IT IS AMAZING TO CONSIDER how a single decision can dramatically alter the course of someone’s life. It may seem trivial in that moment, but as life unfolds, one can reflect and recognize its true impact. For Cruz and Sophia, the decision was not theirs to make; rather, it was the choice of others to place them on the Boothe Campus in 2018. Little did they know, this moment would profoundly change their lives forever. 

When Sophia first moved to campus, she felt uncertain about her future. She quickly connected with her houseparents and those around her. She witnessed the daily outpouring of love, which allowed her and others to heal from past hurts. More than anything, she learned what a true relationship with Christ looked like. “I grew up thinking you believe Jesus died on the cross for your sins, you get baptized, and you’re saved,” Sophia shared. “It wasn’t until I went to Boothe Campus, where I was taught you need to have a relationship with Jesus.” This was a pivotal moment in Sophia’s life, one that would change her future. 

A few months after Sophia arrived on campus, Cruz was placed with his siblings. Much like Sophia, he felt anxious about his future and what his life would be like. With only a year left in high school, he did not know what to do after graduation. He quickly bonded with his houseparents and appreciated the love they shared and their relationships with the Lord. 

“The moment I came to the campus was the first time that I had been introduced to His love, and it was throughout everybody, the houseparents, the staff, they’re just filled with so much love,” Cruz shared. 

After six months on campus, Cruz had the opportunity to leave Boothe Campus with his siblings, but he decided to stay because he recognized the impact the people had already had on his life. 

During their time on the campus, Cruz and Sophia started dating. After graduating in 2019, Cruz began school at Coastal Bend College with the help of STCH Ministries. During COVID, he moved to Corpus Christi to be close to his family. While there, he decided to leave college and start a landscaping business. The distance did not keep Cruz and Sophia apart, and shortly after Sophia graduated in 2020, Cruz proposed. Later in 2020, they married in the chapel on the Boothe Campus with houseparents and staff surrounding them in support and love. 

After marrying, Cruz and Sophia started their little family. Sophia stayed home while Cruz worked on growing the landscaping business. They faced difficult moments in their marriage, as Cruz admitted that even though he was introduced to Christ while living on the campus and had gone through the motions, he was still living in sin. Through every dark moment, Sophia stayed by his side and supported him. She asked hard questions and encouraged him to seek a true relationship with the Lord and to stop living in the world. 

One night, after a tough conversation, Cruz felt a strong pull on his heart to truly surrender to God. He wanted to be the leader of his household and lead his family well. They started attending a new church where they instantly felt connected, started serving and spending time with the Lord daily. “I started seeing who God really is, what He can really do and the amount of compassion He has for sinners like me,” Cruz shared. 

“And when I stopped identifying with my sin and started identifying myself as a son of God, it was the biggest shift of my life.” 

Cruz started allowing God to move through his entire life, including looking at his business differently. “I realized it’s not just a business for the earth, it’s a business for the kingdom,” Cruz shared. He wanted people to see the Lord in him while he worked; he wanted his business to be set apart. This shift changed how he started every day. It made him love his work more, which led to a better atmosphere at work and home. 

After their two beautiful daughters, Amiah and Araceli, were born, Sophia decided she wanted to do more. She always found j o y i n c re a t ing floral arrangements and wanted to attend the Floral Design Institute. Unsure of how to move forward, they contacted Campus Ministries’ staff for guidance. Since Sophia graduated in care, she had the opportunity for support from STCH Ministries, not just financial, but someone to walk hand in hand with her as she maneuvered this new journey. 

The couple returned to Boothe Campus to talk with staff about college, and it allowed them to be reminded of what the campus meant to them. They stopped to see their houseparents and other staff and share about their lives. “I personally got to thank all the houseparents, just for everything that they’ve done,” Cruz shared. “When you’re a teenager, you don’t realize how much they do for you.” It also reminded him of the first time he was introduced to the Lord. He could see more clearly now how all the houseparents live out the fruits of the Spirit daily and the impact that had on him. 

Both Cruz and Sophia recognize how deeply STCH Ministries has changed their lives. 

“The biggest impact was being surrounded by godly people,” Sophia shared. “Always being encouraged and having someone there that you can talk to about anything, and they will lead you back to the Lord. Without STCH Ministries, I would still be living in the world and wouldn’t have the beautiful family that I do now.” 

