"A life isn't significant except for its impact on other lives."
Jackie Robinson
GALLERY
2017 Lifeway Christian Store Unto Him Feature
DREAMS EXCEEDED
Since my Sophomore year in high school, I have dreamed of someday being a writer. Of course, part of that dream has included writing a book, and the vision of one day hosting a book signing in my honor at a large local bookstore. But sometimes we don’t dream big enough. Therefore, God has a funny way of taking our shortsighted, mundane dreams, and exceeding them in a big way.
On Saturday, August 26, 2017, our ministry, UNTO HIM, was featured at Lifeway Christian Store, one of the largest and most reputable Christian bookstores in central Indiana. It is the first time that Lifeway has featured a ministry in over 2 years. So, from 10 am on Saturday morning, to 9 pm on Saturday night, hundreds of fellow Christians from miles around got to hear and see what UNTO MINISTRIES is doing to honor God and lift up His Kingdom.
I still haven’t written my first book (yet), but God has somehow humbly allowed me to start a ministry that is making a small difference in our community – and that’s far better! On Saturday, the day at Lifeway wasn’t focused on me, it was focused on our small ministry that is attempting to do big things in our community to serve God’s people and please Him in the process – and that’s far better! Throughout the day yesterday I wasn’t signing books. Instead I was signing up people to join our team by volunteering with us as we attempt to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus – and that’s far better!
Lastly, August 26th I was hoping to secure donations to support our upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas programs, where we hope to more than double the number of people that we served in 2016. But, unexpectedly, the day was centered on securing more people and organizations to serve and support, more than it was centered on securing donations to serve them – and that’s far better!
I’d like to thank Leroy Smith and Jamie Gonzalez for taking time away from their Saturday to help promote what UNTO HIM MINISTRIES is currently doing, and hoping to more of in the future. I would also like to thank Mary, Deborah, Betty Jo, Judy, Jeremy, Rhonda, and Teresa – the wonderful staff at Lifeway Christian Store – for making August 26th such a productive and memorable experience.
No, I didn’t spend the day, Saturday, signing my best seller, shaking hands, and posing for pictures. All I did was spend the entire day talking about honoring God, loving Jesus, and discussing how a small local ministry is trying to do its part to change lives in our community.
And you know what – that’s far better!
THE SARAH ROSE TAYLOR STORY
“….and a little child shall lead them” Isaiah 11:6
On August 20, 2020, I received an email from a friend. The email contained a prayer request and included a video of a beautiful 15-year-old young lady, Sarah Taylor, who was battling a severe bout of cancer.
In the video I could visibly see the impact of Sarah’s battle, and effects of her radiation treatments – loss of hair, pale skin, dark eyes. But something amazing was taking place in the video: Sarah was singing and praising the Lord. That’s right, even while in the very depth and throes of a difficult fight with an insidious adversary; even in the midst of pain and suffering through the effects of the disease and its treatments; even at the pinnacle of starting her life, but facing an uncertain future – 15-year old Sarah was singing “Surrounded” by Michael W. Smith as she repeated the chorus “This is how I fight my battles”, over and over (see Sarah’s video below). It was amazing, it was inspiring, it was convicting….what was my excuse for not praising Him?
I was immediately drawn to this remarkable young lady, and I eventually was able to connect with Sarah’s parents – Kim and Chad – whom I soon discovered were equally remarkable. Over the next 2 weeks Unto Him Ministries was able to do a few things to try to uplift Sarah and support Kim and Chad as they all navigated through this difficult storm. Then, on the evening of Saturday, September 5th, after receiving a few text messages from Kim with updates on Sarah’s rapidly declining condition, I received the text from Kim that I was hoping would never come. “She just passed.” Needless to say, I was devastated! I still am.
I never got to meet Sarah face-to-face in this life (though I look forward to meeting her in the life to come). Yet, Sarah changed my life forever. According to her parents and others, Sarah never stopped smiling and never stopped praising the Lord, often through songs of praise and worship, throughout her entire journey with cancer, even until the very end. Therefore, Sarah taught me how to smile through my trials, she taught me how to laugh in the face of my uncertainty.
But most importantly, 15-year-old Sarah Taylor taught me how to use praise as my primary weapon to do battle with my fears, to engage in warfare against my pain, and to fight back my doubts. Because of Sarah’s profound influence on me, this is now how I fight my battles. How do you fight yours?
