Threshold to New Life

Pack n’ Play

27 December 2015
Richard Bahr
1 Comment
Categories: Threshold to New Life

We were contacted by Simpson Housing regarding a client about to have her second child. She works at a convenience store just down the block from her apartment. She planned to take a short time off with her new baby, then return to work while her mother watches the kids. She has been a successful housing client and needed help outside what Simpson could provide.

Our newest client helper, Marie, handled the initial call and did a great job understanding the need so a speedy decision could be made to help. A couple of our team members located a new Pack n’ Play, as requested by the client, to use as a crib as well as some much needed diapers.

A unique request and one for which T2NL was happy to step in the gap.

Client helped by closing a small gap

26 November 2015
Richard Bahr
No comments
Categories: Thank yous, Threshold to New Life
TY note from Simpson Housing 2015-11Simpson Housing is a key partner for T2NL, referring clients to us that are beyond their organization’s ability to help. One case worker called us their “last resort”. T2NL was able to step in and help this client and were recognized by Simpson Housing for the support we provided.

Mom hospitalized. Family fell short on rent

11 November 2015
Richard Bahr
No comments
Categories: Housing, Threshold to New Life

While the mom was hospitalized, dad stayed home with the kids as they couldn’t find adequate childcare. Because of this, dad missed three weeks of work. Thankfully, he regained employment, however with the shortfall in earnings, the family fell behind in the rent. 

Along with a grant from T2NL, the family was able to make a payment arrangement with the landlord. 

How wonderful is it to assist in keeping this hard-working family in their housing and not be out trying to find another place during the holiday season?

 

BBQ at Higher Ground Shelter in Minneapolis

3 September 2015
Richard Bahr
No comments
Categories: Celebration, Threshold to New Life
BBQ, shelter, homeless, minneapolis
BBQ at Higher Ground Shelter in Minneapolis

We did this last summer and stepped it up a bit this year. Brothers Butcher shop in Maple Grove gave a steep discount on 200 burgers and 200 hot dogs. Six volunteers showed up to cook and serve. All men that came into the shelter Tues, Sept 1 had the choice to enjoy some BBQ, chips and a bottle of water. Thanks to those who helped, T2NL providing the funding and to a holy and merciful God that meets and loves us right where we happen to be at in life.

Combat Wounded Veteran Gets Wheels

13 August 2015
Richard Bahr
No comments
Categories: Threshold to New Life, Veterans

Tyrese with his new carThrough several connections, our ministry provided a car to our client Tyrese. He was wounded in the Gulf War but isn’t content to live on disability. As a matter of fact, he seems not to recognize that he has one. Regularly Tyrese holds down two or three jobs including running his own one man cleaning service.

When the transmission went out in his last vehicle, we launched into action. Through several connections we met Annette at Beyond the Yellow Ribbon (http://www.beyondtheyellowribbon.org/). She put the word out in their network and located a generous donor willing to part with their car for the cause.

What a blessing! I never get tired of seeing how God works and enables His purposes to be fulfilled. We’re grateful to Annette and Beyond the Yellow Ribbon as well as the donors for the heart to give. Tyrese was elated and hopes someday to give back as he has been given to.

Three Generations Share a Home

4 June 2015
Richard Bahr
No comments
Categories: Threshold to New Life

Brenda is on disability and lives in a modest apartment with her daughter and grandchildren. Her daughter works and between this and the disability payments they can usually make their financial obligations. Brenda has really taken to the time at home as she watches the kids and works to have a positive impact in their lives. She asked for, and we obliged, bibles and covers for the children as she wants to teach them about Jesus.  T2NL provided some rental assistance during a brief shortfall. We really love Brenda and how she’s working to make her house a home.

