Barnabas Group KC 2024 Review & Ministry UpdatesTuesday, September 17, 2024Overland Park, KSTo register for our events or for additional details, please contact:kcadmin@barnabasgroup.orgSpeaker Bios
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Deborah was born and raised in rural western Kansas. With a desire to do orphanage work in Russia, she attended Barclay College and graduated with a Missions and Bible degree in 1996. She began doing youth and children's ministry as a college student and directed a program in Bucklin. Feeling called by God to stay in rural Kansas in 1998, she became Executive Director of YFC (now Youth Core Ministries), and in 2010 became Development Director. In 2018 she resumed the role of CEO. She lives in Greensburg with her husband, Tony, and son, Caleb.
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My husband, Bryan, and I have been married 37 years, blessed with one beautiful daughter, and two handsome sons, beautiful daughter-in-law, one granddaughter, and a grandson due at the end of August. I was born and raised in the Kansas City area. My husband and I met, married, and raised our family in the area. We love Kansas City.
My chosen career path is in Nuclear Medicine, but we eventually decided that I could always jump start a career, but have one shot at raising our children. Bryan and I decided to make some adjustments, and I stayed home with our children through the high school years. This was such a blessing. Once our children entered college years, we knew it was time to jump start that career.
I was elected to our local Board of Education while my children were still in the local public schools. I served as President, Vice President, and Board member. It was an honor to serve my community. I also saw the challenges families faced across a wide bandwidth of need.
I eventually was asked to be the Kansas City Regional Director for Kansas Department of Children and Families(DCF). Having a medical background and moving to the world of Family Services was quite a leap, but it was a leap I am so thankful for.
Eventually, I ran for City Council in my area and won. Truly, again, an honor to serve my community. During this same time, I was offered a position as the Kansas State Director with Safe Families for Children. It is our Mission to keep Children Safe and Families Together. My history with DCF helped me decide clearly, this to be my next step.
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Graduating from Houston's Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and being raised in a church-going family set the foundation for my life's work. I attended Phillips University in Enid, OK, where I met my wife Jerri, and followed her to the University of Oklahoma. In 1990, we moved to Kansas City and rededicated our lives to Jesus Christ at Overland Park Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In 1992, we founded a national security production distribution business, which became central to our ability to support our ministry calling. As the Founder and Senior Executive, I grew the company from a mere concept to a highly successful enterprise with significant annual revenue, an outcome requiring vision and Divine inspiration. After leaving the business in 2023, we have further pursued our callings through Homer’s Coffeehouse and Heartland International Ministries (HIM).
I have been actively serving in ministry for over three decades. Initially, I served as a teacher, elder, and board chair. After hearing God’s call, I became the Campus Pastor for Christ Church - Mill Creek, a church plant, from 2004-2006. I then served as Executive Pastor at the Regional Evangelical Alliance of Churches until 2012. Since 2008, I have been the Executive Director of Homer’s 2:42, Inc., focusing on planting house churches and start-up congregations through Homer’s Coffeehouse. Homer’s is a culturally relevant, gospel-centered ministry dedicated to building communities like those described in Acts 2:42-47.
Since joining the HIM Board of Directors in 2016, we have made significant strides in preparing for the future. We updated the organizational guidelines and procedures, assembled a new leadership team, and revitalized our brand appearance to build on our 20-year legacy. In March 2018, I became Executive Director of Heartland International Ministries (HIM), guiding its mission and ministry. We have since revised our mission and vision, focusing on solutions for the world's most impoverished people, addressing issues like prostitution, child exploitation, and resource scarcity through education, business funding, and humanitarian aid.
Continuing HIM’s work in countries like India, the Philippines, Nicaragua, Bangladesh, Nepal, Croatia, Kenya, Zambia, and Nigeria requires increased financial resources and support. The communities we serve are more in need than ever. My hope is to raise awareness and support for our ministry through our PALS (Partner and Leader Servants), becoming a major influence for Christ in the global ministry we embrace.
To God Be the Glory.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out at byron@heartforhim.org or 816-830-8389
Ministry Descriptions
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Youth Core Ministries seeks to impact rural communities by showing Jesus to kids, families and communities through intentional transformational relationships and unconditional love. We use youth, family, and community-based programming; drawing alongside them as they move from poverty to plenty and to a deeper understanding of their value in the Kingdom of God.
Youth Core Ministries is trauma-informed. We have an understanding of what trauma and toxic stress do to a person’s mind and body. YCM creates a culture that heals, a culture that looks at a human being and does not ask, “Why did you do that?” but rather, “What happened to you?” It’s a culture that understands a person’s behavior is conveying a message about his or her story. A trauma-informed culture is a culture of love, listening, respect, and kindness. It is a culture that gives people space to calm down and permission to be real. It is creating spaces where people feel safe. In that safety, people begin to heal from their trauma.
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Safe Families for Children is a national, volunteer-led, movement committed to keeping children safe and families together. We are a group of ordinary people who are taking purposeful steps to make a difference.
Our vision is for families to be transformed through radically compassionate communities that provide hope, help, encouragement, and support. We focus on establishing and building ongoing relationships between our volunteer families and the families we serve and support.
Our founder, David Anderson said, "We believe parents are capable of being the parent their children need them to be."
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About Us
In a world plagued by the scourge of human trafficking and impoverishment, HIM is dedicated to making a difference. Our core focus is aiding underserved populations globally, working to prevent the detrimental effects of poverty, limited education, hunger, and the erosion of human dignity. With a mission centered on preventing child exploitation, prostitution, and sexual abuse, we address the root causes of these atrocities.
Our Mission
We tackle these complex issues through humanitarian aid, business funding, and educational opportunities. Our goal is not only to save potential victims but also to empower communities to break free from exploitation and extreme hardship. By providing business funding and entrepreneurial support, we help partners start their own businesses, creating sustainable livelihoods that reduce reliance on abusive situations and offer opportunities to thrive.
Our Values
At the heart of our mission lies a commitment to sustainable solutions. We uphold values that have distinguished HIM's conduct over the years: Share the Gospel, Build Communities, and Do Good Work.
Our Vision
HIM embodies the hope and determination of countless individuals worldwide who refuse to accept the status quo. Through our solutions addressing trafficking, exploitation, and poverty, we are not only changing lives but also shaping a brighter future for generations to come.
Empowering Through Education
Investing in education and vocational training, especially for women, children, and marginalized communities, is central to our approach. We equip individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to build a brighter future for themselves and their families.
Strategic Objectives for 2024 and Beyond
Recognizing the importance of clear objectives, we have identified four primary goals to achieve.
- Establish 50 Businesses Globally: With an average start-up cost of $5,000, these businesses promise significant returns for our partners.
- Provide Clean Water: Delivering clean water to over 100,000 people in rural areas at an average cost of $0.86 per person, helping children avoid disease and malnutrition.
- Expand Leadership: Appointing two new Country Directors to broaden our network of partners and reach more people globally.
- Spiritual Outreach and Biblical Training: Increasing our global leadership through these initiatives.
Raising Awareness and Support
We are committed to raising awareness about the realities of abuse faced by women and children across the globe. By shining a light on these issues, we aim to garner support for meaningful change.
Join Us
Join us in our vision of eliminating violence and exploitation of women and children. Together, we can create a world where dignity and opportunity are accessible to all.