The following stories are from clients, parents, and staff whose lives have been changed after becoming involved with the Bethesda program.
Group Home
Prison Program
Professional Counseling Services
Retreats/Seminars
Agency Trainings
Group Home
From Bitter to Better - A Lot Better
by Skylar Sowers, Oklahoma Girls Group Home Resident
I came into Bethesda Girls Group home unaware where I positioned myself. I didn’t know what to expect or learn from this apprehensive place. I had my mind set that if I played pity for myself and manipulated my parents...
Misty's Validation Leads to Healing (Oklahoma Girls Group Home)
Misty is a 17 year old, single mother of a 2-year-old son. She has been involved in the D.H.S. system for most of her life. Both of her parents are incarcerated for drug related charges and both have had their parental rights terminated. Misty began living in foster care when she was 6 years old her son began much younger. As a child, Misty was resistant to being adopted because of her dream...
Special Letter from Sarah (Oklahoma Girls Group Home
My name is Sarah, I was born on March 3, 1987. I am now currently 18 years old. I was raised in a normal, loving and caring family. My mom, dad and brother attended church every Sunday and every Wednesday.
It was all pretty much normal until I turned 16 years old. It was the year everything changed. My boyfriend and I broke up after...
Youth of the Quarter: Allison (Oklahoma Girls Group Home)
Allison is 15 years old. She has had the unfortunate experience of dealing with abuse and other extensive family difficulties. She moved to Oklahoma from Colorado at the age of 12. For the last ten years she has been raised by her mother and stepfather, and has a twin brother. She has only recently had contact with her biological father. Allison was admitted to our facility in February…
Prison Program
Thank You Letters and Comments From Parenting Class-Ending Evaluations
A special thank you!
I remember Bethesda.
A Familiar Story (SCI Dallas Penitentiary)
My name is John T. Jones, I’m writing this letter to express how taking the Bethesda Parenting class has changed my whole outlook on life. Before taking this class I was a bitter, angry and confused person. I was living my whole life in turmoil with drugs and crime. As a child I was molested and beaten and to top it off, I was mistreated by my own mother. I was never shown affection or love as a child. I grew up in a family that did nothing but drugs and crime. I was never taught any morals or value about life. When I was 12 years old...
A Parenting Story (Lewisburg Penitentiary)
The first time I met Joe was sometime in 1992. I had just retired from the United States Bureau of Prisons and was working part-time coordinating a college program at the Lewisburg Penitentiary. He was looking for a way out, and perhaps thought college was it. We met several times. He was friendly towards me and appeared comfortable in our conversations. We seemed to "hit it off." Why? I don't know…
A Letter to my Daughter by Bob Niemack, Director of BAD DADS
Dear Colleen,
The better I get to know you, the more amazed and proud I am to be your father—proud because you've grown up to be such a wonderful young woman with so many traits I admire and respect. Amazed because I know you didn't become this person overnight, and yet I feel I wasn't there for the transformation...
Professional Counseling Services
Wholeness
by Clay Watts
My pastor, Jim Hennesy of Trinity Church in Cedar Hill, Texas, announced that his theme for 2009 is "Wholeness." This confirmed a word I had received over Christmas for our family that this would be a year of healing in all areas. It continues and expands a personal journey of relational healing...
Journey of the Heart
by Amy E. Wells
A precocious, five year old little girl ran up to her Dad as he was driving away. The normal routine was that he would pull up, open the door and let her climb in. They would go to the store for the day’s milk for their family of nine. This day was different and...
Retreats/Seminars
Trinity Church (Restoring Relationships Seminar - 2010)
I went to the Bethesda class #4 tonight at Trinity.....SO GOOD!! SO INSIGHTFUL! Even though I have heard it before....there is SO MUCH to absorb and learn! I want to learn and experience all the healing I need, and learn and share with others too!
Ministry of Reconciliation Retreat (Tarpley – Cornerstone Church June 25-26)
Writing my autobiography was difficult to be specific at the beginning. However, once I got started writing, my past somewhat flowed with eagerness to get it all done. Afterward, reading it gave me the first part of vindication...
Stillmeadow Men's Retreat (October 15-16, 2004)
Just a quick note of appreciation for your tender ministry during the Stillmeadow retreat. After I returned home on Sunday night, my family and I had a special discussion that will be a "marker" for each of us...
Agency Trainings
Comments From Training Evaluations