September 2021 Thank You

I’m writing to you as a boys' counselor at Daystar. I wanted to share a bit about how your generosity changes lives from the perspective of my therapist chair… Your donation to Daystar allows kids and their families to experience the life-long process of growing into the wholeness our Creator designed. Through interactions with staff and counselors, moments at Daystar create an enduring impact to families…Kids and parents alike gain skills that allow movement past a world full of obstacles. 

Just last week, I witnessed one of these moments in group counseling. Several young men were gathered sharing about the struggles in their life. Many of these obstacles were in some way connected to the anxiety that is so prevalent in our time. Then, into this moment, one voice spoke above the others and said “You do not need to worry about failing a class that you are not even taking.” His metaphor fell on all the group reminding them to recall all the times they have overcome struggles and obstacles in the past with each other’s help.

I paused the group and wrote the young man’s statement on the white board. The boys realized that sharing about their anxious thoughts, without hope and perspective, made their problems seem insurmountable. Worry had begun to dominate the room…Until one guy shared a hopeful perspective that chased worry from the room.  He reminded his friends of the skills they had learned, the encouragement they had shared and the times they had fought back against their anxiety. Next thing we knew, they all began telling success stories of overcoming things in school and at home because of Daystar’s constant message undergirded by HOPE. Daystar fosters skills that help move them through the world of obstacles we all face.

This little yellow house is full of people that view each child as sacred. They believe even the most discouraged child has the ability to be empowered by hope and learn invaluable tools to navigate a troubled world. It’s a joy for me to work here day after day.

YOU help make all of this possible. Thank you for sharing in hope with all of us. 

Gratefully,

Don Logan

Daystar Boys’ Counselor & Group Leader

July 2021 Thank You

I’ve been going to Hopetown since the late 90’s, when I was just in elementary school, so it feels like a second home. Currently, I’m fortunate to be one of Hopetown’s visiting summer staff members. It’s hard to imagine a summer away from this place with its cozy lakeside cottages, boats full of children and time together to share meals, share worship and share stories. The kids are asked at the beginning of camp what they are most excited about and inevitably at least half of them say Melissa’s teaching. She teaches about the Bible every morning and evening. This past week, for the 2nd through 4th grade summer retreat, we talked a lot about sheep. Probably like many of you, I’ve heard God described as the good shepherd and believers described as sheep a hundred times – so much so I’ve never paused to really think about what it means.

We were invited to think of ourselves and each other as sheep, and we learned that sheep aren’t just dull farm animals – they are quite special. We learned that sheep are brave when they risk their own safety to protect their friends. They have emotions and can recognize their shepherd’s voice. They are caring and remember one another even though they all look the same to us. They are loyal and stick together, rarely straying from the heard. The campers were given the opportunity to point out these qualities in one another. At the end of each day, they would give each other bells for being patient while waiting their turn to play pickle ball, brave while tubing on the lake or kind by serving their friends at mealtime. 

We talked about sin, too. Like farm sheep, God’s sheep can wander. We can be distracted and unaware. We can be impulsive and push the limits. We can be stubborn and selfish. Melissa’s teaching about the wandering sheep allowed us to look at our sin in a different way. This kinder image gave a lot of credit to an often dismissed animal – in the same way that God cherishes us. When we stray, even if we’re just 1 sheep in 100, He’ll notice and come looking for us. He’ll tell us how much missed us and walk us back home. He’ll say it wasn’t the same without us. Isn’t it the best feeling in the world when someone notices you’re missing and says it just wasn’t the same without you? At Hopetown, we believe this message heals. It heals the wounds of loss, trauma, abandonment and shame. We know this because we see it every day at Hopetown, at Daystar, and we even feel it for ourselves. 

Thank you for giving to Daystar. Because of your support, we can continue to shepherd kids and remind them that their lives matter, they aren’t forgotten and that it just wouldn’t be the same without them. 

Allye Gray, Girls Counselor

June 2021 Thank You

It’s been such a fun summer so far at Daystar this year—in addition to our offices being full of kids in individual counseling, we’ve also had both Hopetown and several day camps running at the same time. This summer,  I had the privilege of leading a day camp of 9 high energy middle school boys. We hiked, rock climbed, went to TopGolf, and played Laser Tag. 

