands the mission, he loves his work, and he is dedicated to making us succeed.  Wherever he goes, he talks about Salem and how the lives of the young men are being changed for the better.  He tells others of the situations of boys who come here, and how through the ministry of Salem by the power of the Gospel, their lives are changed, relationships are healed, and they leave here in much better shape than when they came.

Thanks Greg, for your ministry here.  Your love for Christ is evident is all you do.  You are a true blessing and inspiration to us.

Brent

Caryn Sparks

March 15, 2009

If you don’t know who Caryn is, you are really missing out.  At Salem, Caryn carries the title of ‘social worker.’  But that does not begin to scratch the surface of what she does.  As such, Caryn makes contact with every family, every week, to let them know first-hand how their sons are doing.  On Thursday, she will spend 12-14 hours calling parents, emailing parents, setting up and then making the phone calls from the boys to the parents, all while doing her normal daily tasks. 

In addition to this, Caryn acts as one of our resident nurses, sets the boys doctor and dentist appointments, keeps track of their meds, gets their prescriptions filled, and fills the med kits on a weekly basis.  She also records the daily point sheets for the boys, tracks their phase progress, and maintains their petty cash accounts.  Finally, she writes up and distributes our weekly treatment team notes.  Other than that, she does not do a whole lot

Caryn is a very relational person, which is what makes her so good at what she does.  But Caryn is much more than a social worker.  She is a great example to the boys.  As a mom herself, she can speak to these guys as only a mom can do.  She is able to both encourage them and push them toward proper attitude and behavior, sometimes all within the same sentence.  Her heart for the boys is obvious as you watch her interact with them.  She is also a great friend.  She makes everyone around her better.  She is personable, friendly, and caring.  She is totally dedicated to making Salem a better place to be. 

Thanks Caryn for being part of Salem.  Your dedication and concern for the boys and for those around you are part of what separates Salem from other places like us.

Brent

Billy Rogers

March 9, 2009

Let me introduce you to Billy Rogers.  Billy is our cottage supervisor and coach for all of our sports team.  He is the guy I rely on to keep things in the cottages running smoothly.  He also very effectively runs our weekly staff cottage meetings.  Billy has been at Salem for about five years and is the most senior of the staff who have direct involvement on a day to day basis with the boys.  He brings a great deal of experience, wisdom, and insight to the staff and our boys.

One of his greatest strengths is his ability to read a situation and address that situation appropriately.  Billy takes more of a no nonsense approach to the job.  He likes to have fun with the boys, but he also requires them to do what they are supposed to do when they are supposed to do it.  Because of his position as our coach, he also gets much interaction with the boys on a more intimate level, teaching them the finer aspects of the many sports we play here at Salem, which also carries over to life situations.

Billy’s demeanor is very even.  He does not get too excited when there are problems, nor does he get too excited when things are going extremely well.  The boys respond well to his leadership.  They know he is going to give it to them straight, but in a way that is compassionate and redemptive.  He is the first to correct wayward behavior, but also the first to encourage the boys when they do well.

Billy has a great love for these boys.  He pours his heart out to them day after day.  He truly cares for them and the situations that have resulted in them being sent to Salem.  He is a great role model for our boys as he demonstrates Christ-like behavior to them, regardless of the situation.  He is also a great role model for staff in his professionalism, dedication to his work and to Salem.  Thanks Billy, for being part of Salem.  You are an inspiration to us all.

Brent

An Amazing Staff

March 2, 2009
Well, I really did not intend to go three weeks without giving an update on the happenings here. And my prayer is that it will not happen again. What I want to spend a little time writing on today is the amazing staff we have at Salem.

When I think of our staff, there are several adjectives that come to mind: Christ-like, dedicated, loving, wise, caring, diligent, persevering, patient, and competent are just a few of the many that could be written about.

First, all of our staff is professing believers and followers of Christ. That is first and foremost in how we work with the boys. Everything we do begins with Christ. Each staff’s relationship with Christ is evident when they work with our guys. Out of this relationship flow the natural love, patience, and wisdom that it takes to work with teenage boys. Our staff is made up of some of the most patient men and women I have ever seen. They do not get caught up in the moment. When a boy is having a problem or being disrespectful, staff is always ready with a word that is exactly what is needed in that moment. And it is delivered with grace and truth.

In addition, they are extremely dedicated and loyal: to the Lord, to Salem, to the boys, and to our families. The staff here does not get paid a lot of money to do what they do. They do it because they love making a positive difference in the lives of these young men. This is not a job; it is not a career; it is a calling. And each of our folks here knows that and accepts that.

Competence and diligence show up often in staff’s relationship with the guys. What works with one boy may not work with another. And it is the competent and wise person who knows the difference. It is providing the right answer to the situation at the time, and not giving up when it does not seem to work that separates Salem staff from staff at other places like Salem.

Finally, caring about others created in the image of God is what makes our staff do what they do. They understand that each boy is a child of the living God, and as such has value and purpose. And our staff understands that their ultimate purpose here is to bring glory to God by bringing out the best in our boys, helping them understand who they are in Christ, and that God has a plan for their lives.

I will be spending the next several weeks giving you snapshots of each of our staff members. Hopefully it will give you the opportunity to see just how specially each of them is gifted in their work with our boys. And then you will see why I love this staff. They are an awesome group of people.

Brent