SOWER Ministry Newsletter August 2024

Dear Stephanie,

August already? Does this meme resonate with you at all? It does with me! Each year summer seems to go by faster and faster! But August IS still here, and there is still time to make the most of these last days of summer. Hopefully, there is still time for one more giggle with the grands, one more road trip to visit those dear SOWER friends who live nearby, one more afternoon spent with your parents, and one more trip to the lake. At many of our SOWER partner ministries, their busy summer season is coming to a close and they are all taking a deep breath! And they are also praying for SOWER help in the months to come! Over 100 of our SOWER projects are still looking for SOWER help in September and October* as they wrap up their busy season and prepare for the next! Maybe this is the year you can help out at one of those ministries!

But regardless of how fast the year seems to be whizzing by, let us never forget the important lesson that Scripture teaches us -

“Be still, and know that I am God.

  I will be exalted among the nations,

  I will be exalted in the earth!”

 The LORD of hosts is with us;

  the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

Psalm 46:10-11


Praying that these last days of summer find you resting in the goodness of God – our Rock and Foundation!

 

Resting in His Grace, Thankful for His Mercy, 

Stephanie


Stephanie Conrad #2509

Editor

stephanie@rvthereyet.org

WEBSITE TIP - *To find out openings for a particular month, go to your SOWER dashboard, click on Ministry Projects, then Ministry List by Month, and then change the “Month Start” date and “Month End” date to the month(s) you are interested in. You can further refine your search by also choosing which state you are looking to serve in. 

Project Highlights

Lighthouse Christian Camp TN-351

Summer camp may be over but the ministry opportunities and work never end. This year help at Lighthouse Christian camp is especially needed as we prepare for all of the activities for underprivileged children and build a new, third home for widows. If your fall and early winter schedule isn’t yet full, please consider serving at Lighthouse in Smithville, TN. Doug Parham #3498


From Baptist Park (ME-334)

Some are lost...they won't be now! Thanks to one of our SOWERs! Great job!!!


We now have three (3) great projects in Maine - Baptist Park – ME- 334, Living Waters - ME-37, and Fair Haven Camp- ME-577.

With three projects in the beautiful state of Maine (and one in neighboring New Hampshire -Pilgrim Pines, NH-400) it sounds like perfect opportunity to plan for a New England summer!

Has it arrived?

It’s that time of year again. Annual Registration and Skill Sheet information was sent via both email and 'snail mail' earlier this month. Did you get yours? Since all your personal information like address, RV type (and length, width, power) and your skill levels can be changed on the member website*, that is no longer part of the Annual Registration form. However, we still require both husband and wife signatures to agree to the three items at the top of the form. 


This year, there are three ways you can register. 


1) You should have received a physical form via postal mail. You may sign that form and send it back in the mail using the SOWER office postal address.

2) You should have also received an email with the PDF form attached. As well, the form is currently available on the member website. You may print the form, sign it and then either scan it and email it back to the office (sowers@sowerministry.org) or send it back in the mail using the SOWER office postal address.

3) Beginning on Tuesday, August 20th, there will be an option on your Member Dashboard to register online. You will be able to complete, sign and submit the form without the need to scan and email or send anything in the mail. To sign, depending on your device you can use your finger, a stylus, or your mouse.


In order to keep your membership current (either as an alumni or an active SOWER), your registration needs to be completed by October 1st. If you have not registered for 2025 at that time, you may be removed from any 2025 projects for which you have signed up.


*Check the drop-down menu for “My Account” (on the far right) on your dashboard to update your personal information and skills.


FROM WHERE I SIT (OFFICE)…………..by Gail Fieler #3187

The SOWER Hospitality House, located behind the Lindale, TX SOWER office, is now open for business. A fully equipped one-bedroom apartment, including laundry facilities, is available to SOWER members. Reservations should be made in advance through the office at 903-882-8070 or sowers@sowerministry.org. Nightly fee of $25 plus cleaning fees if needed – no pets allowed. Lindale is located close to Amtrak (20 miles) which accommodates daily trips to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and many locations are within a day trip away (Canton, Waco, Tyler & Longview).  

