Brothers and Sisters
of the LNF Family,
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A ministry such as ours is always in a position of taking calculated risks – both on a daily basis with the kids we serve, as well as in a variety of management situations we face. This will continue to be the case.
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However, notice we indicated “calculated.” Even with unanticipated struggles, the Lord has blessed us with wise stewardship and grace that resulted in an arrangement in which all our equity is secure; we will be getting back all of our earnest money, down payment, and monthly payments. This is almost unheard of in these kinds of situations. In addition we are optimistically working hard to re-coup a majority of the additional capital improvements made to the property. Most of this “investment” has come from outside donors and the sale of other assets, yet has undoubtedly affected our cash flow as well.
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Singin’ River Ranch represented approximately half of the cash flow problems this past 2 years. Other areas are simultaneously, proactively being addressed to better position ourselves financially into the next season. Some of these are internal management issues we can directly impact; others are more on a “meta” level involving external forces we need to wisely respond to. We continue to solicit your prayers in these matters as well.
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The reason we have been pursuing other options for our residential programming over the past ten years are multi-faceted including; our current facility is “aging out”, we need a better economy of scale to survive in a difficult financial market, and we typically have more referrals than we can accommodate – often desperate and in need of the faith perspective. These realities have not changed. We will need to continue pursuing other options or run the risk of losing this aspect of ministry within our continuum of care. Even though the heart of ministry does not lie in land or bricks and mortar, but rather in the hearts of the staff who serve sacrificially, we still need a context in which to provide the relational ministry of healing.
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As we step off the “ride” we are looking forward to a season of respite as we once again prayerfully determine the accurate balance of the need to stay focused in the here and now with the kids and families we serve, the staff who serve them, and those who support us, and the need for ongoing vision and direction to reach the hurting world in relevant and impactful ways. Please stay in tune with us by periodically checking our website under the “What’s New” section.
We cannot begin to express my deepest gratitude for those of you who have given so sacrificially during this “ride” in so many ways; financially – either in giving or going without, of your time, showing moral support, in prayer, etc. For those of you who love to give, the good news is that even though we may take some time to regroup, there are always a myriad of opportunities to continue giving creatively to the ministry in a variety of ways to further our mission. Maybe the Apostle Paul said it best:
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation of the gospel from the first day until now. Confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect (complete) it until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:3-6
The Executive Board of Lost and Found Inc.