PREFACE - How the Organization Survived 2005

This past year, our organization continued its reorganization after the loss of our founder in February of 2005. Although this annual report will focus on 2006, we find we must preface it with what led up to this year in 2005.

Since the inception of our ministry, we operated from our founder, Bob Peers’, home, which he had dedicated to full-time ministry. Located in the University District, it was an ideal place to meet as it was at the hub of I-5, bus lines and foot traffic, although parking was always an issue. Classes and ministry events had been held there since September 1997. 

Bob passed away suddenly in February 2005, leaving the care of the entire ministry to Steven Sprague (current President) and his wife and co-leader, Maya Sprague (Vice President & Training Director). Bob had bequeathed his entire estate to Small Beginnings, but this was contested by certain individuals.

The ministry site was sold and the ministry found itself in the same position as some of its clients…homeless. Ministry equipment had to be moved and was placed into a storage unit.

The Monday Night Healing Prayer group Bob had led for over twenty years was now left leaderless. Maya stepped in, but with some concern, wondering if many of the mentally ill and emotionally disturbed clients would be able to make the transition from their beloved friend and leader, Bob. God showed Himself faithful as the clients transitioned more quickly than anticipated and then transitioned once again to a new meeting place. This was particularly worrisome because the mentally ill typically do not transition easily or quickly.

David Zucker, the Mental Health Advocate at University Presbyterian Church, came to Small Beginnings’ rescue. Within a day of hearing of our ministry’s plight, he moved heaven and earth to find a suitable room for the Monday Night Healing Prayer. For nearly a year and a half, this group called UPC home and we will be forever grateful for David’s loving and compassionate help.

Although Small Beginnings has always behaved as a non-profit, it had not pursued non-profit status. Also, no leaders were ever paid for their time, but merely reimbursed when they paid out-of-pocket for necessary ministry items. The estate battle forced the ministry to pursue non-profit status and this required the use of the remaining funds in the ministry account. The organization was required to alter our name slightly from Small Beginnings to Small Beginnings Ministries.

Randy Ramos, an alumnus of Small Beginnings’ classes, was invited to become a Board Member and Secretary. He graciously accepted and has been an excellent addition to the ministry. His keen understanding of the organization and his attention to detail as well as willingness to do whatever is needed at any time has been a true blessing to the organization.

Deeply believing in the mission of this ministry, the leaders fronted money to continue paying the ever-mounting legal and state fees. The organization then had to apply to the IRS for tax exempt status. The approval process should have taken only a few months, but due to massive fraud among upstart non-profits after Hurricane Katrina, the IRS was now having to be extremely careful and exacting when it came to tax exempt status. Eight months later (and extra paperwork to fill out), the organization received approval.

The organization had been thinking of Susie Rodriguez for a possible board position for some time. Her steadfast presence at all Small Beginnings’ classes, her desire to reach out to those less fortunate, and her interest in finance made her a perfect fit to be a board member and treasurer. She has taken on new and complex duties with humility and diligence. We feel truly blessed to have her on our team.

Eventually a settlement was reached regarding Bob's estate and the ministry received a little less than half of the monies Bob originally intended for his beloved ministry.

2006 - A Time to build

In January of 2006, our organization received Bob's bequest. The organization now had funds to operate and provide even more services than before, but there were still many things that had to be done to rebuild the organization from the ground up and with a key member gone.

Every year since 1997, Small Beginnings has held Community Passover Seders. Because of Bob’s passing, lack of a ministry site, and lack of funds, the ministry was unable to have its 2005 Passover Seder.

We held our first Passover Seder as a non-profit organization at the Edmonds Conference Center on April 12th, 2006 and had our largest attendance yet of 44 guests. We have always provided this event free of charge and although it was much more expensive to do due to banquet hall rental fees, etc.; it was a huge boost for everyone associated with the ministry to see we were back in business, the leaders were still committed to the organization’s vision and mission and it showed the ministry was far from folding after our devastating loss in 2005.

The ministry website was outdated and difficult to read. Maya, along with a couple different web developers created this new site and it should be published online in January of 2007 barring any complications.

In April, Maya began networking with various professionals and ministers in the community to begin gathering speakers for the First Responders to the Mentally Ill Seminar. Immediately, there was excited interest from both pastors and speakers on the subject. Depending on administrative demands and the speed at which preparations can be made, the ministry hopes to provide this particular one-day seminar to the public in 2007.

Volunteers have been working on a mailing list of churches in the Puget Sound area in order to notify pastors of upcoming seminars that will benefit them, their church staff and parishioners. As of December, all the churches in Seattle, Lynnwood, Everett, and Edmonds have been added to this list.

As one can see from our financial report (to view it, scroll to bottom of page), we are still not paying staff as we wish to be fiscally conservative at this time while we are “getting off the ground”, but we do see a day when this will occur. We have also received donations that helped defray some of the cost of the Passover Seder this past year.

After a wonderful year and a half at University Presbyterian Church, we found we had to find another place for the Monday Night Healing Prayer meeting due to noise issues. David Zucker attempted several times to remedy the situation, but due to church priorities and their own various ministry needs, we could no longer remain there.

Once again, God was faithful to us and to the people we serve and within a week or so, Pastor Karl Neils of The Seattle Vineyard Church, responded to our request to rent a room. He found us a lovely room that sits right off the sidewalk for easy entry and we believe we will be in this particular space for some time to come. As well as paying rent for the room, our ministry donated 32 folding chairs and paid half the cost to place nice cloth blinds on the windows of the very tall doors so as to provide privacy for the attendees. We were concerned that it would take months for the vulnerable attendees to transition yet again to a new place, but with David’s help at UPC, phone calls of encouragement and printed maps, our group members found their way to the new room in a matter of a few weeks where they are doing fine.

Steve Sprague, Maya Sprague, Randy Ramos and Susie Rodriguez have worked hard to guide the ministry through its formative stages as a non-profit. In addition to the administrative work, which is constant and considerable, Maya continues to provide lay counseling to several clients, is currently engaged with creating the new ministry website, coordinating volunteers on the mailing list project, training Susie on financial and tax matters and leading the Monday Night Prayer Group. It appears that a past third year student may become an intern in early 2007, training under Maya on how to work with the mentally ill in the context of the Monday Night group.

Once the website is completed and basic marketing items are in place, the organization will work in earnest to present its first seminar, First Responders to the Mentally Ill. We will also, once again, host our Tenth Annual Passover Seder at the Edmonds Conference Center on Monday, April 2^nd 2007. We will continue to provide the Monday Night Healing Prayer meeting and lay counseling as time allows. We do not, as yet, believe it is time to rent offices or a permanent space as our ministry needs have not grown to this level. Renting space for our different functions makes much more sense financially at this time.

 2006 was a year full of behind-the-scenes work, which was extremely necessary in order to be thoughtful, wise and deliberate about the things we wish to do for churches and the community. We look forward to 2007 being the year in which we can focus on ministry outreach after much preparation and past challenges.