My name is Only and I am a Senior at Manhattan Christian College. I have been visiting Cookson Hills each winter for three years to play basketball in the College Classic tournament. Coming to Cookson Hills is really special for me because of my story. I was born in Arizona and was in and out…
It started with a simple letter. In 1971, I wrote to Cookson Hills to see if they needed any photography teachers. They wrote back, “No, but we need houseparents. Come and visit!” So we came to check it out. And now, 47 years later, we’re still here. When Barb and I first moved to Cookson…
I came to Cookson Hills in 2009, when I was fifteen years old. I had a terrible home environment full of abuse, a broken relationship with my mom, and a long list of step-dads. I was very outspoken and knew what my interests and goals were but there was also a lot of hatred burning…
After I was approached to write about a day in the life of a social worker, I have to admit I had some rather irregular brain activity. I immediately had The Beatles song “A Day in the Life” stuck in my head. You know what I mean? It’s the part in the middle that everyone…
For 60 years, Cookson Hills has provided ministry to children by offering home, school, and therapy. Meanwhile, over the past 30 years, Cookson Hills has focused greatly on improving the quality of living conditions and programs offered at the main unit in Kansas, Oklahoma. This focus started with the accreditation of our high school in 1984.…
At the beginning of each school year, I ask my students one question: “What would it take to make this the most productive year you have ever had in an English class?” I then ask each class to create a creed or poem to identify themselves, try their best to answer the question, and state…
The 1970s brought rapid growth to Cookson Hills. The motto became “Serving Children with a Need,” and the intent was to fill needs that were observed in the lives of children who were hurting. This intent became clear by the growth of the main unit in Kansas, Oklahoma, and the addition of 12 satellite…
Prior to Cookson Hills, I didn’t know what it was like to be a part of a healthy family. My mom and dad weren’t able to take care of me. My dad was on drugs, in and out of jail, and my mom was always working. They lived in a messy house, and my…
Cookson Hills was founded on love of God and love for humanity, especially children who were hurting, abandoned, or abused. This is the story of that small beginning and how it has unfolded throughout the decades. Howard and Joyce Dillon traveled to northeast Oklahoma and saw a vast need for mission work. In the early…
What is it like being a houseparent? Imagine for a moment that you have been challenged to put together a million piece jigsaw puzzle. You have one to two years to complete it and help from all of the people you work with. Sounds easy enough, right? There’s one more catch…the picture side of…
There came a moment in our lives where we knew we needed a change. I had spent 22 years working at a savings and loan association. I had worked my way up to vice president and was very successful, but Bobbie and I both knew we needed something different. The company was going in a…
Hi, my name is Catreena. As an 8th grader, I shared my story in a blog called, Finding Hope. I have since finished up my freshman year as well as the chapter of my life spent at Cookson Hills. I’d like to share how God has continued to give me opportunities for growth throughout my…
As families send their children back to school, and homework begins to appear, one may question what exactly a teacher does throughout the day. The truth is, a lot, and it is no different here at Cookson Hills. To gain an inside understanding of just what goes on after the bell rings to start the…
“Mom, I’m freezing, it’s so cold outside” “Well, if you had worn your coat like I told you to, you wouldn’t be cold, would you?” Does this sound familiar? Many of us have had a conversation similar to this at one point or another. What do you think the child’s response will be? Do…
I thought I would be dead before I turned 18. I had attempted suicide, was dealing with past issues, and couldn’t see a future. That was before I arrived at Cookson Hills in 2000. I was 16 years old, depressed, and had a lot of family issues. Also, a PTSD type disorder had resurfaced…
With summer in full swing, and the 2016-2017 school year just behind us, we interviewed one of our graduating seniors concerning his accomplishments. Epi is known as a student who is reliable, hard-working, and willing to do what needs to be done. Like any other kid, he came to Cookson Hills with his own…
My goal throughout my life has been to try and be the best servant I can be. I believe that your ministry starts with availability and a heart that says “yes.” If you’re not available to take care of people’s needs or to see the needs of those around you, then how can you…
