July 2020 Thank You

“God, I anticipate that this day will leave me longing for more time. I’ll try to savor it and grasp this feeling of warmth for as long as I can, but there’s only enough. Please allow me and those around me to be filled with love enough and emotion enough to last for a lifetime. Thank you for this place. Thank you for letting me walk in here and be welcomed, fully. And for allowing me to feel you through those around me in worship, laughter and love.”

One of our high school girls wrote this journal entry as a prayer during her session at Hopetown. It feels like all of our prayer in these days…longing for more time, more community, more shared hope. More worship. Laughter. Love.

Thank you for helping us to provide this, even socially distanced for kids at Hopetown and in the Daystar house this summer. Our hope and prayer is that each child—each family that walks through our doors in Nashville or Kentucky will feel welcomed, fully. We certainly couldn’t do that without you. Thank you for praying. We’re sure praying for you, too. And grateful to be in community and shared hope with you.

The Daystar Staff

June Thank You 2020

On Monday, our Senior Staff gathered to officially start a summer at Hopetown. We gathered in the midst of a continuing, unpredictable pandemic. We gathered in the midst of a nation in conflict—in grieving and learning together, collectively, more about how the horrors of racism have been furthered in known and unknown ways. We’re learning with you. And planning. And praying. And hoping.

In one of our first mornings together, Melissa read these words: 

“Part of what can prevent us from carrying out compassionate action is not only the complexity of what needs to be done in our lives and our world, but the sheer amount of mess and even chaos within us and between us.”

-John Philip Newell, The Rebirthing of God 

We’ve also been choosing our new songs for Hopetown this summer. We have loved this one,

“I’m praying God can come and turn this thing around

God, turn it around; God, turn it around; God, turn it around. 

I’m calling on the name that changes everything, yes

God, turn it around; God, turn it around; God, turn it around.”

                                                            -Jon Reddick 

What an incredible opportunity we’ve been given at Hopetown this summer. At Daystar, in these next few months. We get to gather in stillness. The stillness of a retreat at the lake. The stillness of a counseling office with a safe and trusted voice. We get to be in these hallowed spaces and allow the chaos to settle. To make room for compassion. To make room for God’s voice. To make room for Him, the one who changes everything, who truly can turn all of these things around. 

We are grateful every single day to have the privilege of offering compassion to anyone who walks through our doors. And, even more importantly, to see Him—whether in Nashville or in New Concord, Kentucky—at this mighty act of redemption. Thank you for standing with us in gratitude and in hope. Thank you for joining our voices as we sing together in this time, “God, turn it around.”  We’d love your prayers this summer, for both places. For health, for compassion, and to see evidence of God’s redemption. 

The Daystar Staff

May Thank You 2020

Kids are discouraged.

They need hope.

Those two sentences have possibly never been truer than they are today…at least in our lifetime’s, and in the 35 years Daystar has been in ministry.

As the weeks have passed during this epidemic, our counselors have been continuing to care for kids and families via zoom. We’ve been so grateful for the advances in technology that have enabled us to do this. In the beginning, it was encouraging to see the anxiety so many kids had been dealing with pre-pandemic fall away. They were home—away from the pressures that have become all too pervasive in our culture. They were enjoying time with family. They were frustrated with, but mustering up creativity in the boredom. We honestly saw kids who were more contented and families who were connected than we had in years.

 Recently, however, things have changed. Summer plans are cancelling. Kids are moving into what is, in their lives, besides Christmas, probably the most anticipated season—without anticipation. Most don’t have summer vacations to look forward to anymore. Camps are being postponed at best, cancelled at worst. And we’re seeing it in their faces and hearing it in their voices on the other end of the zoom calls. 

Kids are discouraged.

They need hope.

We are honestly not sure of our summer plans at Daystar, either. We are, like our entire world, trying to balance prioritizing physical health for our children and families and mental health. The reason we are able to do so is you. It is our intent to have Hopetown this summer, knowing that—in non-pandemic years, it is the highlight of many kids’ entire year, according to parents. We want those kids to have room to stretch their legs and enlarge their hearts as we worship and discover together under Melissa’s teaching. With much sadness but confidence, we have decided to cancel all Daystar Day Camps for Summer 2020. Thankfully, Hopetown can have numbers under 50, which keeps us in a safer zone in terms of physical health. We also have started to meet with kids and families in the Daystar house, with guidelines in place that help to create social distancing boundaries, yet still offer the warmth and connectedness that comes in person in our beloved yellow house.

