Board Report
Mission
Who We Are – The Ark of Highland Lakes is a faith-driven nonprofit organization that exists to serve individuals and families in crisis throughout the Highland Lakes region. Formerly known as the Highland Lakes Crisis Network, ARK unites churches, volunteers, and community partners to bring hope, healing, and long-term transformation to those in need.
Vision
How We Work – ARK operates through a network of local churches, trained volunteers, and nonprofit partners. We respond to both immediate crises—like natural disasters or emergencies—and long-term needs like transitional housing, food insecurity, foster care support, and spiritual guidance. Every response is built on relational support and a desire to show the love of Christ through action.
ARK Ministries & Operational Highlights:
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us…”
Statement of Faith:
We believe that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, pre-existent as part of the Triune God since before the dawn of creation; He entered the world in a fully human state, lived a perfect life, died on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and rose from the dead on the third day.
John 1: 1-3, 14; Philippians 2:5-11
John 1: 1-3, 14; Philippians 2:5-11
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. Our faith in Him and His saving work on the Cross is the one and only requirement to enter into eternal life.
John 14:6; John 3:16-18
As a representative of Ark, Christ Jesus my Lord, and the local church which is His Body, my actions in the service of my neighbors during times of crisis or disaster will always reflect His love and bring glory to His Name.
Matthew 22: 37-39; John 13:34-35
Maintaining active involvement in a local Christian community is essential to continue to grow in His love and grace.
Hebrews 10:25; 1 Corinthians 12:27
- YTD Gross sales -$525,192.30
- YTD Net sales (after discounts and refunds)-$371,823.25
- Voucher Distribution: In May, the Warehouse issued 81 new vouchers and has issued more than 380 vouchers so far this year. Under the new voucher structure, each household receives a set dollar amount for the year and will not be re-evaluated for another voucher until the year has passed, except in cases of disaster or special circumstances. This means these vouchers represent over 380 different families/households served.
- Gift Card Rollout: Gift cards were launched this past month. They can be purchased as gifts for friends or family, or purchased and donated back to the Warehouse to be distributed to individuals in need.
- Top Sales Category: Clothing continues to be the Warehouse’s highest-selling category by far. Year to date, clothing has accounted for more than 30% of total sales.
- A.N.D.Y. Trailer June Reach: The A.N.D.Y. Trailer served 9 total locations, reaching 377 households and serving 1,477 hamburgers.
- Highland Lakes Elementary Outreach: On June 2, the A.N.D.Y. Trailer served at Highland Lakes Elementary School while the library was open. The team served 100 hot dogs and reached 20 households.
- Summer Group Volunteer Support: On June 8, the A.N.D.Y. team cooked and delivered hamburgers for 225 Summer Group volunteers.
- One Chapel Spicewood Outreach: On June 16, the A.N.D.Y. Trailer served at One Chapel in Spicewood. The church provided all volunteers, and the pastor was present as well.
- Answered Prayer at A.N.D.Y.: One A.N.D.Y. Trailer driver had been praying with a patron who came regularly and was looking for a job. After missing a week, she returned to share that she had been hired at a bank. The bank did not have an opening, but after receiving her resume, they created a position for her as secretary to the bank president.
- Ark Learning Center Soft Launch: We will soft-launch Learning Center classes beginning in July, with all public classes listed here.
- Back-to-School Prayer for Schools Llano ISD, Burnet ISD, and Marble Falls ISD – Monday, August 10th
- Lay Counseling Boot Camp w/Intersect – September 18 and 19
- Clay Shoot -Saturday, October 10
- Community Wide Worship Event– Sunday, November 22nd at 6 PM.
- Heart of the Ark Fundraiser at Valley View Thursday, January 21
Volunteer Orientation: Held on June 8 with 16 attendees.
Love God, Love People Training: Held on June 10 with 15 attendees.
Warehouse Volunteers: The Warehouse added 10 new consistent volunteers this month.
Over 115 volunteer hours at the Apiary so far this spring
- Website Tools: The new volunteer menu and Valley View tour reservation pages are already helping engage more people by making it easier to find serving opportunities and schedule tours.
Total Open- 30 cases Total Closed- 529
$249,840.89 – has been funded through partnering organizations to date across 34 cases, with other submissions still pending or in the pipeline.
- Rebuild Projects: From June 1–15, partner teams worked on 29 rebuild projects, including teams from Camp Peniel, Convoy of Hope, Experience Missions, Impact Team, Lutheran Church San Antonio, and Northridge Church.
- Ark Agape Dental Clinic 2026: The Ark Agape Dental Clinic has provided $210,299 in donated dental treatment so far this year.