Relationship over time

2 May 2015
Richard Bahr
No comments
Categories: Threshold to New Life

A nice young mom of two boys has been with us for about six months now. She works full time and the boys attend middle school. We first came to know her when she needed coats for her sons last winter. Then, during a move, we provided some funding for a storage locker, which we then moved her stuff out of and into her new apartment (side note – thanks to the GRACE MEN’S GROUP for helping with the move!). Once in her new pad, we discovered she had no beds for the boys, so we provided beds (graciously provided by a donor) as well as a set of new sheets. God wants to be in a long-haul relationship with us, so we hang with our clients as He does with us.

Back into college

30 April 2015
Richard Bahr
4 Comments
Categories: Threshold to New Life

We found a young man staying at a homeless shelter in Minneapolis that received a full ride college scholarship at a small college out east. The ‘gap’ was a need for assistance to get re-enrolled and pay the application fee. We paid the small fee, he did the paperwork and received his acceptance letter AND confirmation of his scholarship this week! Sometimes its the small things we do that make the biggest difference in someone’s life.

Four Families Spared from Homelessness

17 March 2015
Richard Bahr
No comments
Categories: Thank yous, Threshold to New Life

A nice “thank you” from Grace at Simpson Housing. Threshold to New Life got involved financially to support four families when their support ran out. We’re blessed and loved….so we bless and love others.

Grace from Simpson Thank you 2015-03-02

Leon is Grateful

14 March 2015
Richard Bahr
No comments
Categories: Threshold to New Life

Here’s the text Leon sent after we met last night. He is working two jobs, getting caught up on his debt and living within his means. He has a nice apartment that is VERY organized. T2NL provide a matching grant to help Leon get caught up on his rent – he paid 1/2 and T2NL paid half:

“You folks are so totally awesome. I wish that I could have met you sooner in life. But by the grace of God he allowed both you and you wonderful wife in my life and I am so grateful for that. I want to thank you for what you have given me. And that is your time of day. Again I thank you.”

What a kind a gracious note! We’re grateful to God for providing the means to see Leon through this ‘gap’!

Carla Bahr

SECRETARY/TREASURER & ADVOCATE

Carla co-founded Threshold to New Life with her husband, Richard, in 2013. Carla handles the day-to-day operations for the organization dealing with partner organizations and working directly with clients.

She has spent a career in providing administrative support for executives at a number of prominent Twin City companies, which developed her organizational skills as well as the heart of a servant.

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Richard Bahr

PRESIDENT & CHAPLAIN

Having led and grown a leading capital equipment manufacturer with installations in 27 countries serving 17 of the top 20 pharmaceutical firms in the world, Bahr became determined to dedicate more of his time, talent and treasure to helping “the least of these."

He has a B.A. from Augsburg University in Business and has served on the boards of and has actively worked with several charitable organizations throughout his career. As a licensed minister, he volunteers as a chaplain at various homeless shelters along with providing leadership for 2.4 Ministries of Grace Fellowship, serving a daily breakfast to the homeless. He is also a published author. His most recent book, Those People, shares stories about his homeless friends. More about Bahr can be found on his website at www.richardbahr.com.

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Sheila Daniels

DIRECTOR

From Homeless to Faith – Following her experiences in dealing with both homelessness and chemical dependency, Sheila committed her life to Christ in 2004. As God began pulling the pieces of her life together, she began working for a non-profit homeless shelter in 2007, then earned her B.S. in Human Services in 2018. Following multiple promotions, she now is the Program Director at Hope Harbor at the Salvation Army in Minneapolis.

Sheila is originally from Chicago and has resided in the Twin Cities since the late ’90s. She is married and a soldier in The Salvation Army. Her empathy for those struggling with addiction, homelessness, and mental illness has oriented her vocation and volunteering to step in to help those in need.

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Danell Gibbins

DIRECTOR

Danell is a hands-on executive with several decades of senior level experience in the wholesale industry. Born and raised in North Dakota, she has lived in the Twin Cities area for more than 30 years, and she and her husband call the northern suburbs home.