 What we do know, however, is that we can continue to offer Zoom and in-person counseling. One way or another, we can see a child’s face and be a reminder that there is hope. We can hear a parent’s frustration and remind them of all that they are doing that is good and right and matters for their child. We can continue to speak the truth of who they are in the midst of this uncertain time, and the hope that they are not alone, whether they’re 6 or 60.

Thank you for your generosity to Daystar. It always makes a difference. But, we can see every day through our screens the light that it really does bring to the hearts and homes of these kids and their families. We couldn’t do it without you. And we are grateful for your prayers as we move forward into this summer season.

Sincerely,

The Daystar Staff

In Loving Memory of Michael Jones

The name Daystar comes from the verse in 2 Peter 1:19 about “a light shining in a dark place.” Anyone who knew Michael Jones knew he was one of those lights during his time on earth.

Michael literally had a smile that lit up a room. He would saunter in, walk right up to you, flash his smile and make you feel like you were the most important person in the world to him at that moment. He had a gift for warming and inviting others with the light that Jesus had placed inside of him from an early age.

Michael got involved in Daystar in 6th grade and we had the honor of walking alongside him through his senior year, and then on into college when he was an intern with Hopetown. He was helping us lead younger kids while he was still very much a kid himself. He would saunter up to them with that same trademark warmth and smile and speak such truth and hope about how deeply God loved each and every child he encountered.

In his few years at Daystar, Michael literally impacted the lives of hundreds of kids—and a whole lot of grown-ups, too…us included.

Those of us who have had the privilege to know Michael will never forget him…his smile, his warmth, his laugh, and the light that you couldn’t help but know came from Jesus. Heaven got a little bit brighter this week, and earth a little dimmer for having lost him. But we will certainly always remember—and be grateful for having known the light that was and is Michael Jones.

Michael was a faithful and generous friend and supporter of Daystar throughout his life. Donate here if you’d like to give a gift in his honor.

With great hope,
The Daystar Staff

February 2020 Thank You

“Ironically, the most bright and cheerful house Nashville has ever seen contains the most broken and tragic stories of loss, desperation, or fear. However, counseling has the power to bring hope and healing to the darkest of places. Counseling has been a huge part of my story and I wouldn’t be who I am today without the wisdom and guidance the people at Daystar have given me. Volunteering at the place I am so passionate about reminds me of all the reasons why I want to continue to be a part of Daystar’s ministry.

It’s not the house itself that makes me love Daystar, though it is truly the most wonderful place through and through, but rather the people who are inside. There you’ll find twenty-five staff members who all have the same goal: to soften, shape, and strengthen the hearts of each and every client that walks through the door. The warmth of the house and the friendliness of the staff alone could soften any heart. The heart is then carefully shaped by the incredible counselors who are not afraid to ask the tough questions in order to help clients realize who they are meant to be, and who are willing to meet them in their brokenness. Lastly, the heart is strengthened through opportunities such as group therapy, where community is built on encouragement and relationship. I have never felt more understood, loved, and known than I do at the little yellow house, and I have seen significant personal growth since I started going. My desire is to be a counselor one day because I have been deeply impacted by Daystar’s ministry as a client. I came to Daystar feeling broken and wounded, but through the guidance from gifted counselors who listened and cared enough to ask the tough questions, I was able to move towards healing. I want to leave that same impact on others and give back to the community that has meant so much to my own personal journey. Daystar is a unique place where I have been both a client and a volunteer and have grown equally from both experiences.”

These words were written by a high school student who’s currently involved with Daystar. We are humbled by her words. But, even moreso, aware that she’s missing an important truth in these words. She already is impacting others in profound ways. Melissa started Daystar with the motto, “one life touching another.” This young girl is doing it daily—as she volunteers, participates in groups, and simply smiles and speaks to other children (and our staff) in the halls.

We are grateful—for her—for the 1700 families who are hopefully receiving, but also touching others in our little yellow house. And we’re profoundly grateful for your support that helps to make it all possible.

Gratefully, 

The Daystar Staff