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THE VISION OF NEW SONG MISSION

In response to Christ’s calling, New Song Mission offers loving, lifelong homes and a private education for young children whose prospects are severely threatened by dysfunctional family situations. The New Song approach represents a proven alternative to Indiana’s financially hamstrung child care system, and fantastic news for children who deserve a second chance at childhood.

What You May Not Have Known

Last year, 23,000 ordinary children in Indiana were abused and neglected by their parents. That’s 442 kids each week or 63 every day who suffer at the hands of a violent batterer or who’ve been exploited or neglected by parents who disregard their kids’ basic human needs.

In 2003, more than 10,000 children were removed from their homes by the state and placed temporarily in foster homes and facilities; most, from poorer families.

We’re faced with children living in real pain, and a system stretched beyond its ability to help all of the kids the way the loving people employed by the system wish that it could. Unless a swift, long-term intervention is made, many of these children will be further hurt.

It’s a hard truth, suffering. What do you say about cigarette burns and belt scars? What do you say about circumstances so horrible that children kill themselves to escape the pain? What do you say to the child you could have saved if you’d only known how? Really, what can you say except to ask: “Could I somehow be a part of the solution?”

Bob Schloss said yes.

As New Song’s Executive Director, Bob personally identifies with the loss and abandonment issues faced by the children he now seeks to help heal. Growing up on the south side of Fort Wayne, Indiana in a fractured family, Bob had only sporadic contact with his father. Bob’s understanding and compassion toward traumatized children grew significantly through 15 years of service as a lawyer, deputy prosecuting attorney, youth ministry leader, and, most recently, serving for five years as a senior-level administrator in a large and prominent children’s home in northern Indiana. Bob and his wife, Lisa, who is a licensed clinical social worker, have been married for 19 years, actively fostered children for seven years and are the parents of our boys, ages 11-17. In October 2003 they were called to serve Indiana’s hurting children by creating New Song Mission.

What Should New Song Mission look like?

In our research and travels in different regions of the country, we’ve found amazing examples of caring people who’ve united to create safe, nurturing neighborhoods for hurting children.

From our journeys to Cookson Hills Ministry in Oklahoma to Wear Valley Ranch in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee to Virginia’s Mountain Mission School, we’ve learned a great deal about how to successfully design, implement, and sustain a wonderful home environment for kids. These organizations are distinctively different than any that currently exist in the state of Indiana. Completely privately funded, they are able to care for children for years, rather than months.

These are places where little boys play in streams and catch slimy, green frogs; places where young girls straight from the streets leap on the backs of painted horses and are carried on the rides of their lives; places where kids thrive academically and are excited about their success; places where children’s creative juices flow as they explore music, pottery, painting and wood-working; and places where children are welcomed in by loving families who offer them permanent protection.

The Vision for New Song Mission

With the help and support of hundreds of individuals and dozens of churches, businesses and foundations, New Song will provide a small neighborhood of foster homes and a school for hurting, poor children. Boys and girls in 2nd and 6th grade can come to live in one of the 3-9 homes and will be offered care and guidance until they successfully transition from high school to college, trade school, or employment.

Some of the kids that we will serve will already be at risk of being removed from their homes by the courts because of mistreatment. We’ll provide the parents of these children and local Division of Family and Children administrators with a nurturing alternative. Other parents who are not involved in the court system but who recognize that they are unable to adequately care for their children will come to us after being referred by teachers, counselors, pastors, community service agencies or friends. We’ll provide these struggling parents, many of whom will be disadvantaged, single parent moms, with help for their children, while encouraging an ongoing parent-child relationship.

Surrounded by more than 100 gorgeous acres in Brown County, the children will have an exciting, scenic atmosphere in which to live and explore. Steep hills and deep valleys, a trickling stream and a glassy lake, thick woods and rolling green meadows—the landscape is breathtaking; a terrific place to call “home.”

Every aspect of New Song, from the very platting of the neighborhood to the development of the children’s programs and activities, is being designed to instill a sense of community and belonging for the children. The fun, spirited kids of New Song will have special needs which will be best met through a nurturing neighborhood of house parents and mentors who will love, embrace, and inspire. And at New Song, children will experience the truth that nothing can ever separate them from the love of Christ Jesus.

Where are we today?

Since the formal birth of the ministry in late 2003, New Song Mission has become an active, multi-denominational 501(c)3 non-profit organization with 900 encouraging friends and supportive contacts. With the fantastic aid of pastors, judges, certified public accountants, attorneys, child welfare workers, Christian counselors, and children’s home administrators, we’ve developed a solid plan for our activities. Our recent progress includes:

How You Can Help New Song Mission

We want to bring healing to the profoundly hurting, impoverished children and believe that we, have a responsibility to respond to their cry for help. It is their pain and the missing voice of love in their lives that drives us.

First we ask for your prayers. The model we have chosen is proven to work, but our objectives reach far beyond simple success; New Song Mission is about revolutionizing lives, about love and truth and hope that sink deep down and root out pain and lies. We are pursuing the miraculous, and we need your prayers.

The second thing we are eager for is your leadership and advice. As we move forward, we seek to build upon the wonderful team of leaders who are now involved with New Song. Perhaps you or someone you know have unique abilities or experiences that could help the ministry.

Finally, we seek significant financial support. Through important financial partnerships, many children will soon have a place to call “home”.

We would look forward to visiting personally with you and sharing more about our vision, as well as the beautiful Master Site Plan. New Song is a unique vehicle through which friends of children can come together to give “justice to the weak and the fatherless.” We invite you into this, the Lord’s work.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Personal regards,

Robert P. Schloss, J.D.
Executive Director
812-343-6763
schloss@newsongmission.org