Sarah Taylor didn’t lose her battle on the evening of September 5th. In fact, not only did Sarah win her battle that night by receiving her well deserve crown of glory for a race just started yet extremely well ran, Sarah showed others how to successfully run their race as well. Count me among them!
In honor of Sarah, Unto Him Ministries has renamed our emergency food delivery program:
Sarah Rose Taylor 
Food/Supply Relief Program
Thank you, Sarah, I will never forget you!
David A. Sherron
“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”
1 Timothy 5:17
Pastor Obie
In May 2020 a local pastor was hospitalized with an ailment of unknown origin. In July, she returned home to begin her convalescence. From July 11th – July 15th, Unto Him Ministries placed ten yard signs in the pastor’s front yard of her home (adding 2 new signs each day for 5 straight days) to serve as strength, unity, and encouragement, as Pastor Natalie Obie began her journey to complete recovery.
Please keep Pastor Obie and Trinity CME church in your prayers!
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Community Health Network
Unto Him Ministries, Inc. is partnering with the marketing department of Community Health Network to design and produce 134 window clings for windows throughout each of the CHN hospitals. These window clings are designed to relay positive, uplifting, and encouraging messages to healthcare professionals throughout the CHN network of hospitals, as they continue to serve our community in such dedicated and sacrificial ways. As you can see, many of these powerful messages were created and designed by youth within our community.
Our ministry believes strongly in honoring those in our community who tirelessly work to keep us safe, especially during these difficult and unprecedented times. We hope that these window clings will serve as a constant reminder to all of the healthcare workers of CHN that we recognize and appreciate their heroic bravery and courage; we are pulling for them and praying for their endurance and safety; and we are extremely grateful for their daily service to us, as well as their perpetual sacrifice on our behalf!
“Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interest of others.”
Philippians 2:4
UTH Food Relief Program
Unto Him Ministries is currently serving hundreds of people who are in need of groceries due to financial constraints; and also seniors and those with underlying health issues that need to stay in during the current coronavirus pandemic. We have partnered with various organizations to identify those in need of our help. Our partners include:
- Lawrence Township Schools
- Brook Park Elementary School
- Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church
- Trinity CME Church
- Stop The Violence, Inc.
- Nora Commons on The Monon Senior Living Facility
- Fishers Meijer
- Wheeler Mission
If you know of someone in need of our services, please contact us (317) 341-2362, or email us at dsherron2@gmail.com. Also, if you are interested in donating to this cause, please click on the link below and follow the simple instructions:
HOW TO VOLUNTEER
Unto Him currently has scores of volunteers, spread across all areas of central Indiana. The demographic make-up of our volunteers transcend gender, race, denomination, church affiliation, and social-economic profile.
The one primary commonality of the individuals who generally volunteer to serve with us is that we all share a love for Christ - and a passion for serving those of his people who are poor, homeless, hungry & thirsty, sick, depressed, incarcerated (or recently released from jail or prison), lonely, or forgotten.
If you share our love for the Lord, and if you have a heart for serving those in need in central Indiana, we would love to have you join the Unto Him volunteer team of humble servants.
To find out more information about volunteering to serve with Unto Him, or to sign up as a volunteer, please click on this link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090845A5AF2BA1FB6-iaminterested
Unto Him Ministries is dedicating 2019 to identifying and recognizing those that are diligently serving God behind the scenes. So, we developed the SHU Awards. SHU is an acronym for:
Serving Him Undercover
A SHU Award is given out monthly to someone we have identified in our community who is tirelessly doing God’s work, with little to no credit, fanfare, or recognition.
Our scripture reference for the SHU Award is from Mathew 6:3
But when you serve others, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your serving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:3
The award consists of:
- A Plaque
- A SHU Award t-shirt
- A $100 Gift Card to the recipient’s favorite store or restaurant
Please join us in congratulating the following
SHU Award recipients thus far for 2019:
December 2019 SHU Award Winner
Karen Lee Crull
Karen is the Children’s Ministry Director at Northview Church / Carmel Campus. Karen not only oversees the Christian education of hundreds of kids each week at Northview, she also organizes and manages a large staff of volunteers and oversees and conducts enfant christening and baptism services at Northview, among many other things. But it’s not so much what Karen does that makes her such a worthy SHU Award recipient (though her many activities are noteworthy and deserving of honor in and of themselves), it’s how she does it. Karen’s Galatians 5:22 like spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control permeates throughout the Northview Kids ministry wing of the church every Sunday, inspiring and uplifting everyone with whom she comes in contact. Karen and her husband Mark have raised their 4 children with the same Christian views and dedication.
