Letter of Reference from our Field Leader and Boss at Ft. Drum, NY

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An awesome thank you from some of our chaplains, soldiers, and their families

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Todd and Penny, I am grateful to have met you at your Fort Drum Ministry, You blessed me greatly, I’m sure you’ll do the same at your next assignment in Hawaii for all the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen,Marines and Coast Guard Personnel, you meet.
Sincerely,
– Daniel J Wellsfry.

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“So thankful for your availability and the sanctuary you and your entire family provided for my son Beau at Fort Drum during his service there, thank you for your friendship!  It meant and continues to mean so much to our entire family, you will always be in our continued prayers.”

-Youvonne N.

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“Our family moved to the Ft. Drum area in June 2014. My husband’s unit deployed September 2014. While I had taken on the leadership role of the Family Readiness Group (FRG), I was still very new to the area and really didn’t have a large support system in place for myself and our two children. I don’t make friends easily because we move so frequently. The Hospitality House changed that! I have spent hours with Penny, just relaxing in her presence. She has such a quiet, God led spirit. Each time I say goodbye, I leave feeling renewed and refreshed. Todd, himself, has shared some deep Biblical truth through his Bible Studies that have left me analyzing my walk with Christ. Emily and Kelsey have become amazing influences on my children who are always excited to go to the Hospitality House, no matter when or for what reason.

Walking into the Hospitality House on a Friday night feels like a piece of my life that was missing has come back. The Beaudin Family always has a smile, a laugh, a hug or a joke to bring my world back into alignment. God knew I needed to meet Penny at PWOC (On Post Bible Study), and He knew our families needed to share some time together on our journey through life. My only regret is that the time we spent together will never be long enough.

A perfect example of how Todd & Penny have servants’ hearts is when I was at the car dealership….I’d barely gotten to know them yet…I texted Penny to see if she could pick me up, so I wouldn’t have to sit there for 4 hours. Todd, Penny & Kelsey showed up almost immediately (Emily was at work, or she would have been there too). They were on their way to run errands and just took me with them like I was one of the family. The car dealership was 30 minutes in the opposite direction from where they needed to go, and they made me feel like it was a joy to hang out with me, instead of an inconvenience. A true and lasting friendship bloomed that day!

We have already PCS’d again (Dec 2016), and the Hospitality House and the people inside are part of the wonderful memories I will forever hold in my heart when I think about our time at Ft Drum, NY.”

-John & Amanda S. & Family

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“I began attending the Ft. Drum Hospitality House after meeting a friend there one night for conversation and I did not know what to expect upon attending.   I walked into a personal, family home, and I was caught off-guard, to be honest. But I was welcomed by all in attendance, and was surprised to see many of the same faces that I’d see weekly at Chapel Next services on post also present; moreover, I was surprised to see many faces that I had never seen before at services, here, in this home, and really engaging in the Word.

After a family-style dinner, participants went downstairs into the basement for bible study-lounging on couches, bean bag chairs, and under blankets, and yet, the comfort level didn’t end with physical ease. I witnessed people from all walks of life, in different phases of their military careers and faith walks discussing their struggles openly and praying for each other. Prayer was followed by bible study on the book of James led by Todd Beaudin, who structured his teaching in a way that presented challenging questions and encouraged open discussion interspersed throughout his lesson. One could tell that Todd was not interested in pushing an agenda or telling us about his view of James; he was interested in getting the audience to engage with the text and apply it to their personal lives.

After the first Friday that I attended, I knew that I had found something very special and an environment where real, non-veneered relationships were taking place and growing the individuals participating.  Here, I saw a family that actually structured their household and marriage biblically, and one could observe the love, respect and assurance that each member had in their family relationships and individual relationships with Christ.

I turned my husband onto the Hospitality House as well, and it had a huge impact on him and began to break down the wall he had built and cynicism he had developed regarding Christian community.   At first my husband was uncomfortable and skeptical, but in time, he would show up earlier and earlier on Friday nights or stop by randomly throughout the week just to spend time with Todd.  He began to really think about God’s Word on his own time and examine how he was and wasn’t living it out. Here, my husband was able to find a male role model to pour into him and both encourage and convict him.   Both Todd and Penny Beaudin continually made themselves available to anyone interested in learning more about ministry or being discipled or just seeking in general.

The Hospitality House led to some wonderful conversations between my spouse and I, and deepened our bond.  In an environment where men are often taught that being a man means suppressing introspection and not showing vulnerability, they offered a platform for military men to also be men of God.  The Hospitality House was also unique in that, here you saw the attendees really living out the “one-another’s” together, and not just on Friday nights during meeting times, but a genuine overlap of Christian lives occurred. Many of those attending were also involved in other ministries on post, enabling each to bring what they were learning in other environments to the table and encourage each other with their gifts.

Moreover, the fact that a family home was opened up to, at first, strangers, is an amazing, and unfortunately, rare thing today. Not only was this family hospitable, but the fact that a family, together, each used their unique gifts and displayed servant-heartedness to the military community around them-bringing us all into their fold is such a blessing and such a model of Christ’s sacrificial and inclusive love: This ministry is truly invaluable!
My husband and I certainly feel the lack now that we have medically retired and moved off and out of the area. While we have found a thriving, healthy, bible-believing church, our experiences in small groups will forever be compared to and shaped by our exposure to the Hospitality House.

God bless the Beaudin’s for all that they do in His service!”    –  Rob & Melva S.