Why I Give HENRY & KATHY SCHROTH When Henry Schroth as a young boy in school, he watched a girl with a disability get ridiculed by classmates. His heart ached for her. “My uncle was a pastor, and he used to say, ‘Before you open your mouth about someone, walk a mile in their shoes.’ That really stuck with me, so I began visiting this little girl who didn’t have many friends.” That same spirit of compassion stayed with Henry throughout his life. For 20 years, he served as the 24/7 caretaker for his first wife as she battled multiple sclerosis, and remained faithfully by her side until her death, following 30 years of marriage. He also later cared for his mother as she became ill. “We have a sovereign God who takes care of us,” Henry says. “When times were hard, I looked to him, and he gave me strength.” When his mother finally needed long-term nursing care, he went to a nursing facility that his doctor recommended. “It was disappointing,” Henry says, especially concerning the low ratio of staff per patient. “We would wait for a long time for food, or for help when my mom pushed her call button.” It was evident that this for-profit nursing home cut corners to save money, even at the expense of care. Thankfully, he visited frequently, so he was able to oversee what happened there, but he acknowledges that not all residents had family members to watch out for them. Meanwhile, Henry met his current wife Kathy at church. “She was teaching a Bible study class, and I thought, ‘Wow, she knows her stuff.’” They soon married, and she has the same generous, compassionate spirit Henry has. They had already
been tithing and giving to numerous charities, but while attending a Ligonier Conference, Henry heard a speaker from the Barnabas Foundation talking about investing, and he felt called to look into more giving.
Henry and Kathy Schroth
“I was drawn to the name of Providence because I’d always relied on God’s providence,” Henry says. He spoke to an elder at his church, Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church, who put him in touch with Providence Life Services. “I’ve toured three of the Providence communities, and they were a world of difference from where my mom was,” Henry says. “The people there really care. It’s like a calling to work there. It was such an amount of care, more than they needed to do. It’s beautiful.” At 80 years old and a retired schoolteacher, Henry remains committed to giving to Providence. “We have an aging population, and we need to have places people can live where they are treated with Christian love,” he says. He adds that we’re all called to give, and to pray for the needs we see around us. “It’s God’s grace. It’s just giving a little bit out of what God has given to us so freely. That’s something we can all do, and should all do.”
To donate, use the QR Code with your phone or go to GiveToProvidence.com Providence Life Services is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization
SCAN ME
30 PROVIDENCE MAGAZINE | Issue No. 2
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