History

Two pastors, Don Leetch and Dean Kerns, began meeting weekly in 1963. They were searching for more in their walks with the Lord and to discover more clearly His calling in their lives. Both were successful pastors. Their churches were growing. And they were respected by their denominational leaders. But something was missing. 

After a few months they began to ask this question, “If we only had 10 years left to live, would we keep doing what we’re doing?” The answer was no! At the end of that year, they stepped away from their pastoral roles. They determined to obey whatever God told them to do. Don had a printing press in his garage. So, they began to write, print, and distribute Gospel tracts to missionaries, other friends, and they would personally go witnessing on the streets and from door to door. This led as well to them beginning a small print shop to help pay the bills.

This was a time of great testing and at times confusion.  They kept pursuing the Lord’s leading and during a particularly difficult and distressing time they retreated to the high desert near Los Angelos and set up a pile of rocks under a Joshua Tree as a covenant with God that they would follow Him completely. 

At this time the Jesus Movement in SoCal was also beginning. In their small print shop they continued to print Gospel tracts and look for ways to be witnesses to the lost, to share the good news in bold and everyday ways.  After 7 years of they started Outreach Publications with the purpose of finding fresh and new ways to share the love of Jesus. There were Gospel tracts as well as other simple expressions and ways to share one’s faith with others - posters, postcards, gospel tracts, stickers (Glo Goers and Life Lighters), and greeting cards that pointed to Jesus. DaySpring was the greeting card line begun by Outreach Publications.

The heart and DNA of the Oak Haven/Outreach vision found its beginning during these 7 years of humble struggle and commitment to obey God. Another ministry was started at the same time, Gospel Outreach Ministries. The first unique expression of GO Ministries was through the GO House. On Friday nights dozens of young people would gather to worship, seek the Lord and be discipled. Many got saved, received calling and direction in their lives, and were filled with a new love for the Lord. GO House was not a destination, it was a doorway to new meaning and purpose in life.

Gospel Outreach Ministries highlighted that every person is a minister - in their home, in their community, and in the marketplace. There was not a distinction between sacred and secular. Every person was called to be a minister in their world. The conviction was that the Church lost something by designating ministry to professionals. It was never God’s intent that only a few Christians would be designated to share the Good News. Every believer was to be a witness, to minister to others, and shine their light.

Outreach Publications grew and gained a respected reputation through it DaySpring Greeting Cards products. In 1979, Outreach had outgrown it facilities and needed to expand. This led to a radical move of Outreach Publications from Southern California to Northwest Arkansas. A beautiful 500-acre piece of property became its new home. Now 44 years later these 500 acres is home to many families, Outreach Center, and facilities that were once used for the creation and distribution of DaySpring products.

In 2003, Dean Kerns and Don Leetch set in motion a plan for the property they had purchased and facilities they had built for Outreach Publications (DaySpring) and Outreach Center in 1979. Their desire was to see the vision that brought them, several families, their business, and church to Arkansas continue and flourish beyond their lifetimes.  This led to Don and Dean to form the Oak Haven Foundation as a non-profit supporting organization on November 12, 2012.

The purpose statements expressed by Dean and Don in forming Oak Haven reveal their hearts and that of their families. Their vision to “do what we can in our generation to make Christ known” came in response to the question God led them to ask in 1963, “If we only had 10 years left to live, would be keep doing what we’re doing?”.

“Do what we can” was simple and practical. They laced the Oak Haven purpose statements with words like support, help, promote, provide, equip, facilitate, and encourage. These influence our vision today.