Also, within the last year, an additional FHU RV parking spot was located at the front of the office totaling 6 full hook up parking spaces with 30/50 amps on the campus. The first 2 nights are free, $10 each night after that, and $50 per week. There is also an additional electric/water only parking space along the side of the office. All parking spaces are on pavement. Again, make your reservations through the office at 903-882-8070 or sowers@sowerministry.org.

Ministry Opportunity

The SOWER office has a ministry opportunity for a full-time couple to serve at the office. This would be considered a missionary position and will have some benefits, such as a monthly stipend, parking in the RV lot at the office and some vacation time. The ideal couple should have worked 25 projects or more so they are familiar with all things associated with signing up, working and reporting on projects. They need to have experience with the Microsoft applications on the computer and Quickbooks or other accounting software and have a heart for service to our Lord through the ministry. If this is something you might be interested in, contact the office for the full position description.

2025 SOWER WORK DATES



Click on the Calendar graphic for a downloadable color-coded calendar of 2025 SOWER project dates.

Area Representative Needs

There is a current need for an Area Rep for the State of Arizona. This would include the following projects:AZ - 74 Rainbow Acres Ranch 

AZ - 281 Ethnos360 Aviation (NTM) 

AZ - 393 Pusch Ridge Christian Academy 

AZ - 471 Youth Haven Desert Ranch 

AZ - 487 Gospel Rescue Mission-Women's Recovery

AZ - 491 Phoenix Christian Preparatory School 

AZ - 520 Standing Stones/Shepherd's Canyon Retreat 


If you would like more information about this opening or are interested in the position, please contact Evan Asby (3945), Western Project Coordinator.

The Project Committee would like to say a huge thank-you to all of our AR's (present and past) who are serving (or have served) in this important position. If you are an active Member or Alumni and are interested in learning more about this vital part of our ministry, we'd love to talk to you!

Gail Fieler (3187)

Project Committee Chairman

Underserved Project Update

A complete and 'real-time' updated Underserved Project list is now available on the New Member Site! Check it out!


Underserved Projects List

Let's try to shorten up that Underserved Project List! Send in highlights about your favorite project on the UPL along with a couple of pictures to stephanie@rvthereyet.org to help get it OFF the list!
Seen recently on Facebook

It's so great to read about work that is being accomplished at Turtle Mountain Bible Camp (MB-490), one of our Canadian projects! Thank you Sharon, for sharing about your time at one of our underserved projects! (It's a little late - but they still need help in September!)

Have you stopped by our Facebook Group lately? Please use caution and respect when posting. This is a PRIVATE group (only members can see posts and add posts), but it is still good Facebook etiquette to get permission before you post someone's picture. Thanks!

If you're a member of Facebook but haven't joined the SOWER Group click on the icon to join the family! Just enter your member number in the question, and an Administrator will approve you.
Since the SOWER Facebook group is a ‘private’ group, we try to limit our members to folks who are SOWER members or project hosts, and couples who are interested in joining our ministry.

If you invite other interested folks to join our Facebook group, they will still need to answer the membership question. Thanks!

Thank you to everyone who has given our SOWER Facebook Page a "Like" or follow. Currently, we have over 1800 followers! If you haven't already given it your thumbs-up,  head over there now! It's a great way to spread the word about our ministry. 

While the SOWER Facebook Group is for sharing SOWER stories (and is something that you join), the SOWER Facebook Page is where the ministry shares information and works to generate interest in our ministry (and is something that you 'like').
Don't forget to check out your favorite ministries on Facebook. Many of our partner ministry locations have a Facebook page, and it's a great way to stay up-to-date on the places you love to serve!


Clicking on the SOWER Logo will take you to the SOWER website where you can sign onto the Member Dashboard and get "Real Time" updates for our partner ministries' needs.


Questions?

The office is happy to help!

 903-882-8070

sowers@sowerministry.org

This month there are 79 SOWER couples serving at 42 different ministries around the country. Praise God for all the work that's being accomplished! Check the New Member site for information on where YOU can serve!



SOWER Blog Roll
See what other SOWERs are doing around the country!

