OnWord Christian Ministries (OnWord) began in 1996 in New Braunfels, TX. It was a parallel ministry to Undivided Heart Ministries (UHM), which began in 1992. Both of the ministries have the same vision: to glorify God, share His truth and show Christ's love to others. One of the differences is each of the ministries' method of outreach. Undivided Heart Ministries has had an international focus from the beginning, and that vision is still the focus for the ministry today. UHM has assisted in establishing orphanages in Romania, as well as church planting in many countries and assisting in evangelism. UHM currently supports Kathmandu Bible Church in Kathmandu, Nepal. This active church plant has seen tremendous growth over the past several years. Dhan Lama, who was supported by UHM to receive Biblical training at Asian Christian Academy (a Seminary in India which is affiliated with Dallas Theological Seminary), is the founder and pastor of Kathmandu Bible Church. UHM is also actively involved in helping to support Carson Atherley, who ministers to young people through the public schools in Barbados. We have taken several mission trips to Barbados with groups of high school and college young people. Most of the school systems in Barbados are open to bringing an evangelistic message to their youth. The school administration in their country sees the value in emphasizing core Christian principles to the students that will help them be successful in life. In our most recent mission trip to Barbados, OnWord created a program about Texas that integrated the presentation of the Gospel. Our program included music, puppets, skits, and clogging which was performed in several elementary schools and a few high schools. We were able to interact with the students after most of the programs and enjoyed getting to know the native people and their country. UHM also partnered with Time for Christ Medical Ministries by sending missionaries on several of their mission trips to Mexico. In addition, UHM is providing support to Lisa Yunker who is living in Cambodia for full-time missions. Lisa is sharing her love for Christ by utilizing her physical therapy profession to help many of the forgotten handicapped people in that country as well as sharing the hope of the Gospel with the Cambodian people. UHM is still very active in other local and foreign mission opportunities today.
OnWord Christian Ministries was created to provide local ministry through teachings and education, along with evangelism through music ministry and outreaches. One specific vision of OnWord was to create a small Christian elementary school in New Braunfels, TX. We started the school in August 1996 and continued the school until 2005 when we began transitioning into a co-op homeschool program providing support and instruction to students by off- site teacher services. Mr. Crosby, who was one of the Board of Directors and the on-site school principal, helped to shape the vision for the school, which provided a Christian environment for families who desired a smaller home-school type environment with the advantages of certified teachers and a quality education. The Crosby children each attended OnWord Christian School in their elementary school years. In fact, in our morning chapel, all the students of the school began some of their morning chapels with "Good Morning Jesus", one of the songs currently on our "You are my Peace" CD. In addition to their academics, the students participated in outreaches to people in nursing homes, children's homes, and facilities such as the MHMR center to perform music, puppet ministry, skits, and to help assist in directing activities and games. This helped to lay a foundation in these students' lives about what it means to bless others and get a perspective outside themselves by serving with the gifts they have in given opportunities. The Crosbys continue this outreach through their participation in the OnWord Band along with one of our very talented teachers who worked at OnWord School. They each play instruments, sing, and help write the music for the OnWord music ministries.
OnWord's other activities and ministries have included reaching out to local families who are hurting or in need. Hope Reins Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center is one branch of our ministry. Hope Reins Ranch is a Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center located in Bulverde, TX and specializing in a frontier western experience offering rehabilitation to Individuals with Special Needs and Wounded Warriors, as well as their families. Hope Reins Ranch is a unique facility providing care catering to the restoration and rehabilitation of the entire family through a variety of interactive activities, strengthening families in need. We are also involved in Joni & Friends, a Joni Eareckson Tada ministry, helping with summer camps for families of children with disabilities, as well as the Wounded Warrior Getaway in San Antonio. We also volunteer and participate alongside ministries using horses to help handicapped children with rehabilitation. We have been able to serve Christian families who faced needs after the flood of '98 as well as families who were struggling financially to make ends meet. In addition, we visit nursing homes, medical rehab facilities, etc. to share the hope that is found in Christ through our music. We also host a Christian horse camp for children during the summer.