The Nehemiah Foundation held its annual Christmas Open House on Wednesday, December 12 at St. John's Missionary Baptist Church. The Nehemiah Foundation supports over two dozen ministries throughout the area that focus on children and families.

These are many of the ministries that the Nehemiah Foundation supports.

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Sim and Corina Bowen of Changing Lives Now Ministries, Inc. The vision of Changing Lives Now Ministries is to see their discipleship graduates living a sober, successful life and fulfilling the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. They operate Adopt-A-Block, Libre House (home for men and women recovering from drugs, alcohol or are homeless), Overcomers, Restored Justice (Jail Chaplaincy) and Mexico Missions. Be sure to visit http://www.changinglivesnow.org to learn more about this ministry.

Chaplain John Parr, founder and Executive Director of Agape Chaplain Services, a relatively new ministry in Springfield. Agape provides "chaplains" in public and private schools to serve students by working to identify the "root" of their problems and to help find solutions to their emotional, spiritual, social and educational needs, as well as the needs of the families. To learn more about Agape Chaplain Services, call Chaplain John Parr at 679-3315 or Brad Martin, Principal of Tecumseh Middle School at 845-4465.

Chaplain Ervan Holland (left) and Chaplain Rich Herzog of Public School Outreach. PSO is a non-profit organization directed toward helping inner-city youth in cooperation with area school systems. The program is rooted in the belief that all young people should have a safe place where they can come and talk aobut whatever is bothering them. Contact Chaplain Ervan Holland at 450-1226 or by e-mail at .

FYI Women's Ministry offers free and confidential services for women and families like free pregnancy testing; parenting, adoption and abortion information; abstinence education; mentoring for singles and couples; parent education services and many more. Spanish speaking mentors and resources are available. They have two Clark County offices - 468 N. Dayton-Lakeview Rd., New Carlisle and 815 W. Main St., Springfield. You can call them at 845-0900 or 322-3514.

Emmanuel Christian Academy is, "Changing Lives to Change the World". Children graduating from ECA will be academically prepared to meet the demands of a changing world and economy. ECA's graduates will be firmly grounded in biblical truth, clearly knowing right and wrong. Manning the ECA booth is Betsy Linnell, Christian Character Education.

The Pregnancy Resource Center of Clark County opened in 1987 as the Crisis Pregnancy Center of Springfield. The Pregnancy Resource Center of Clark County can help women make an informed decision about their pregnancy. Their clients will meet people who care about them and can answer their questions. Pictured are Julia Marple, Volunteer Coordinator (left) and Diana Timmons, Executive Director.

Everyone is familiar with the Salvation Army bell ringers at Christmas time. Through this effort the Army provides Christmas presents for children who wouldn't normally receive anything. But their ministry is active year-round and throughout the world. Pictured are Ryan Ray (left), Youth Pastor, and Major Jim Gingrich. Their Springfield location is at 15 S. Plum St. at the corner of W. Main.

Urban Light Ministries' service to the community is constantly growing. They operate the Sonshine Club and offer free meals, free fitness room, free physician ministry, food pantry, homeless shelter, computer classes, fatherhood training, marrigae enrichment - and as if that isn't enough, Urban Light Radio and 1600WULM. For more on this ministry, visit http://www.urbanlight.org. Pictured are Stacie Bush, Sonshine Club Director, and Eli Williams, President.

The Marriage Resource Center's mission is to prepare, strengthen and restore marriages through:

• Resourcing and training mentor couples within churches and congregations in the areas of: premarital, enrichment, restoration and stepfamilies.
• Providing marriage education and mentoring that addresses common challenges to marriage health and intimacy.

They are located at 616 N. Limestone St. at Chestnut. Pictured are Executive Director Lavern Nissley and his wife Ronda.

The Childrens Rescue Center's Daily Bread Ministry operates four food pantries that serve the community with food, clothing, Bible studies and other activities. Their Street Ministry distributes food to their neighbors who cannot get to the pantry. For locations and times of the food pantries, visit their website. Pictured is Administrator Betty Patton.

Bea Smith of Jobs & More. Their mission is to provide outstanding job placement services to those who are struggling to find employment. Jobs & More was established in 1998, and is a 501 (c) (3) non profit, non-denominational Christian ministry existing to holistically empower the unemployed in our community. They are located at 1345 Lagonda Ave.

Marcia Roth (and Bobby Roth) of Catholic Central Service Ministry.	Charlie Bush of the Interfaith Hospitality Network.
Wally Martinson, Executive Director of the Nehemiah Foundation talks with Frank Lewis of the Senior Dream Center.	Gesa Eimer (left), winner of the Larry & Sarah Landess Community Spirit Award - with Sim and Corina Bowen.

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