- Dental Services Provided: Year to date, the clinic has completed 184 exams, 111 fillings, 412 extractions of decayed, broken, or infected teeth, and 17 dentures.
- High-Need Treatment: Extractions continue to represent a significant area of need, with 412 extractions totaling $145,605 in donated care. The clinic has also provided 17 dentures, representing $36,678 in donated treatment.
- Additional Treatment Day: Beginning July 8, Ark Agape Dental Clinic will add a new Wednesday treatment day for existing patients.
- Welcome Center Update: Materials have been delivered for the Welcome Center, and construction began on June 23rd.
- Valley View Apiary Update: The first honey harvest is scheduled for Monday, June 29th.
- Garden Update: The Valley View Garden harvested its first crop, installed rain collection on the main greenhouse, and completed sprinkler system installation.
- El Centro Update: The slab and front and back porches have been poured.
- New TL Family: A new Transformational Living family will move in on July 1. She is a single mom with a 3-year-old son.
- Mom’s Discipleship & Support: Pat and Judie have started a parenting book study with the moms. Every Thursday night, the moms gather at the office and alternate between book study and Bible study.
- Family Support Update: One TL mom continues to face significant challenges. She currently has an open CPS case and is expected to face charges related to a DWI, along with additional charges from the individual involved in the accident.
- Joshua House Partnership: The Joshua House men are doing an excellent job helping care for the grounds at Transformational Living.
- Adoption Support: Kim is walking alongside a family considering placing a baby for adoption, while also supporting two prospective adoptive families should the mother choose to move forward.
- Trauma-Informed Childcare Training: Ark Learning Center will host a trauma-informed childcare training to equip volunteers who would like to serve families through childcare at Transformational Living, Foster Care events, and Continuing Education classes while parents participate in training.
- The next foster care task force meeting is July 14th.
- LifeFamily Marble Falls Camp Sponsorship: LifeFamily Marble Falls sponsored 15 Ark families to attend kid’s camp for incoming kindergarteners-6th graders.
- First Baptist Church Llano / Bounce Partnership: First Baptist Church Llano will host more than 250 kids and adults connected with Bounce over two weeks in July to serve flood rebuild projects and at Valley View.
- Upcoming Shepherding Trainings: Two shepherding trainings are scheduled this summer: July 20 at the Church of Christ and August 11 at RockPile Church.
- Robert Theisen: $200,000 commitment designated for the triage pod at Valley View.
- LifeFamily Strategic Partner Donation: $10,000 gift received.
- Abundant Heart Flood Support: $6,500 gift received for flood support.
- Caroline Thornton: $2,500 gift received.
- PEC United Charities: $2,850 gift received.
Board Meeting Archives and Quick Links
Core Values in Action
Humility
We believe in seeking God first, and depend on Him in every decision and action.
- We trust that God uses our vulnerabilities as a pathway to growth and deeper
- community with others.
- We welcome feedback, take responsibility for our shortcomings, and know our
- successes are shared.
- We serve others with gratitude, recognizing that every opportunity to help is a
- privilege.
- We are patient and slow to anger.
Selflessness
We believe that our reward is found in glorifying God, not ourselves.
We model Christ’s sacrificial love in every relationship and task.
We step into hard places for the sake of others.
We willingly share our time, talent, and resources.
We pursue unity over personal preference for the flourishing of “The Church Together”.
Love God, Love People
We believe in prioritizing our relationship with God, knowing that love for others flows from love for Him.
- We seek God’s will and work with a servant’s heart.
- We demonstrate with our actions that mercy triumphs over judgment.
- We extend grace freely.
- We are empathetic and treat every person with dignity, respect, and kindness.
Integrity
We believe honesty honors God and builds trust.
- We strive to reflect Christ’s character in everything we do.
- We keep our promises and fulfill our commitments.
- We do what’s right. Even when no one is watching.
- We handle finances, relationships, and responsibilities with transparency.
Results
We believe in stewarding God’s resources faithfully.
- We work hard and persevere through challenges, trusting that God multiplies our efforts.
- We set clear goals and pursue them with excellence and are accountable for the outcomes of our work.
- We measure impact, not just effort, focusing on real transformation in the lives we serve.
- We continually learn and improve.
Relationships
We believe that no one grows and thrives alone, that we all grow and thrive in relationship with God and one another.
- We prioritize people over tasks, remembering that every person is valued by God and worthy of our time and care.
- We perform better, are smarter, and have more fun working as a team than as individuals.
- We work hard to build partnerships of trust in all endeavors.
- We are committed to know, listen, and care as we build trusting relationships with people across the communities we serve.