In addition to volunteering with Threshold to New Life, she supports a number of other organizations which reflect her heart for poverty, food and family insecurity, and homelessness: World Vision, Common Hope, and Unseen among them. She loves to cook, eat, and make others feel welcome. She translates this into preparing and serving food at Simpson Shelter, Minneapolis, alongside her friends from Grace Fellowship, Brooklyn Park, MN.

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Denise Morrisette

DIRECTOR

A life-long Minnesotan, Denise is married to John and has two wonderful daughters and a son-in-law. She has spent her career as an elementary school teacher in a Title 1 school in a Twin City area school district.

Along with volunteering with Threshold to New Life, she has helped with several other homeless ministries. She sponsors children through World Vision and is currently a coach and mentor to the Girls on the Run organization, which promotes good self-esteem, positive role models, and moral education along with physical activity to girls in grades 3 – 5.

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John Morrisette

DIRECTOR

Also a life-long Minnesotan, John is married to Denise and has two wonderful daughters and a son-in-law. He has been an Environmental Scientist and has been operating his own business for 22 years.

Along with volunteering with Threshold to New Life, John has learned the joys of serving by being a Big Brother since 2012 and is currently a tutor at Sharing and Caring Hands. He has worked with at-risk teens at Maple Grove High School in the STRIVE program. He has also coached youth gymnastics and soccer for many years.

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Rob Van Beusekom

DIRECTOR

Rob was born and raised in the Minneapolis area and currently lives in the Northwest suburbs of Minneapolis with his wife, Nancy. He has a B.S. Degree in Finance from Saint Cloud State University and has spent the last 30 years of his career in corporate financial management and planning.

In addition to his role on the Board of Directors of Threshold to New Life, Rob is involved in several other non-profit organizations. He teaches financial literacy classes for several organizations, serves on the speakers’ bureau of Feed My Starving Children, and is a Compassion International and Campus Outreach sponsor. He is also involved in his church, Grace Fellowship in Brooklyn Park, where he serves as a church elder, men’s group leader, and small group leader.

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Nancy Van Beusekom

DIRECTOR

Nancy was born and raised in Wisconsin and has lived in the Twin Cities for over 35 years. She lives in the Northwest suburbs of Minneapolis with her husband, Rob. She has a B.S. Degree in Finance from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and has spent the past 30 years of her career in business systems support and project management within the Financial Services Industry, where she recently retired.

In addition to her role on the Board of Directors of Threshold to New Life, Nancy teaches financial literacy classes for several non-profit organizations, ran the church bookstore for 4 years at Grace Fellowship Church, and is a Compassion International and Campus Outreach sponsor.

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Sherri Larson

DIRECTOR AND ADVOCATE

Sherri was born and raised in WI before moving to MN thirty plus years ago. She met her husband Dave on a blind date and they have 2 adopted children. Now both retired since 2018, she and Dave enjoy their respective and joint hobbies, spending time at their cabin, doing road trips and visiting with their children.

After working in the corporate world supporting the divisional VP for many years, Sherri was looking for something that helped people, not a corporate bottom line. She has been a volunteer advocate with Threshold to New Life since 2019. She is also a Drop Off Site co-leader with her husband at Grace Fellowship Church for Operation Christmas Child, collecting shoebox gifts from the surrounding community for children around the world, spreading the good news of Jesus to the children and their families and friends. She has also sponsored several children over the years thru Compassion International.

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Dave Larson

DIRECTOR

David was born and raised in northern Minnesota and has lived in the Twin Cities for over 35 years. He is married to Sherri and has two adopted children, a son and daughter. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Bemidji State University and had a variety of roles in the technology industry over the past 30 years.

After retiring in 2018, he now spends free time volunteering for various organizations and activities. He is a Drop off lead for Operation Christmas Child, providing leadership for shoebox collections at his Grace Fellowship site. In addition, he leads a small group at Grace Fellowship, as well as providing various staff support functions. During the summer months, he spends as much time as possible at his cabin in northern Minnesota.

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