Karen’s SHU Award gift card was to her favorite restaurant: Rail in Westfield
December 2019 SHU Award Winner
Margie E. Brown
For over 5 decades, Margie served Christian communities in Indiana and Kentucky as a pastor’s wife, to Pastor Barry Brown. As such, Margie did much of the heavy lifting behind the scenes at church and at home, so that Pastor Barry could focus on his life calling in ministry. But Margie’s many contributions went far beyond the walls of the church and the home. Margie organized and engaged in many activities to raise money for the church to meet the expenses, including walkathons. She was also an active volunteer in caring for nursing home residents, often feeding and taking care of the elderly behind the scenes. Margie was known throughout her community for her tremendous Godly love for others, and that love transcended race, color, social-economic status, background, church affiliation, and common interest.
Margie had an unfortunate fall 2 hours prior to her SHU Award celebration and therefore was not able to attend it. But 17 of her closest friends and family members still continued on by getting together on Saturday, December 14th, in the Fellowship Hall of Castleview church to enjoy a catered dinner (which included all of Margie’s favorite foods) and celebrate Margie’s life and many Godly contributions. Exactly one week later – on Saturday, December 21st - Margie went home to be with the Lord, after a long and courageous battle with cancer and other physical ailments. But I’m happy to report that Margie was able to see pictures and videos of her SHU Award celebration just prior to her passing.
Congratulations Margie, on receiving your SHU Award. More importantly, congratulations on receiving your crown of glory for a race well ran!
November 2019 SHU Award Winner
Monica C. Weick
Monica is an accomplished teacher, with a special emphasis on teaching youth with hearing impairments. But Monica’s many contributions toward Kingdom Building go far beyond the classroom. Monica has been an advocate and active voice for many worthwhile endeavors and projects, including general advocacy for inclusion of children with hearing impairments, and raising money to support the World Vision Clean & Safe Water project. Monica also stepped in at the age of 24 to raise her 5 younger siblings after the untimely deaths of her parents in consecutive years in 2010 & 2011. Monica has been an active cornerstone and foundational member of Harvest Bible Chapel North Indy since its inception in 2007, and she has recently taken on running as a hobby, often doing so to raise money for the many causes that she supports. Moncia’s FB page describes her as a “Follower of Christ, Sister, Guardian, Teacher, Interpreter, Runner, Oiler and Life Long Learner”. That’s exactly who and what she is, in that priority order!
Monica’s SHU Award gift card was to her favorite restaurant: Qdoba
September 2019 SHU Award Winner
Steven C. Boltz
Steve, as part of the Christian Business Men’s Connection (CBMC), has been faithfully conducting Thursday morning bible studies and prayer sessions over 6:30 am breakfast for businessmen in the E. 96th & I-69 area for over 20 years. During this time, scores of men have been blessed and encouraged by Steve’s wisdom and authenticity in teaching God’s word; as he has uplifted brothers in Christ during times of crisis, and celebrated with brothers in Christ during times of triumph. Steve's consistency in showing up week after week, rain or shine, to serve men of various ethnic groups; socioeconomic status; and from various denominations and levels of faiths - all with little to no recognition or fanfare - makes him the perfect SHU Award recipient.
Steve’s SHU Award gift card was to his favorite restaurant: Bravo’s
July 2019 SHU Award Winner
Julia G. Lukas
Julia has been the Revive Kids Team Lead at the Wheeler Mission Center for Women & Children (CWC) since October 2017. Julia’s responsibilities include overseeing CWC’s child-care services, which serves not only the children of guest residents, but also staff children. Julia works daily to insure that each child at the CWC’s child-care maintains the over-arching CWC goals of knowing they are:
Christ-Centered
Grace Based
Trauma Informed
Strength Focused
Julia is known by all she works with as being loving and living for Jesus. She is a prayer warrior and deeply committed to insuring that those she serves always feel deeply loved and valued. Julia’s SHU Award gift card was to her favorite restaurant: Traders Point Creamery.