To our brothers and sisters in San Carlos, It’s hard to believe that only a month ago we journeyed through the deserts of Arizona to you. We didn’t know what to expect, all we knew was that there were some people running a ministry called 3:18 on a reservation. We thought we were being…
My husband and I have always loved children. His love for and skill with children were the first qualities that drew me to him. The passages in the Bible commanding us to care for orphans always seemed to leap from the page and into my heart. So we told God that we would be willing…
Before I came to Cookson Hills, I was very closed off. I was defiant and rebellious, and I had no respect for authority. I was confused and hurt; I didn’t know how my life had gone so wrong. When I first came here, things were worse for a while. I was a very angry…
After an invitation to attend the Cookson Hills College Classic for the first time, KCC (Kansas Christian College) women’s basketball team was eager to see what lie ahead of them. Selected Christian Colleges from around the nation come together for a week-long basketball tournament. The initial thoughts from my young players were ones of…
Cookson Hills takes an integrated approach that is much like a greenhouse, providing a safe place for tender seedlings to grow. If successful, the child develops a growth mindset and a toolkit to enable him or her to leave behind a story of a wounded heart and begin creating a better story. Teachers and…
“How many times do I have to tell you?” “Haven’t I already explained this to you a hundred times?” “When are you ever going to listen to me?” Sound familiar? Maybe it’s the battle over a clean bedroom or completing homework or staying out too late on a school night. The use of these…
I optimistically volunteered to sponsor the school bulletin board for term four; you know, the one that’s in the middle of everything that everyone can see, no pressure. I envisioned a detailed timeline of the Civil War complete with pictures and dates and original artwork. Unfortunately, the project never materialized the way I envisioned it.…
I breathe. That’s how it feels every time I travel to Cookson Hills. I don’t know if it is the thousand acres of rolling hills or the Oklahoma air, but every time I go to Cookson Hills, I feel peace, and I breathe. The first time I traveled to Cookson Hills was in May…
Before I came to Cookson Hills, I didn’t care about anything or anybody. I had been through some rough things during my childhood; always moving back and forth between my mom and dad and in and out of foster care. My family and I didn’t really get along, I skipped school for almost a…
Nicky was so mad. It was the third time I called him back to fix the corrections on his math test. Each time he handed me the test, he scurried over to play with the other kids who’d finished. The distraction was obviously more than he could handle. “Hey, why don’t you come over…
Middle school kids are funny. When you ask them to write about what they are thankful for, you may be surprised by the response. Some kids talk about fun stuff, things that bring joy their lives, like video games and their favorite books and games; others go super spiritual and write a three part…
A few years ago, several women who had served and lived at Cookson Hills together, decided we needed an annual “reunion.” Each passing year, a few more joined us and we always have the best time of fellowship. For many of us, this is the only time we see each other, but you’d never…
My name is Vanessa. I am 17 years old and a senior at Cookson Hills. Some of you may ask, “Why are you at Cookson Hills?” That definitely is not a short story to tell…. It started when I was four years old and my mom died from a heroin overdose. I haven’t seen…
I always knew my parents had problems. It was obvious; there wasn’t a conversation that didn’t end in an argument. Some days, my dad would give up and leave. Others, my mom would take us somewhere else for a while. Moving was almost a tradition in our house; we didn’t stay in the same…
So – this is my story. I was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and up until I was 3, I lived with my mom and maybe my stepdad- I don’t really remember. It was scary where I lived. Sometimes I would use the phone to call my Papa and Mema (great grandpa and grandma); they…
I was adopted at 15 months by my aunt and uncle, whom I call Mom and Dad. Their names will never change for me, I love them. It wasn’t until I was 11 that I shared with a few friends that I had been adopted. But, I was betrayed by those friends and I started…
It’s not fair. It’s really not fair at all. I have been teaching middle school now for 12 weeks, and almost every day I think to myself that it’s not fair how good my life is. This life started last year. I was hired to teach first year composition at the University of Central…