She also recognizes that she has a safe place she can go back to and relationships that will last a lifetime. 

For Cruz, he admits his life would not be where it is today without the love and support he received on the campus. “STCH Ministries will always, always, it’s not even partially, it is always going to play a part in my testimony, because it is when I first encountered the Lord. I didn’t even realize it at the time because I was so naïve. What I didn’t realize was what God was doing right in front of me.” He prays often for the children being placed on the campus that their lives would be impacted the way his was. 

In the beginning, neither of them could understand why they were placed on the Boothe Campus. Now, as they look back, they see God’s plan for their lives as it unfolded. “Out of all the campuses there are in Texas, out of all the foster care placements I could have gone to, I ended up at STCH Ministries, Cruz shared. “I think it is cool to see the Lord’s sovereignty in that as well.” While they may not have understood, the Lord knew that this one decision would change their lives forever. 

New Year’s resolutions are nothing new. I am not sure about you, but I have never been a New Year’s resolution type person. I am, however, someone who takes account often to see if the need to adjust would be beneficial. Whether you make New Year’s resolutions or not, we should be looking at our lives to assess how matters are progressing. The areas I like to assess in a broad sense pertain to spiritual, personal and professional health. As I look at these areas of life, there are physical and emotional aspects to process as well. As we assess our overall health and well-being, we must decide the areas that are working and those we need to change. 

Habits are habits; they can help us to accomplish great objectives, or they can cause us to fail. So, what separates those who are able to make sustainable, significant changes in the way they live, so they can ultimately be the person they desire to be? Simply put, they are able to create habits that lead them to success. Some might say you should take your resolutions and make them your lifestyle. But what does scripture say about personal resolutions? 

In Romans 14:13, Paul instructs Christians to make a resolution. “Therefore, let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” In these kinds of matters, Paul is saying, let us not decide as to how others should behave. Instead, let us decide as to how we will behave. Let us resolve never to do anything that will cause our brother, who is convicted differently than we are in this instance, to stumble into sin. So at least in this instance, the idea of making a personal resolution, a personal and determined commitment, to change or improve our own behavior is given to us as a command. And nothing in the Scriptures would indicate that it is wrong to make such personal resolutions. 

As you read through this Messenger, you will see stories where resolutions are made – let’s also call them commitments. Cindy resolved she wanted to change her life and she came into care in our Homes for Families program. Her story is one of powerful transformation! I also think of Sam’s story and his resolve. Almost more importantly, I think of his housepop, Jesse, and his resolve to want to care for and love Sam. When we live lives of personal commitment to God’s grand plan for us, amazing transformational moments can be seen. 

I challenge you to think about your life, your resolutions, your commitments, your habits. What do they say about who you are or who you desire to be? If you aren’t pleased, then change them and create new habits that will help you to be the person you want to be and, more importantly, the person God wants you to be. The great John Wooden famously said: “Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is yet to be, the only way to affect tomorrow is today.” If you have a history of not following through on resolutions and commitments, today it all can change. 

I pray you enjoy this edition of our Messenger! 

2 Thessalonians 1:11–12: To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you. 

COUNSELING HAS BROUGHT HOPE AND HEALING to many families through STCH Ministries, and for Seth and his family, it opened the door to lasting change. Katherine and her husband, Travis, loved their children, but parenting their youngest son, Seth, was becoming overwhelming and exhausting, causing tension they were not sure how to overcome. At nine years old, Seth was full of energy and strong-willed. His siblings, Alexis and Noah, often joked that he was the “problem kid.” Katherine did not like hearing it, but she understood why they felt that way at times. 

Seth had been a happy baby, but his behavior began to shift around age four, becoming more challenging as he grew older. Simple boundaries, like hearing the word “no,” often led to full-blown tantrums. “He had a hard time accepting life on life’s terms,” Katherine shared. “If he didn’t get his way, he’d get really angry – and that happened a lot.”

Small tasks frequently turned into battles. Homework, chores or even transitioning from video games to dinner often triggered Seth’s frustration. “It felt like every request turned into a fight,” Katherine recalled. The tension in the home was not just affecting Seth – it was wearing down the entire family.

