There are many reasons why we at Potter's House serve our Treasures. Here, in their own words, are some of the reasons from our Advisory Board.
- It's about following God's will
- It's about honoring God through service
- It's about friendships
- It's about passion & dedication
- It's about effective management
- It's about impacting Guatemala
It's About Following God's Will
Director's Welcome
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." ~ Matthew 6:9-10
I got involved at Potter's House Association as a volunteer in 1991. All that I really wanted was to serve our Treasures in the name of Jesus with all my heart. The Lord led me to join the staff in 1994, and then in 1996, the Board named me CEO.
No one told me that serving our Treasures was so complex! Following God's will and "navigating" Potter's House Association in the middle of a constantly changing environment—both nationally and internationally—has been very stressful! I can not do it alone.
Every time we are faced with a difficult or complex decision, Gladys and I turn to the Lord our God for guidance.
We also rely on a National Board of Directors and leaders from our Guatemalan staff who are extremely capable and committed to the Lord.
In addition, we are now able to rely on the wise counsel of an International group of friends. They have decided to share their expertise in different areas and backgrounds in order to help us continue to work on behalf of our Treasures.
It has been an absolute blessing and honor to lead Potter's House along with the Advisory Board.
I invite you now to hear what the Advisory Board says about Potter's House Association and why they got involved. My hope is that you will be encouraged by their words.
~ Edgar Güitz,
Director, Business Administrator
~ Gladys Güitz,
Associate Director & Co-Founder and Psychologist
It's About Honoring God Through Service
Advisory Board
Each of us has accepted to be a part of the Advisory Board due to the high respect we hold for the combination of integrity, mission, and effectiveness that embodies the people and programs of Potter's House Association. To be a part of dreaming about the future of this great place is a rare privilege...one that we would not quickly pass up.
Credibility is about being believable and trustworthy. There are surveys, demographic studies, awards and grants that are testimonies of the trust that many have placed in Potter's House Association.
In the end, Potter's House Association's credibility is not measured by the trust of partners, but by the trust of the community with whom it works. Walk through the community, talk to the people and you'll get a sense of credibility. You'll find officials, sector leaders, teachers, children, and parents who have built their lives around the principles they have learned at Potter's House Association.
It is perhaps in tough times that the soul of an organization becomes the most apparent. Potter's House has had its share of tough times. Each time, its leaders have pointed the community to a richer and more enduring understanding of God's incredible grace and enduring provision.
Potter's House earned my respect the same way that it earns anyone's: by demonstrating integrity, mission, and effectiveness over a long period of time. One example of this is the vision of Potter's House Association to develop community leaders who can then assume responsibility for the ministry. Seventeen years later, that's still the vision. If you have had any exposure to organizations, you'll know that after 17 years, many organizations exist in order to perpetuate themselves. Not so with Potter's House.
As you read this, Potter's House Association is actively engaged in handing over the ministry to those it has prepared. The leadership is honoring God's leading to complete their task, celebrating the growth in the community members rather than reveling in the human recognition that could have so easily been theirs for the taking.
"He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." Proverbs 14:31
~ Paul Mullen,
Electrical Engineer and Manager Global Parts and Support, Services for Medical Systems (GE Healthcare)
It's About Friendships
Communication
It might, I feel, be instructive to think about the real meaning of communication. The word is derived from a Latin word meaning 'in common' and implies that for real communication to take place it is necessary to establish common ground or understanding between Potter's House Association and their audiences. Communications is the foundational block to developing relationships. Friendships are born from significant connections, similarities or interests.
Potter's House Association is about developing relationships with others who share a desire to reach out in love to the poor. It is their conviction that donors and partners are real people. Due to that belief, they actively spread the work of Potter's House Association in three ways:
- Internally, Potter's House is blessed to have a core team of strong Christian leaders that demonstrate caring, trusting and respectful attitudes towards staff.
- Locally, those who live in and around the dump know that the staff at Potter's House are there for them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. They are dedicated to the ministry that has been given them.
- Internationally, Potter's House dedicates time and efforts to open their hearts to their extended family through such means as their website, newsletters, personal contact, etc. Each communication piece is meant to share about the lives being changed, decisions being made, and ultimately the vision—that one day no more Treasures will remain in the garbage.