In real life, social workers are largely unknown to children and families…until they are in crisis. The turmoil of their crisis makes it difficult to trust anyone, let alone someone they don’t know. Unfortunately, many families are in crisis. Quite often these families receive help from a social worker who is overloaded, overworked, and…
What is adversity? Adversity is the condition of being in unfavorable or distressful circumstances. I’ve been through many unfavorable circumstances in my life: divorced parents, abandonment, physical and sexual abuse, neglect, jealousy, hatred, and I’ve been trapped in my own bitterness towards God. But I’ve learned so much. We often look at the bad…
In Exodus 17, Moses told Joshua to pick men to go out and fight Amalek. While the men fought, Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. When Moses held his hands up, Israel prevailed and when his hands were lowered the enemy prevailed. As could be expected, Moses grew weary…
Sometimes, as a parent, I question my decisions. Is it fair to my children to uproot them from the life they know? Will it harm them to ask them to do without some of the conveniences and opportunities they had in our previous life and to share us (their parents) with other needy children…
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” That well-known statement has served true throughout many aspects of my life, but a fair share of my struggles were almost too much to bear. When my great grandmother died, I felt as if I was to blame. I smoked two packs that day, and felt miserable…
“Before you give up your old ways, be sure to replace them with something of value.” — Robert Ruark I am sure there are scriptures to back it up, but this quote has been so profound throughout all my life decisions. I was a mom, wife, and businesswoman who was frantically climbing the corporate ladder.…
Last month, five friends and I traveled from Louisville, Kentucky to Kansas, Oklahoma to visit Cookson Hills. Going into the week I had no idea what to expect, but felt like I was pretty well prepared for a mission trip. I’ve been going to church, attending weekly bible studies, reading Christian books, letting people…
In 2009, our lives were changed by an affair. It was ugly, raw, and it rocked our world. All three of my children suffered, but my son, Jordan, took it the hardest. He was angry and bitter at his father for betraying our family. I asked Jordan not to hate him as we all make…
Deciding to become houseparents wasn’t an easy decision. At first, we honestly pushed away the calling. Our lives in Indiana were comfortable. We had a lovely home, a great church, wonderful jobs, a good school district, and plenty of family close by. We also knew that becoming a houseparent would mean putting our own…
Parents, we’ve all been there. It has been a long day. Things haven’t gone as expected and there is more work to do in the evening. You are tired, frustrated, and are still thinking about your workday. You’ve asked your child to clean their room before heading out to play. They say they…
Each day students walk into schools all across the nation with pencils, paper, a backpack, and their unique life experiences. At Cookson Hills, many of these unique life experiences have been impacted by past abuse and neglect which has left a traumatized hole in their hearts. Today’s research has shown that trauma can negatively impact a…
Cookson Hills was my home for almost 4 years. I still remember that first day I arrived. I had just turned 13 and I was a handful. I was constantly disrespectful to authority figures, including my housedad, and I thought I could just make it on my own. I didn’t really want anyone else…
I will never forget the first time I laid eyes on the little community of Cookson Hills. It was December 27, 1978. My husband, Roger, and I pulled onto campus, driving a 1971 Opel Kadett and pulling the smallest U-Haul trailer they rent. We had been married two weeks before, and after a brief…
At our recent Open House event, we had a few staff members who openly shared their heart about how Cookson Hills comes TOGETHER to serve kids and families. Here’s a snapshot of the conversation: Ryan (Houseparent): We believe that God uses the family to accomplish His will here on earth. Because of this, when a…
What if we viewed parenting as an opportunity to grow our family together? Our home could become a safe place to experience the ups and downs of life rather than a place where kids feel the pressure to be perfect. Sure, there will always be rules, but the emphasis within the rules should be around…
Growing up, I moved around a lot. There were many different people in and out of my life, and no one was ever constant. Early in life, I learned to stuff my feelings and not to talk about the things that mattered most. I had no idea what a healthy relationship even looked like.…
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