A Year in Review

A Note From Our Founder & CEO

2024 started off unexpectedly...

Our goal to expand our services for God’s Kingdom meant that we were working on multiple fronts; operating 5 homes for high needs foster youth with a capacity for 16 youth, working to expand into Idaho, and also working to open homes for disabled adults in Washington. (This home would serve foster and foster adopt disabled adults as a forever placement. Some of our kiddos need 24 care indefinitely and we want to be able to meet that need.) Our domestic operations were in full swing and our team was doing a fantastic job serving our youth, building relationships with families, and developing rapport with the state agencies that govern our work.

Our heart has always been to make a bigger impact. In November of 2023 an opportunity presented itself to serve the less fortunate in the Dominican Republic. Our good friend Carolina Bufford and her family that live in the DR routinely serve the less fortunate. my daughter Noelle flew down with Carolina, and Zara and I arrived a couple weeks later. Our heart’s were filled with God’s love for these beautiful people and our desire was to jump in and serve. We began to strategize about how The Source could partner with the Buffords and serve in the DR. However, during this trip I started to experience intense episodes of vertigo and dizziness. I felt like something in my body was off. Once we returned to the States I scheduled an appointment with a doctor. After multiple exams, CT and MRI scans I was diagnosed with hydrocephalus (a condition in which too much cerebral spinal fluid is produced in my brain).

Therefore I needed brain surgery which was preformed in late March. It was definitely hardest thing I have ever been through. Brain Surgery was not in my strategic plan, I was busy doing the work of the Kingdom, serving as many people as I could and yet here I found myself.

I can say though, God has met me in a powerful way. He has comforted me in my weakness, pulled me back from the brink of death and given me a new passion for life and ministry.

The things I tell myself are simple: I am HIS, I am ALIVE, I am a HUSBAND and I am a FATHER. From this area I will serve and live, that Christ can work in me and through me and have full access to all that I have and all that I am.

My recovery took a lot longer than expected as I had some complications along the way. The blessing in all of this is the strength of our leadership team here at The Source. They have worked tirelessly to continue the vision. The directors and staff have served our youth well.

Malawi Trips- In March Courtney Zehr, Kenny & Naphtali Morden and their daughter Amarie went to Malawi in my absence. They loved well, served with their whole hearts and helped finish the second orphan home on The Source Malawi Land.

Courtney returned in August for sustainable agricultural training, together with our Malawi team leaders John and Micah. They recieved training in Financial management, Biblical family culture, composting, and other essential farming techniques that will pave the way for a secure future.

We opened another Source Youth Home in Post Falls, Idaho. Mike Witherup took the lead on completing the licensing process with the state of Idaho to become fully licensed and accredited. This home, lovingly named ‘ Appaloosa Prairie’ due to the rolling hills and horses surrounding. It is currently serving some of Idaho’s most vulnerable youth. The team there is committed and caring, and we are thankful for each person investing in this work.

Meanwhile in Washington…

Enhanced Respite Services

In this past year our emergency respite program has served 22 families and children providing 17,521 hours of quality care.

Manager Sagar, plays with a resident in the ‘sensory room’. We are thankful for our wonderful staff team!

Out-of-Home Care

OHS program currently has two high needs residents who are such a joy to have in our program. Each resident has a fulltime, highly trained designated staff to care for them. This program is always full and there is a waiting list.

Behavioral Rehabilitative Services

BRS programs which help youth work on their problematic behaviors served 21 youth 24 hours a day, providing 122,640 hours of around the clock care .

Manager Will plays football with Residents of our Birch Meadows home

Grace House

Our Contract Specific program, Grace House, focused on serving some of the most complex and hard to place youth. Youth with extreme behavior, mental health and physical disabilities have called Grace House home. This program is the only one of its kind in Washington state.

Connecting With Past Residents

Many teens who leave our program reach out to Chris and our Directors team later on for support.

Some times they have housing, food, or financial needs
Often they are most in need of the guidance and connection that a mentor provides
Our desire is to provide this follow-up support to maintain this connection.
This vital work is not something we receive funds for through DCYF. If you are interested in contributing to this work, please donate today!

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We have several residents that we have kept in touch with. Wherever they are, whatever is going on, they know they have someone they can reach out to.

In some cases their choices have led them to a jail cell and they need someone to talk to.

In other cases they find themselves on the streets in need of food and shelter.

We also see inspiring comebacks, where a teen who once felt lost and alone now has purpose, a close knit community and hope for their future.

Whatever the case is, we want to continue to show love and kindness, meeting these young people where they are at- which is vital for them to navigate through life successully.

Stay tuned for updates;

Our Annual Fundraising Event May 17th- Dinner, Live Music & Silent Auction. Tickets on sale soon!

News on the opening of an Adult Disability Home.

In-home BRS Program where staff meet kids with behavioral strggles but still live at home with family.

Progress in the sustainable farming side of the Source International’s Malawi base.