June 2019 SHU Award Winner
Pastor Julius J. Stephens
Julius Stephens pastors at Word of Faith Church in Indianapolis.....but that's just on Sunday mornings. Pastor Stephens spends the rest of the week going out into the community, ministering to the needs of many. From sun up to sun down throughout each week, Julius quietly conducts multiple men's bible studies; discipleship programs; prison visits; and one-on-one meetings - not to be seen or affirmed by others, but to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus by serving and affirming others. Pastor Stephens' SHU Award gift card was to his favorite restaurant: The Cheesecake Factory.
May 2019 SHU Award Winner
Rhonda L. Gray
Rhonda serves as the Front Desk Receptionist for Horizon Christian School of Indianapolis. More importantly, Rhonda serves as the daily beacon of hope and the ray of sunshine at the school for hundreds of students, parents, teachers, and school administrators. Rhonda achieves this status by portraying a daily demeanor and spirit that incorporates Galatians 5:22 - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. Rhonda's SHU Award gift card was to her favorite restaurant: The Cheesecake Factory
May 2019 SHU Award Winner
Andrew T. Costello
Over 9 years ago Andrew founded Operation Leftover. OL is an organization that utilizes volunteers to go out to support the homeless population of downtown Indianapolis on the 2nd Thursday of each month - rain, snow, sleet, or hail notwithstanding. Due to Andrew's spirit-led efforts, this population is supplied monthly with food, clothing, bus passes, job leads, insurance applications, bibles, and maybe most importantly - prayer! Andrews SHU Award gift card was to his favorite restaurant: Yats
April 2019 SHU Award Winner
Lacy J. Spears
Lacy is the Professional Lead Teacher for Hoosier Academies schools in Indianapolis. However, Lacy's self-imposed responsibilities at Hoosier Academies and throughout central Indiana transcend her job description. Lacy has developed, organized, stocked, and continues to replenish the food and clothing pantry at the school, and she has served literally thousands of families in need by organizing Thanksgiving dinners for families and supplying Christmas gifts for children. Lacy's SHU Award gift card was to her favorite restaurant: McAllisters
April 2019 SHU Award Winner
Amanda Arroyo
Amanda is the Special Needs Ministry Coordinator at Northview Church of Carmel, IN. As such, Amanda has worked tirelessly to insure that hundreds of children with special needs attending Northview are integrated into, and not separated from, traditional youth programming every Sunday morning. In doing so, Amanda has instilled dignity in these children, while giving their parents peace of mind to independently enjoy the church services. Amanda's SHU Award gift cards were to her 2 favorite restaurants: BoomBozz and Brixx.
March 2019 SHU Award Winner
Greg Lloyd
For several years now Greg has been a professional driver for a delivery service, currently driving for LabCorp. But the most important thing Greg has been delivering through the years aren't the goods of his employer - it's the word of his heavenly Father. Greg travels thousands of miles per week, but during his travels he always makes it a point to find someone weekly that he can talk to about the good news of Jesus Christ. In doing so, Greg has won hundreds of souls for the Lord over the last several years. Greg's SHU Award gift card was to his favorite restaurant: Bonefish Grill
February 2019 SHU Award Winner
Fannie Carver, Myra Jean Duff, Rodney Green
Fannie has been a faithful member of Trinity CME church of Indianapolis since 1958. During that time Fannie has taken on the informal role of church leader, servant, friend, mentor, and mother-figure to several pastors, elders, deacons, officers, and church members - never growing weary in doing God's work. Fannie's SHU Award gift card was for her favorite department store: Macys.
Myra Jean has been a lifelong member of Trinity CME, and has worn many hats within the church during that time, mostly in the area of youth education and the arts. Myra Jean has faithfully dedicated her many talents and a great deal of her time toward instilling character, values, and God's word into hundreds of children at Trinity over the past 5 decades. Myra Jean's SHU Award gift card was to her favorite restaurant: Charlestons
Rodney has been the head custodian at Trinity CME since 2007. More importantly, Rodney's work ethic, dependability, and loving spirit is exemplary of the passage from Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord." Rodney's SHU Award gift card was to his favorite restaurant: Red Lobster
January 2019 SHU Award Winner
Barb Williams
As our inaugural SHU Award winner, Barb is the AfterCare Case Manager for Family Promise of Indianapolis, an organization that specializes in finding permanent housing and jobs for homeless families. Barb has spent years serving hundreds of families in need throughout central Indiana, even throughout her own personal battle with cancer. Barb's SHU Award gift card was to her favorite restaurant: Puerto Vallarta.