“We wanted to be good parents, but we just didn’t know how,” Katherine admitted. In their frustration, they often responded to Seth’s anger with their own. “He would yell, so we would yell louder, trying to get him to listen. But it never worked.” Seth’s siblings were also caught in the cycle of frustration. They began to view him as “the baby” who always got his way. This sibling dynamic only added to the tension.

The peaceful home Katherine and Travis had envisioned felt more like a battleground. Katherine often found herself bracing for the next meltdown. “I didn’t enjoy being around him,” she confessed. It was not the family dynamic they had hoped for, and Katherine knew that if nothing changed, the frustration and anger would keep hurting their relationships.

Their introduction to STCH Ministries came when Alexis began counseling. Katherine had not expected to need help for the family, but when Alexis’ sessions ended, it became clear that Seth could also benefit. “As soon as she was done, I knew our son would probably need some help as well,” Katherine recalled.

Faith played a vital role in their decision to choose STCH Ministries. “Faith is very important to us,” Katherine explained. 

“I wanted Christian counseling because I didn’t want someone telling my daughter or Seth that their behavior was fine when it wasn’t,” 

For Katherine and Travis, finding counseling that aligned with the values they taught their children was essential. They wanted to ensure that the lessons learned in counseling reinforced the biblical principles they instilled at home.

After Alexis completed her counseling sessions, Katherine placed Seth on the waiting list. That simple step marked the beginning of a journey toward healing – not just for Seth, but for the entire family.

When Seth began counseling at STCH Ministries with his counselor Megan, Katherine was unsure about the play therapy she recommended. “I didn’t understand how just observing a child play would tell her anything,” she admitted. Megan explained that play therapy allows children to express their emotions and experiences in the way they know best – through play. Unlike adults, who process feelings through conversation, children often “play out” their thoughts and challenges.

The Association for Play Therapy (APT) explains that play therapy is a structured way for trained therapists to use play to help their clients. Through play, children can work through their difficulties and develop in healthy ways. In simpler terms, the therapist uses play to connect with the child, gently guiding them toward healing and growth.

For Seth, this approach created a safe and comfortable environment to process his emotions. Though Katherine initially had doubts, she chose to trust the process. Megan used play to help Seth express what he could not verbalize and over time, the playroom became a place where he felt safe and understood. As the sessions continued, Megan shared insights that helped Katherine and Travis better understand their son’s behavior and emotional needs.

The sessions did not just help Seth – they helped the whole family. Megan provided Katherine and Travis tools to support Seth at home. One of the biggest lessons was understanding how Seth felt within the family dynamic. “Seth felt like he didn’t have any say, any control or any place in the family. He was just the baby, being told what to do all day long,” Katherine shared.

This realization was eye-opening for Katherine and Travis. It shifted their approach to discipline and daily routines. Instead of defaulting to punishment and taking away privileges like video games, they began using positive reinforcement. By rewarding good behavior, they found that Seth responded more positively.

The family also applied the practical tools that Megan suggested. A visual schedule became one of their most valuable resources, helping Seth understand and anticipate his daily activities. This predictability helped reduce his frustration around transitions. Within this structure, Seth was given choices about the order of certain activities, like whether to do homework before or after his afternoon snack or which chores to complete first. These small but meaningful choices gave him an appropriate sense of control while maintaining necessary boundaries.

Most importantly, Katherine and Travis learned the importance of modeling emotional awareness for their children. By openly sharing their feelings and showing healthy ways to express and cope with frustration, they gave Seth and his siblings the tools to mirror this behavior. This approach matched their goals as parents: teaching their children valuable life skills while keeping healthy limits in place.

The changes extended beyond just rules and routines. Megan emphasized the importance of building trust and connection through spending quality time together to strengthen the parent-child relationship. These special times of positive interaction helped rebuild trust and connection, making the other strategies work even better.

Over time, the transformation became clear. Katherine and Travis responded to Seth’s outbursts with more patience and understanding. 

“We learned that when he yelled, we didn’t have to yell back,” Katherine said. “We started to understand how Seth was feeling instead of just reacting.”

Seth’s relationships with his siblings improved as well. As the home environment shifted to one of mutual respect, Alexis and Noah began to see Seth’s feelings as real and important. “Now they all play games together without fighting,” Katherine shared. “My daughter and Seth like to do Pokémon, and they talk about it. They see him as a person now, not just an annoying sibling.”