Soltesweb

Ed & Patty Soltes #1864


RV There Yet

 Gary & Stephanie Conrad #2509


Along the Walk

Bruce & Katie Gay #3659


Benedictus

Terry & Alice Burnett #3071


Salty Strings

John & Connie Nicholas #3322


Jesus, Take My Baton!

Jim and Cathy Fry #3564


It's 70 Degrees Somewhere

John & Druann Bauer #3521


Where the Dutch Ovens Roam

Conrad & Pam Popp #3652


Rolling With the Ekbergs

Burneall & Ann Ekberg #3702


DnL Adventures

Dennis & Lorree Johnson #3658


Sincerely Sondra

Sondra Smith #3779


Friends Along The Way

Spencer & Lorraine Saints #3574


More 2 This Life

Mark & Jeanette Sheler #3782


A Grand Tour

Doug & Laurie Schneider #3704


Here-N-There

Dave & Robyn Koppin #3847


KenandPebble.com

Ken & Pebble Williams #3870


Paul Alton.com

Paul & Juanita Alton #2766


Do YOU have a Blog you'd like to share?

Send the link to Stephanie@rvthereyet.org and we'll add it to the 'Roll'!



Group Picture - The July 2024 Group serving at Ness Lake Camp, in beautiful British Columbia (BC-434)- L-R Jim & Mari Haney (3902), Doug & Tammy Neal Petkau (3950) and Harry & Jane Welsh (4102) on their first project!. Photo credit to Tammy Neal

Header Photo -Pilgrim Pines Conference Center (NH-400) Barbara Livengood (3556)


TAX TIP - Well, I have finally reached that age when I have to start taking my “Required Minimum Distributions”, better known as RMD, out of my 401(K)s. In talking with my financial advisor, I've learned that I can give to my favorite charities (including SOWERs) directly out of my 401K and avoid my tax liability on that amount. Usually, when I take money out of the 401(K) for my RMD, I will have to pay taxes on that money (usually about 20%). If I give $100 out of my RMD, the charity receives $100, but I have to pay the government $20 in taxes. But if I set up a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) on a monthly or annual basis out of my 401K that amount will not be taxed but will still count as part of my RMD.  

Check with your financial advisor about this way to support the SOWER Ministry during your retirement years. 

Wayne Fieler # 3187


Dear Sam and Sally,

I'm a little confused about the Sower on Assignment (SOA) program. I've seen some SOA opportunities that have interested me, but sometimes when I see them listed for the first time they already have folks assigned to them. Also - if we become SOA's, do we get to fellowship with the 'monthly' SOWERS that come each month? Could you explain a little more about how that program works? Thanks!

First time as an SOA


Dear First Timer,

Great question! The SOA program began as the result of ministries needing some specific help that couldn't be filled using our standard work schedule and the need for a longer commitment (3-6 months). Usually this involved different hours or different days or a special skill. That remains true today but has expanded to include ministries who are also looking for continuity in their maintenance crew and feel that having a SOWER volunteer that can work those different hours and days is a great opportunity. A ministry is always given the option of requesting a particular SOWER as an SOA, which is why sometimes the job is already filled the first time you see it in the project listing on your Member Dashboard. If they don't have a specific SOWER in mind, then when someone asks to sign up, the project host has the opportunity to review the couple's skill sheets before they are approved.

As an SOA you are welcome to join the "monthly" SOWERS for devotions, games and outings - as your schedule permits. Each group is different, but the philosophy of the SOA is to be able to offer the hosts the help they need while enabling the worker to still be part of the SOWER team. Since you won't be working directly under the SOWER GL, sometimes the schedules don't mesh completely, but you are still there as a SOWER and should be included in "all things SOWER" with the group.

Hope that helps - and that you are blessed as you experience this different facet of our ministry.


Serving our Lord with you,

Sam & Sally



Do you have a SOWER etiquette question? Or maybe you'd like some clarification about a policy or rule. Sam and Sally would love to hear from you! Contact them at - samandsally@sowerministry.org.  


To send in a prayer request or praise item-
 
To contact the office -
903-882-8070  

To submit a SOWER story or a photo to the newsletter, send it to