SULPHUR SPRINGS -- A lovely old home on Lodge Drive in Sulphur Springs has taken on new life and a new purpose as housing for young men in foster care. The house was built in 1927 by the Rev. John Brown, founder of John Brown University, who lived there about six months before moving to Siloam Springs. The story is often told that when Brown was gone for a few days, his wife would start building a new addition to the Craftsman cottage, so the home soon increased in size. Now the structure is over 8,000 square feet.
After the Browns moved out of the home, it was sold to the Wycliffe Translators, who used it for approximately 10 years. When the property was up for taxes in 1968, the Shiloh Trust purchased the property and, eventually, it became the parsonage for Shiloh Church; and its pastor, James Janisch, moved in. James married Anna Lee Sevak in 1979 and she joined him in the home. James died in 2016 and, after his death, a new vision for the Shiloh House was born.
In 2017 a decision was made by the boards concerned to donate the home to a ministry fostering boys ages 14 to 21 called Shiloh Ministries. Harris and Marcy Steele, of Sulphur Springs, are heading up the ministry, with the support of their board of directors.
The Steeles have done much praying about the foster home, which they hope will become A Place to Call Home. They say they feel God is calling them to do this work. Their desire is to provide a home for boys "who want to go somewhere with their lives" and don't have the opportunity in their present situation. Harris points out that most of their referrals come from broken homes and unfortunate circumstances. The remote location of A Place to Call Home is ideal for such youngsters who need to be far removed from their former life.
The home is now being remodeled and has a new roof, wiring, plumbing and the installation of city water. The Steeles are remodeling the lower floor of the three-level home -- which features a living room, two bedrooms, a kitchen and bath -- for family members and guests who will soon be visiting. The 19-room, five-bath, house has already begun housing young men who are assisting in the remodeling work.
The Steeles recently had the opportunity to take in another young man but decided to decline another resident until the building and remodeling work is nearer completion and life will be more settled. They are authorized to house up to six young men between 14 and 21 years old. All residents are referrals from the Department of Human Services.
The parsonage of the Church of Shiloh was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in January 1988 and was named the Shiloh House. Harris and Marcy are trying their best to maintain the home's historical significance. It is one of several Sulphur Springs structures on the National Register including the Adar House, the Jones House, Wee Pine Knot, the Camp Crowder Gymnasium, the Sulphur Springs Old School complex and the Sulphur Springs Park Reserve.
The Steeles are focused on providing an ideal environment for their young charges and nurturing them both physically and spiritually. Harris has been on staff at Gravette Upper Elementary School as a paraprofessional in special education, giving him much-needed training for working with foster boys. He is also a master baker and was formerly general manager for Shiloh Farms bakery. He and Marcy, who has been in food service all her working career, plan to share their baking and food service skills with boys who may be interested. Marcy has recently been doing some catering and plans to recruit the boys to help with Marcy's Catering. They plan to turn a former office, just off the dining room, into a bakery, which they will call the Cookie Jar Bakery, and hope to put in two large pizza ovens.
A sunny, light-filled room on the third floor is being used as a study and prayer room for the boys. Recreation is not overlooked. The game room holds a Ping-Pong table and a TV for playing video games. A foosball table will soon be added. A niche at the top of the stairs holds shelves for future trophies the boys might win.
A van has recently been donated for transporting the boys, as the family will soon be growing. Lots of big projects are going on at A Place to Call Home, but the Steeles are tackling them with courage and optimism, always striving to improve the lives of their young residents.
The Steeles held an open house at A Place to Call Home on Saturday, May 26, and gave tours of the home to show area folks how their project is progressing.
Donations received thus far have allowed for the remodeling of the house. Anyone who would like to learn more about the 501(c) 3 Shiloh Ministries, tour the home or help in supporting the work with foster boys may contact Harris and Marcy Steele at [email protected].
Community on 06/06/2018