We also tied our adventures around Nashville into a weeklong conversation about friendship, and how putting ourselves in another person’s mental shoes (empathy) builds trust and connection. On the last day, we did an activity called “chair time”, a Daystar favorite, where anyone that wants to can get up and sit in a special chair and call on people that want to speak encouraging words to them (the boys affectionately named it a “reverse roast”). I was so impressed with the way they spoke to each other, “You are such a good friend to me.” “Thank you for talking to me in the van.” “You are always there for people.” “I know I can trust you.” These are not the type of words normally exchanged between 12-year-old boys. Yet Daystar is a place where I hear kids talk to each other like this all the time…in groups throughout the school year, day camps, and at Hopetown summer sessions. I’m so grateful to be a part of this team and all that goes on in the summers to help boys and girls learn how to have deeper relationships and learn more about themselves..

Thank you so much for joining the effort to keep Daystar’s doors open. Your support this June of 2021 gives young people access to a place where they can find friendship when they’re lonely, inclusion when they’re outcasted, and hope when they’re hurting.

Gratefully,

Alex Hopkins on behalf of The Daystar Staff

May 2021 Thank You

At the beginning of June our staff welcomed 21, 11th and 12th graders to Hopetown, officially kicking off our long anticipated summer. We have already begun to see God move in amazing ways as new relationships are forming and we’re settling into life on Kentucky Lake. As we transition out of the most unique school year of children’s lives, our summer retreats at Hopetown and day camps in Nashville are seeking to help kids practice holy play and find peace in the everyday. One of our dear friends captured so well what Daystar aims to do in her words…

“I’m coming out of my Instagram sabbatical to give the biggest shout out to Daystar Ministries! If ever I wonder if hope is real and possible, I just have to walk through the doors of their sacred yellow house!! They turn families lives around for the good! They prove that the joy does return in the morning no matter how dark the night! Miracles happen in their care! If your family has come on hard times or you or your child could really use a listening ear, a word of encouragement, help to make a new way where you feel there is no way, please reach out to them!”

This is exactly what we are hoping to do in the lives of families and all the kids that are in our care this summer. Remind them that joy does return in the morning, no matter how dark the night has been.

Creating space like this for kids truly would not be possible without your generosity and support. Thank you for giving to Daystar and championing care for children and families in every season.  We hope and pray that you too can be reminded of the truth that no matter how dark your pandemic year has been, joy returns in the morning thanks to our faithful and loving God.

April 2021 Thank You

So often the kids and teenagers who walk through the doors of Daystar and quickly find it to be a refuge. They come willingly and eagerly week in and out to talk about their struggles and work through challenges. But now and then, our clients would rather be anywhere than our little yellow house. Occasionally, life has thrown them an awful curveball and this is just another “thing that won’t work”—at least that’s what they believe.

Last week, I sat with a teenager riddled with health issues and tired of appointments—a new client who longs to simply “be normal”. It was clear we’d reached an impasse only ten minutes into the session. Without hesitation she let me know that she would not talk to me, her parents were making her do this and she would not be back… one and done. After 30 minutes of working my therapeutic magic, I realized I was out of tricks and she was unwilling to talk and so frustrated she began to cry. Suddenly, it hit me: ask for one of our pet therapists. Within moments, Pippa scratched on my office door. Without missing a beat, I opened the door, sat a jar of treats next to my client, looked Pippa in the eyes and said, “If you want a treat, you’ll have to ask her” and pointed to my reluctant client. 

Pippa did the thing our pet therapists do, she brought approachability to the moment making the hard thing a little more doable. My client softer. For the rest of our session, we talked mostly about dogs and momentarily about life. One life touching another continues to make all the difference—even if that life is a four-legged furry life. 

As I settle into my role as a girls’ counselor here at Daystar, I continue to be grateful for way my steps have been ordered. I “quit my day job” mid-career to pursue a masters degree in marriage and family therapy never considering connections I made while working in girls’ ministry events (through which I met Melissa and Sissy) would come full circle. I’m thrilled to be here at Daystar. Thank you for your support of the work we do here at this little yellow house—we couldn’t do it without you. 

Sincerely,

Amy Jacobs and The Daystar Staff