I first heard about Cornerstone when my husband was in a Bible Study with Mike Doyle, who put us on CAN's mailing list. I decided to volunteer for Cornerstone because I saw a chance to help people. I've been a receptionist here since 2010. I answer phones and greet guests. Recently, I had the opportunity to supervise a group of volunteer teenagers working on Cornerstone's landscaping. The thing I enjoy most about volunteering at Cornerstone is the positive attitude of the people- happy energy! One thing I would say to anyone considering becoming a CAN Volunteer is that there are many ways to get involved from a little bit to a lot. God seldom sends people to your door needing your help; you have to put yourself out there where they are. Cornerstone has a constant supply of people with a variety of needs. Everyone has something to offer.

Charlotte Philips (CAN Volunteer 2010 - Present)

My wife I first heard about Cornerstone in the early 1990's from a member of the Sunday School Class I teach at the First Baptist Church of Hurst. Pat Black reported that she had been to the Cornerstone warehouse and she indicated that they could use volunteers. From the beginning, we could witness the valuable contributions Cornerstone was making to the Tarrant County community. We also assisted in moving the warehouse to Sylvania Avenue and then to East Loop 820.

Mary and I felt that we could serve others and perhaps make a difference to them in that community. From this service, we learned that the Cornerstone Community Center was collecting toys received at the warehouse to be used for their Christmas Store. After my wife retired, she and other women from our church taught English to Spanish speaking women at the Community Center for several years. After I retired, I volunteered as a weekly Bible Study teacher for homeless men and women. In recent years, this Bible Study was changed to a Bible Study for Senior Adults. I continue to teach the Bible study each Friday morning.

We especially enjoy being with the Staff, Volunteers and clients at CAN. We know that there are many places that volunteers could serve but we try to find those situations that will maximize our efforts for the Lord Jesus Christ. We feel that this is the best local place where our services would be most beneficial.

In addition to areas of ministry I have already enumerated, I also acquired a ministry through Cornerstone about three years ago. This opportunity came to me through a conversation between CAN Directors Chaplain Jerry Cabluck of WelcomeBack/Tarrant County and Director of Network Development, Jesse Vasquez. Chaplain Cabluck mentioned to Jesse that the WelcomeBack/Tarrant County program needed an reliable volunteer at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Fort Worth District Re-entry Center for ex-offenders. My service is required every Tuesday and Thursday and amounts to well over 600 hours a year, not counting my personal time through direct contact, mentoring and telephone contacts with parolees. I have subsequently been designated as the Voluntary Chaplain at that office.

God has richly blessed us through volunteering at Cornerstone Assistance Network along with our church involvement in teaching and mission work. We would recommend getting involved.

All for Jesus!
Harold Kimber (CAN Volunteer since 1994)

I first learned about Cornerstone from a referral from the Waco Christian Women's Job Corps executive director. When she found out we were moving to the North Richland Hills area, she told me I needed to look up Kristen Horton, who was, at the time, the site coordinator for the Cornerstone Christian Women's Job Corps. I began volunteering at Cornerstone CWJC in September 2009. I taught the Life Skills/Personal Development classes to the women. I love teaching the women - I am so blessed by their lives and their intelligence. I feel God is truly using me and my talents now to serve him. I also serve as a volunteer on the Cornerstone CWJC Advisory Council and love doing that as well. The thing I love most about volunteering at Cornerstone are the women I meet and hearing their stories and how many of them have come from very adverse backgrounds but want a better life for themselves and their families. I love sharing what God has done for me in my life and what He wants to do for them. You will be blessed if you are looking for a rewarding volunteer position by serving at Cornerstone CWJC. We desperately need Christian women who would be willing to devote an hour or so each week to mentoring our students. This is such a blessing to do this and I speak from personal experience. Call Kristen Horton for more information on volunteering. Better yet, sign up for the August 6 mentor training class at Cornerstone! Lynda Swoveland CAN Volunteer (2009 - Present)

I first heard about Cornerstone from my daughter, Beckie Hinze, who was volunteering in the Christian Women's Job Corps program. I chose to volunteer my time because of the scope of your ministry at CAN, especially Christian Women's Job Corps. I taught a Bible study class for CWJC, and now I volunteer each Friday at the reception desk.

In April, donations made in my honor were used to establish a legacy fund for women completing the CWJC program. I enjoy volunteering at Cornerstone because of the realization of making a difference in people's lives...and getting to know the men and women of God who serve there.

If I could say one thing to someone considering becoming a Cornerstone Volunteer, I would say, "It is a great ministry with so many different areas of service...give it a try...you will be blessed. I always get many thank-yous for doing nothing but answering the phone...you will be appreciated, no matter what you can - or can't - do!"

Betty Best, CAN Volunteer (2007- Present)

God has accomplished so much at Cornerstone through volunteers. These men and women have each given at least 50 hours of volunteer service to Cornerstone between January 1 and April 30, 2011. They are the top 6% of all volunteers in total hours donated so far this year. We are SO grateful for their generous gifts of time and talent!

Janet Powers (CWJC)

Marguerite Schildgen (Thrift Store)

Harold Kimber (Senior Adult Bible Study, WelcomeBack)

Lori Manning (Promise House)

Terry Pickle (Thrift Store)

Robin Williams (CWJC)

Travis and Jill Pipkin (Administration)

Lynda Swoveland (CWJC)

Marianne Dennehy (Thrift Store)

Bill Richards (Thrift Store, WelcomeBack)

Bill and Barbara Norman (Administration, Thrift Store)

David and Lois Essells (Thrift Store)

Sheila Daniels (Promise House)

Britt Reed (WelcomeBack)

Amy Hernandez (Administration)

Teddi Wilson (Administration)

Sherry Bracy (CWJC)

Mary Stanley (Administration, Thrift Store)

Edward Villanueva (GED, Medical Clinic)

James Stevens (Thrift Store)

Bud Dodson (Thrift Store)

Barbara Maynard (Administration)

Dan Schmit (Medical Clinic)

My journey at Cornerstone has been filled with many wonderful people who have generously given of themselves. I have been especially blessed to know these four individuals who have walked beside me for the past twelve years.