Looking back on their journey, Katherine feels grateful for how far their family has come. “We wanted to be good parents, but we didn’t know how. STCH Ministries showed us the way,” she shared. The changes they experienced went far beyond Seth’s behavior. They brought the family closer, filling their home with patience, love and respect.

“Counseling didn’t just help Seth. It helped all of us learn how to listen, respond with love and understand each other better.”

Faith remained at the center of their journey, working together with the practical tools they learned in counseling. “We try to teach our kids to rely on God for all of our problems,” she said. The combination of professional counseling and spiritual guidance provided a holistic approach to healing. Through STCH Ministries, they found that their faith could work together with therapeutic techniques, creating lasting change that aligned with their values. The experience reminded them that healing is possible when trust is placed in Him.

Katherine encourages families considering counseling: “Take the step. It’s worth it. Just knowing someone is willing to listen and walk alongside you can make all the difference.” For more information on STCH Ministries Counseling Ministries, visit www.STCHM.org/counseling-ministries. 

CINDY’S STORY SHOWS HOW HOPE can light up life’s darkest corners. From battling addiction and grief to finding restoration and purpose, her journey is a beautiful reminder of the transformative work of God’s love and grace. 

In 2021, Cindy was living a comfortable life. She had a steady job and an apartment. However, on a fateful night in November, an act of compassion opened the door to troubles that would soon turn her life upside down. 

During a winter freeze, Cindy came across a homeless man needing shelter. “I thought I could help him,” Cindy recalls. “But I didn’t realize how much my life would change.” What began as a temporary gesture of kindness grew into a relationship that seemed good at first. However, Cindy was at a vulnerable time in her life, having recently experienced a miscarriage and a significant fight with her partner. In a moment of hopelessness and depression, she was introduced to drugs on her birthday. “He hesitated at first,” she remembers, “but when I tried the drugs, he said I had a look that showed I was hooked.” 

This decision led her quickly down a path of addiction and despair. For six months, Cindy lived in a cycle of abuse, pressured into degrading circumstances she never imagined. Her partner’s violence and manipulation left her feeling trapped and powerless. 

Then, a friend’s persistent words broke through Cindy’s pain and confusion. “She told me this lifestyle wasn’t meant for me and that I needed to get out,” Cindy reflects. Gathering courage she did not know she had, Cindy broke free from the abusive relationship and found refuge at a domestic violence shelter. It was there, two months later, that she learned she was pregnant. With that revelation, hope began to reappear. “I knew I had to fight for her,” Cindy shares. “I couldn’t give up now.” 

Cindy’s pregnancy brought hope but also immense challenges. She faced multiple health complications, including diabetes, kidney issues and weight challenges, making her a high-risk patient. When Cindy’s daughter, Emma, was born prematurely at just 30 weeks, weighing only 2 pounds, 2 ounces, she had to stay in the NICU for two months. 

After leaving the hospital, Cindy sought shelter and help at a maternity home. Arriving with her newborn on a breathing machine, Cindy received critical support and rest during her stay. However, her time there came to an end all too quickly. Cindy faced uncertainty about where to go next. Her and Emma’s medical needs made it challenging to find a safe place to live, with plans falling through left and right. “When my time at the maternity home was up, I was terrified,” Cindy admits. “I called around, but most places had waitlists, and I didn’t know what we were going to do.” During this time, Cindy realized that God’s timing is always perfect. 

In May 2024, Cindy discovered STCH Ministries Homes for Families – a place that would soon become a turning point in her journey. When asked what it meant for her and Emma to be welcomed so openly, despite the challenges of her daughter’s oxygen machine and her own visual impairment, Cindy shared, “That’s something that’s going to be unforgettable because most places don’t want to deal with people like me. But they took me in. It means so much that they’re working with me and helping me manage Emma’s appointments while still letting me participate in lessons, Bible study and worship. I don’t feel overwhelmed here like I did in other places.” 

At STCH Ministries, Cindy experienced God’s redemption in ways that changed her forever. “Miss Josephine and Miss Brandy asked me if I wanted to accept Jesus,” she recalls. “I had never done that before, but I said yes.” What happened next was nothing short of a miracle. Within three days of that decision, Cindy’s daughter no longer needed oxygen support. “That’s how I know Jesus exists,” Cindy says, her eyes filled with tears. “If He could heal her, He can do so much more.” 