I strongly feel, in ways I can't really describe, that I have been called of God to work with Potter's House Association in critical areas through supportive roles. It has been a pleasure and blessing for me to work with this wonderful group of Christian servants in their important mission.
I have committed to faithfully lifting up Potter's House in prayer.
“But that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." 2 Corinthians 12:25b-26
~ William Johnson,
Management & Marketing; Retired President of Johnson Engineer & Sales Inc. and Former Professor at National Louis, Northwestern, and North Park
It's About Passion & Dedication
Personnel
“All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." Galatians 2:10
The things I see most about the employees of Potter's House Association is their compassion and dedication to the Lord.
Most employees that I have met or heard about began as volunteers, each willing to come to the most forsaken place on earth and give freely of their time and gifts to serve those the world would call "scavengers."
Through that part-time commitment, God has drawn their heart to full-time service to Him and His Treasures.
Some have been ministered through Potter's House and in turn want to help others in their community come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as well as help them learn a skill or job. Many of them live by faith resting in God's assurance that He will meet their every need. They continually praise Him for His faithfulness.
As I tour the offices, I see and feel a sweet spirit among the employees. Each is ready to serve the volunteers or the Treasures. I sense respect for each other and relationships that are deep and meaningful.
Due to the leadership of Edgar and Gladys and the love and respect they have for each staff member, the staff enjoys the privilege of sharing their heart openly. Therefore, they can express ideas and needs and help develop programs and ideas freely. Each staff member knows and understands their job, and their role in making decisions and offering suggestions to help develop the programs and future of Potter's House. They truly realize they are part of God's work among the Treasures.
~ Wanda Lenoir,
Retired Co-Founder of First Mercantile Trust in the South and Board member of Samaritan's Heart International
It's About Effective Management
Management and Administration
0ver the present and past year, at the request of Edgar and Gladys, I conducted an organizational assessment and reviewed the financial internal control systems of Potter's House Association. This review was done over the course of several half-day visits in which I met with and interviewed all of the Potter's House Association executives and senior managers.
As I sat down with each executive, I was very impressed; all of the executives knew their facts, were very intelligent, highly committed and possessed no dysfunctional character traits. All were open to outside ideas.
As I went over the financial controls, I was again very impressed with how thorough they were. The accountable financial control employees were very careful to make sure that every penny was accounted for and followed up with secondary sources to make sure that requested funds had been used for their designated purposes.
Potter's House Association had also recently changed its organizational structure. What was once one non-profit company has now been divided into several non-profit organizations under the overall umbrella of Potter's House Association.
This made each group accountable for its own operations and freed Edgar and Gladys up to focus more on the major aspects of the ministry.
Potter's House is a wonderful organization that is effectively helping the "Treasures" of the
In summary, I found all of the Potter's House Association Executives to be extremely dedicated and committed to doing the best job possible.
I feel blessed to have been able to spend time with the management of Potter's House and believe that the program is in capable hands and leadership.
“We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.” - 2 Corinthians 8:20
~ John Dyer,
Former Deputy Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, USA, and
It's About Impacting Guatemala
Organization and Leadership
We began supporting Potter's House Association about a year after it began (1987). We feel that our monthly support is well used in programs to enhance the lives and faith in God of the 'Treasures' that they serve.
We have personally visited Potter's House four times, and each time we were amazed by the growth we saw. The funds are used wisely and make a permanent and positive impact.
Occasionally we have contributed large amounts, which were used for capital improvement projects or for the purchase of equipment. We felt that these contributions were graciously and thankfully received.
We appreciate the conscientious attitude of the leadership and staff. They are diligent in the performance of their duties and responsibilities.
It is very evident they are striving to be more effective servants. Of all the organizations we support, Potter's House is one of our favorites. We personally feel a real sense of satisfaction in serving Potter's House with our time and resources.
As Christians, we are exhorted by God to give to the poor and to share what God has given to us with others. By giving monthly gifts to Potter's House, we are obeying God's commands. And it's so rewarding, because Potter's House does more than meet the immediate needs of the poor in the scavenger community.
Through education, tutoring, community development and micro-enterprise loans, Potter's House is helping the scavengers to rise beyond their circumstances and become self-supporting, effective citizens of
"Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." - Jeremiah 29:12-13
~ Jim & Ruth Youngsman,
Former Owners of a large Greenhouse Business