Steve Mitchell has volunteered with Cornerstone for twelve years and in just about as many ways! Steve and his wife, Martha, volunteered for many years with Child Evangelism Fellowship. They presented the Gospel and helped lead many children to Christ during the Good News Clubs at the old Cornerstone Community Center on Peach Street.

Steve helps me each Thanksgiving by driving his truck to the store the Saturday before to pick up turkeys. His son, Jonathan often comes with him, and both help us unload the truck full of turkeys.

Every Thursday night, Steve volunteers to tutor people who are preparing to take the GED test. He has tutored adults here at Cornerstone for many years.

Steve also plays in the Cornerstone Golf Tournament every year.

Frank Walker has been a volunteer at Cornerstone for ten years. He drives his truck every week to pick up our food order at the Food Bank and volunteers with his truck for three other ministries! Frank also attends the weekly Seniors Day Out Bible study.

Edward Villanueva, a retired school teacher, has volunteered with Cornerstone for seven years. Edward is invaluable to our adult education program as a GED tutor and ESL teacher. He is always studying, whether it is GED material or reading and writing papers for classes at Tarrant County College.

Edward and his wife, Maria, both volunteer at the Cornerstone Medical Clinic as receptionist and interpreter.

Harold Kimber leads a weekly Bible study for the Seniors Day Out program. He also led a Bible study for the weekly lunch for the homeless at the old Community Center. He has led a weekly Bible study at Cornerstone for over ten years.

Harold also works every Tuesday with Jerry Cabluck for the Welcome Back/Tarrant County program.

Oswald Chambers calls those who pray, serve, help and give hope and encouragement “living monuments of God’s grace.” My journey at Cornerstone has been blessed because I have been surrounded by these four men who truly are living monuments of God’s grace to the people that cross their paths at Cornerstone.

Jesse Vasquez
Director of Community Services

We have many volunteers at Cornerstone, and God uses them mightily to accomplish His plans. Sheila Daniels, who volunteers with New Creations and The Promise House, wrote this and we wanted to share it with you as National Volunteer Month comes to an end.

First, I thank you, Lord, for everything you have done in my life- especially in the last three months. Thank you for always being there for me in good and bad times. Your faithfulness is why volunteering my time to help others is so important to me.

I’ve never before felt so strongly that I was in the right place at the right time. God is so good for bringing Coyletta Govan back into my life as my mentor. Her spirit works overtime for everyone, especially for women- which is perfect, because Coyletta is the Housing Coordinator for The Promise House, a loving home environment for women released from prison.

Since Coyletta came back into my life, I’ve begun volunteering at The Promise House and I cannot say enough about it. The women who live there are changing their lives and working hard to better themselves. I’ve learned much each of them, and through God they have stolen my heart. Every woman is different, but I love them all. I am excited to say they are well equipped in God’s word, which is very important.

After church one Sunday, we went to The Promise House and had dinner with the ladies before painting most of the house. What a wonderful afternoon filled with love and laughter! My spirit led me to go to work the next day and take off the rest of the week to help Coyletta and Lori wherever they needed me. So I did. I would get there every morning as early as possible and stay until it was time for all volunteers to leave. Let me tell you, I enjoyed every minute of cleaning, painting, cooking, and making sure the women had transportation to get around. I’ve never felt my spirit jump up so high because of the joy in my heart. God has shown me my purpose in ministry and in life is working for Him as a volunteer at The Promise House. I love volunteering to help anyway God leads me to do so.

Thank you, Father God, for the week I had with my sisters at the Promise House. It was truly amazing. I love every woman in the house with all my heart. I know that The Promise House is just the beginning of what God is getting ready to do through Cheryl, Kelly, and my mentor, Coyletta Govan. The power she has in women’s ministry is God-sent. I am happy to be a part of the new creation of the Promise House. I give God all the glory.

Sincerely,

Sheila Daniels

In honor of National Volunteer Month, we want to highlight Janet Powers, the Site Coordinator for Cornerstone Christian Women’s Job Corps (CCWJC). She is a full-time volunteer and is making a huge difference in the lives of many women. Read her thoughts about her journey with Cornerstone below.

My original thought was to fill some time in my week through volunteerism. I had volunteered many times over the last 40 years but it was hit and miss with no real commitment. When I came to Cornerstone, I thought volunteering would just take up some of my time in a very slow commercial real estate market. What I immediately felt was a calling to do more- and I was willing. What I did not expect was a direct call from God asking me to turn toward Him and follow the path He was laying out for me. I began to read to gain further understanding about the clients we serve. I knew instinctively this calling was real and I felt so comfortable changing my entire life to fit His design. I brought with me lots of skills- none of which I saw a need for within CCWJC, and the skills I thought I needed to lead CCWJC, I did not think I had. But as I learned, God equips those he calls. So I trust my voice to reflect His direction, and while I have struggled with how to do this exactly right, I have been open to the changes and ideas He lays on my heart. It truly is an evolving process to be a committed volunteer. There is an ethic to volunteerism; the same as a work ethic. The best volunteers are those who recognize it’s not about filling their time; it is about taking their time and committing it to being a disciple for Christ- the reason we exist.

-Janet Powers