45 Years of Service to Survivors in Tulsa — and Beyond
Here’s what we’re actually celebrating when we gather together this November.
Kedrick Nettleton, Community Engagement Manager
If you keep up with us at all on social media, you’ve probably seen us talking about Spring 45, our upcoming anniversary celebration and trivia night.
In case you haven’t heard, here’s what you need to know: we’re gathering to spend an evening together at Camp Loughridge on November 7. We’ll look back on 45 years of ministry, look forward to some exciting developments in our mission to create communities free from abuse, and take part in a trivia contest with Questionable Company. This event is for everyone who supports our cause — you can register for your tickets here.
But Spring 45 is more than just an event. As we anticipate the challenges of 2026, we’re taking a breath to consider just how far we’ve come as an organization since we first opened our doors. We’ve changed names, moved buildings, and expanded programs — but it’s all in service to meeting the needs of more vulnerable people in the Tulsa area and beyond.
Let’s take a look at that history today.
Opening Doors
In February of 1980, the first iteration of The Spring opened its doors under the auspices of the Tulsa Baptist Association, known today as the Tulsa Metro Baptist Network. Our mission at the time was fairly straightforward — we existed to provide safe, temporary shelter for homeless women and their children. Even back then, we had a special emphasis for serving women who were homeless due to experiences with domestic violence — something that’s incredibly common, as we’ve written about before.
Our first location was close to downtown Tulsa, though it wasn’t an ideal fit for the work we were engaged in: too small, too cramped, and without enough bathrooms or kitchen space to keep up with the people we were serving. But our staff at the time persevered, and we stayed in that location for 15 years, serving more than 7,000 women and children during that time frame.
Eventually, the cost of upkeep on our original building no longer made sense, so the Baptist Network purchased the building that we still operate as our crisis shelter today. We reopened in June of 1995 as DaySpring Villa, certified by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health, which was the state’s governing body at that time for domestic violence shelters.
Expanding the Mission
The next few decades were a season of growth and change for DaySpring. Some of that change came at the state level— in July of 2005, for example, the state’s certifying body for DV shelters became the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office. Other changes came to the shelter itself. New programs were begun and modified, and major renovations to the building were undertaken through the generosity of foundations, donors, and churches. Perhaps the biggest change of this period was the addition of our non-residential services program in 2008. NR continues to be a pillar of The Spring’s service to survivors and is still experiencing growth.
During this season, staff members took care to expand the ministry’s community reach, working to spread awareness about our services in the Tulsa community. Pieces were published in the Tulsa World, and DaySpring coordinated with a public relations firm to release a documentary video, Into the Light, which premiered at a 30th birthday reception in 2010.
The biggest change during this period of our ministry came during 2012, when DaySpring Villa became the first — and at that time, the only — shelter in Oklahoma to be certified to serve victims of human trafficking. That same year, the ministry undertook a capital fundraising campaign to build an expansion to the shelter and continue renovations on existing space. The campaign was completed in 2013, and the east wing construction was finished debt-free in July of 2015. It continues to serve as a vital home for our program staff!
One particularly outstanding moment came in 2014, when the OAG conducted our certification renewal. Our team was found to be in 99% compliance with standards, receiving special commendation from those on the certifying commission. 2014 was also the third straight year that The Spring raised over a million dollars in total revenue — an incredible testament to the blessings of the Lord, the faithfulness of donors and community partners, and the overwhelming need for the services that we offer to survivors of abuse and trafficking.
A New Vision
By now, you’re probably seeing an intentional pattern of growth. After 2015, that growth started snowballing as the staff formed partnerships for vital guest services that continue to this day. In 2017, a grant with Legal Aid of Oklahoma provided means for an attorney to offer civil representation for the guests in our shelter — we continue to see the fruit of that grant every month among all three of our programs. 2018 saw the addition of on-site mental healthcare for guests, something that is continuing today through a robust partnership with Grand Mental Health. In 2019, the shelter welcomed its first male guest, meeting a community need that sometimes goes overlooked in the space.
In the midst of this exciting season came Covid-19.
2020 was supposed to be a banner year for DaySpring Villa, an energetic start to the new decade. Like so many other organizations across the country, things were put on hold for us due to the pandemic. Our team grappled with providing care in the midst of new CDC regulations. Room arrangements were adjusted, and activities were shifted for the sake of safety, but even in this season, our team worked hard to continue offering care and hope to the survivors in our city who desperately needed us.
In October of that year, staff held a 40th birthday party for the organization, and they unveiled a new brand to meet an expanded mission. The Spring takes its name from John 4:14: “But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Since adopting this new name, the organization has only grown in scope — not for the sake of growth itself, but in recognition of the many people in Tulsa and beyond who desperately need the hope and restoration that our staff can offer. NR Services continued taking in clients, but our team dreamed of adding on a “next-step” program that could help survivors who had found safety, but weren’t quite ready to live on their own. That dream finally came true this summer, when we opened our new Transitional Living program. It’s a groundbreaking expansion of what The Spring can offer to survivors, and we anticipate the program being at capacity by the end of this year.
There’s Still Work to Do
It’s important to say: We know that the work isn’t done. Oklahoma continues to trend in the wrong direction when it comes to domestic violence and human trafficking — there are many more people out there who need help. The Roots of Renewal Campaign that made our transitional living program possible is ongoing, and we’re not close to stopping. We have a vision for a dedicated solution for juvenile trafficking victims, and we’re still working to expand our shelter and add more crisis beds. You can join with us by giving today.
But in the meantime, there’s lots to celebrate! The journey from that moment in February 0f 1980 to where we are today has been a long one. So many different people came alongside to make The Spring what it is, and we want to take a moment and honor their legacy.
Will you join us at Spring 45 on November 7? We’re inviting our supporters to Camp Loughridge for connection, celebration, and The Spring's first-ever trivia competition. You can find more information and links to register at the button below.
Get your tickets soon!