July 2026 Newsletter

Hope in Motion

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Life around New Hope Shelter has been full and exciting. Lives are being touched, and people are seeing the needed changes in their lives that have plagued them for years.

Recently, one of our former residents came by as we were able to bless her with a car that had been donated to the shelter. When I asked her how her life was going, she said, "never been better," which thrilled all of us. She came in smiling ear to ear and sharing just how much God has changed her life for the better. She still comes by for our Monday evening women's Bible study. You will hear more from her at our special event in September (more to come — stay tuned!).

If you have been by the shelter in the past few days, you will notice the landscaping that was a part of the building campaign "Hope Restored" is complete. What a difference a little grass and plants do for the look of our building.

We have been busy in our Bridge to Hope Life Recovery program. Students are studying the rich truths found in God's Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to minister to them as they recover from a lifestyle that takes so much from them. Sometimes all it takes is someone to come alongside them and love them in the same way Jesus loves them — without judgment or an agenda. What a joy to offer the grace and mercy of Christ.

We also have residents who have chosen our basic program. All but one is working. They are applying for jobs or working every day. The guys in this program have grown and matured toward being able to work and live outside the shelter. I have four men on my case load, one of whom is in the basic program. He has recently secured a job as a CNA at a local facility. He wasted no time in working toward getting back on his feet. He has been great to have in the shelter.

Our New Hope Shelter Team is great! Last week Susan, our bookkeeper, secured tickets to the zoo in Wichita. She and our Shelter Manager, Tony Nave, were able to take a resident (a mother and her four children) to the zoo along with Susan's grandchildren. It was a chance for the kids in the shelter to just be kids. Thanks to Susan and Tony for braving all the kids and hot weather to serve our children.

Finally, New Hope Shelter now has an Endowment Fund. The account was opened last week to establish a long-range strategy to bolster New Hope's financial position. The purpose of the fund is to provide a place for those desiring to give funds to ensure the financial stability of New Hope. We believe this provides a place to invest "end of life" resources, providing financial stability, but also funds that can be used for the general operating budget, allowing New Hope to grow and provide even more ministry to the homeless and disadvantaged population in Harvey, McPherson, Marion, and Butler counties.

We are truly blessed to be the ministry you trust to give people a hand up.

Important News and Update!!

Save the Date!! — Blueprint for the Future | September 22

Join us on September 22 for Blueprint for the Future, a Christ-centered evening celebrating what God is doing through New Hope Shelter and casting the vision for the years ahead. Enjoy dinner, dessert, music, testimonials, and fellowship — and be part of an evening that supports the mission and future of this ministry. Check out the Save the Date below for all the details, and use the link or scan the QR code to reserve your tickets today. Seating is limited!

May 2026 Newsletter

Greetings from all of us at New Hope

As April comes to a close, I am reminded how quickly this year is moving along. We are grateful to share that 2026 has already been a very encouraging and fruitful year for New Hope. Because of your faithful support, we have seen meaningful progress in many areas of our ministry. I wanted to share just a few highlights with you.

One important milestone this year has been the completion and publication of both our new Board Handbook and Employee Handbook. We are especially grateful for the dedication and expertise of Janet Fulmer, our Human Resources expert and board member, and Tim Hodge, Attorney and board member. Their hard work and attention to detail have been a tremendous blessing.

Our 25-week Bridge to Hope program has also undergone a few refinements, and we believe the curriculum is making a dramatic impact in the lives of the men and women we serve. We are so thankful for Natashia Nave and Dartha Lewis, who continue pouring into the women, and for Tony Nave, who joins me in investing in the men.

This spring, we also held our first annual Men’s Retreat at CrossWinds in Hesston, and it was a great success. Nine men attended, including one former participant who returned to be part of the retreat. He also continues to attend Monday night Bible study and, in his own words, wants “to finish what I started.” Stories like these remind us of the transforming work God is doing. Once participants complete the Bridge to Hope program, we plan to honor their perseverance and God’s faithfulness with a graduation ceremony.

We are also preparing to launch a new short-term program: a 90-day initiative designed to help residents build employment interview skills, learn sound financial principles, and re-establish family relationships. We will also assist participants in gathering important personal documents that may have been lost or stolen. This new program will be called STEPS (Strategy To Economic and Personal Stability). I will be personally overseeing STEPS, which will complement our long-term faith-based Bridge to Hope program by strengthening practical life skills that residents will carry with them after they leave New Hope.

In addition, I have had the privilege of visiting several churches, bringing greetings and expressing our thanks for their support. I have also been given opportunities to preach in a number of area churches, which has been a blessing and an encouragement.

We have also been strengthening community connections. Through our involvement with the Hesston Chamber of Commerce, We met with Hesston College administration. Janet Fulmer graciously hosted a visit to Bethel College, where we met with the Chair of the Campus Biblical and Spiritual Life Department to discuss the possibility of speaking in chapel next semester and providing interns from his department next semester..

Another exciting development is the completion of our landscaping project, which is part of the original building plan. Work is scheduled to begin on June 1. The grassy areas between the front of our building and the parking lot will be enhanced with new sod, a perimeter bed of plants, river rock, and irrigation.

Looking ahead, we are in the final phases of establishing the New Hope Endowment Fund with Everence. This fund will provide an opportunity for those who wish to leave a lasting legacy and help ensure the long-term financial stability of the shelter. We look forward to sharing more details very soon.

And please be sure to save the date: September 22, 2026. We will be hosting a celebration dinner called Blueprint for the Future at the Meridian Event Center, here in Newton, KS. More details will be coming soon, and we hope you will join us.

Special Thanks to Golden Plains Credit Union for their very generous donation as our initial Blueprint for the Future sponsor.

One last thing, We invite you to take a look at our online auction featuring the Wichita Wind Surge Luxury Suite Experience. Every bid helps support our Blueprint for the Future Banquet, making a meaningful difference in the work we do. The auction ends on May 14th, so be sure to get your bid in before time runs out. Follow the link below to bid on this exclusive experience. 

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/wichita-wind-surge-luxury-suite-experience

Thank you so much for your support over the years. New Hope is in a strong position and poised to serve our community for many years to come. Our staff is exceptional, our facility is among the best in the Midwest, and our donors are incredibly faithful. We treasure your partnership and look forward to continuing this work together, united in purpose to follow Jesus and love those He loved.

With gratitude,

Jay Lewis

July 2025 Newsletter