This was just the beginning of Cindy’s journey of faith. Feeling a strong calling, she prayed for guidance before choosing to be baptized. “I didn’t want to do it just because others were doing it,” she recalls “I wanted it to be real.” Her baptism became a turning point. She describes the transformation: “It’s been a lot different now that I’m baptized. Everything that’s going on and everything that I’m going through, I see it with a different outlook than what I was seeing before.” 

Cindy’s transformation extended beyond her faith. It has reshaped how she viewed others, including Emma’s father. “I used to hate him,” Cindy admits. “But now, I can say, ‘I love you because you’re Emma’s dad, and I care for you as Christ cares for you.’” She prays for him every night, asking God to lead him to healing and restoration. “Hopefully, he gets help. I don’t want to see him lost forever,” she says with compassion. Cindy’s newfound ability to forgive is a testament to God’s work in her heart. 

Healing also brought changes to Cindy’s relationship with her daughter. Raised by her grandmother, Cindy missed the traditional mother-child bond. Now, through God’s guidance and the support of those on Marshall Campus, she is building that bond with her daughter in ways she never thought possible. “The resident coordinators are teaching me how to be the mom Emma needs,” Cindy shares, “and the mom I wished I had growing up.” 

Cindy’s reliance on God has grown steadily as she navigates ongoing physical challenges. Her eyesight continues to diminish due to diabetes, but she recognizes this as an opportunity to trust God’s provision. “Even though my eyesight is diminishing, at the same time, the Lord is restoring it in a weird way by my hearing being enhanced,” she explains. 

The staff at Homes for Families has stepped in to provide adaptive solutions for managing a household. “They’ve taught me how to cook and clean without relying on my sight, and that’s been a big help.” Her faith, along with the resources and encouragement provided by the ministry, has given her hope for a brighter future. 

Cindy dreams of becoming a Certified Nurse’s Assistant or pursuing medical coding so she can work from home, in hopes of providing for her daughter while being present in her life. “I pray for her every day,” Cindy says, reflecting on Emma’s miraculous recovery and her hopes for their future. “She’s my pride and joy. I just want her to grow up knowing God’s love and how much He’s carried us through.” 

Cindy’s story is a powerful reminder that God’s redemption is not about erasing the past – it is about transforming it. It is about choosing hope, even when darkness seems overwhelming. It is about believing that the past does not determine the future. 

Thank you for taking time to read through our Messenger! What a blessing it is for us to show you some of the ways in which God is working through STCH Ministries. As you read through the stories shared, please take a moment to say a prayer for those highlighted. As you know, what is shared is a small portion of their story and we know God has a great plan. 

I find bridges to be marvels of engineering. The civil and structural engineers who design and build bridges have the complex responsibility of managing many phases of the design and construction that are vital to the project’s success. Some of these phases include site planning, foundation work, building the substructure, completing the superstructure, inspections and testing to name a few. Many times, architects are involved in the design of a bridge for a variety of reasons. Some bridges are fairly simple to build and others are seriously complex. 

Generally speaking, bridges are designed and built with painstaking detail to provide a way to cross an obstacle, such as a body of water, valley, road or railway, without blocking the path underneath. We rely greatly on bridges to help us navigate through our lives. I challenge you to think about how often you use a bridge. How much designing and planning went into that bridge, and how much more difficult our lives would be without it? 

When I think of bridges, I think of connection in spite of an obstacle. In the same way, bridges are used to overcome obstacles, in life we face situations where we have an obstacle, and we need to overcome it. At times those obstacles can be minor and easily dealt with but other times we need help. I believe it is vital that we are connected with the Great Connector, our heavenly Father. How many times in life have we faced obstacles that seem insurmountable? We must realize that with God, all things are possible. 

You might be facing an obstacle as you read this today. I encourage you; no challenge is too big for the Great Connector. We also know that God uses His people to be that blessing and help in times of trouble. Here at STCH Ministries, that is what we desire; for God to use us how He sees fit, in a variety of situations, to reveal His character to those we minister to. I am not sure how large of a bridge you need built for the obstacle you are facing, but I do know it starts with God. Also, are you open to God using you to be a connector for those in their time of need? God uses His people to do His work. We know while the needs are great, the laborers are few. 

Let’s commit to being bridge builders for those facing challenges! 

Romans 12:21- Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.