Great Wolf

I have been busy. I personally took a job with first student to try and supplement my income. As has been mentioned in my letter money is a woeful commodity. On the bright side we have had some incredible ministry moments over the last month.

Our Great Wolf Trip saw 28 Elmira kids experience a fun time while getting a chance to hear the gospel. A portion of that student count are strong Christian students whom also take the opportunity to reach out to their friends on the trip (and by inviting them to it). Besides pictures of slides and a fort being built inside our bus, the bonding times with students led to amazing relationship development. One student named Alex made a decision to follow Jesus. My intern Ruben and I really wanted to meet with Alex after he started asking questions at commandos club. His decisions along with the amount of growing and striving students in club is leading to a bible study that starts next week before club. Another student gave up his weed habit shortly after the trip. Staying in a hotel room was very conducive for transformative conversations and the movement of the Spirit.

A prayer request is that God would provide a couple more volunteers. With 61 students coming to the last club, and that doesn't include the flux of students who come and go or only come to specific events, we miss some opportunities for connections. My staff does an amazing job, but I want to be sure everyone gets an opportunity to connect. With a student populace of around 450 it is safe to say at least a 1/4 or more, of the students have been involved with campus life at some point. 6 volunteers, myself, and a couple dedicated students are doing all the can. I could use a volunteer just to monitor the door and make sure students don't leave allowing the rest of us to focus on meeting with students. I propose this prayer request because I want to see all these students know Jesus and have as much support as possible.

Bigger and Better

  On the cusp of a trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Washington (a trip where you get to pray for 27 Elmira students), Campus Life has been a busy place on the Elmira Campus. Dodgeball season, A Sadie Hawkins Dance, and even a bible study is in the works to be added to the club schedule. Every event with the intent to minister into students lives.
The busyness took the shape last week in the form of a game called bigger and better. This is where students start with a paper clip and must go door to door trading for something "bigger and better" than the object they currently possess. My group set out with the task with much gusto. This year I did not drive my jeep so I told the students not to aim for bigger, but to aim for better, as we did not have much space for big items.
  I am often amazed by the conversation topics of students. Upon receiving University of Oregon memorabilia  the talk of what the students could do with the money came up. Did they want video games, food, clothes...no one students stated he wanted a hooker. A WHAT? This student was obviously joking, but in his heart and the heart of his friends some contemplation did take place. They started to agree and debate about the subject in earnest before I interjected with why that was a stupid idea. The one Christian student in the car spoke up a bit as well. The conversation weaved a few different directions with myself trying to point students towards less self centered thinking and more Christ like thinking.
  Why do we do events like this? So we can have relevant conversations in the lives of students, even ones centering on what to do with money. The night continued until we had acquired a mini-fridge, gun case, white board, and ceramics. I grew a bit closer to all the 4 students in my car and we won (though the old Noti school slide was definitely the biggest object).
 

Nothing is bigger and better than Jesus! The things he is doing are awesome and always amaze me. I am excited to see what he does in the lives of students in the coming weeks and throughout the school year!

Laboring for Jesus

  1 Work Party for Great Wolf Lodge down, at least one if not two more to go to get some of these kids funded to go. The students did a great job ripping up black-berry bushes. Samantha helped her friend Elysa even though she has the trip already paid for.

  Sometimes I get that thought in my head, "I am out hear helping kids pull blackberries when I should be worrying about my paycheck." Not only do I hate this thought because I believe the enemy uses it as discouragement, but I also hate it because I do this job out of calling not because of the money. As some of you may know I have been applying to other jobs over the past 6 months. My intent is not to leave this ministry, but provide for my family. Not only is this an element that needs prayer, but it is an area I would like to see improved. I hope in the next couple months to start a community support team for the Fern Ridge Area for the Campus Life Programs in our community. This team will be an advocate for Campus Life and seek ways to support it through making it known and coming up with ideas to generate funding. It is my heart to see kids come to know Jesus. Salvation calls to these students for them to grasp it and realize the relationship that Jesus has in store for them. I want this ministry to survive when I am called elsewhere. My heart is behind these students and this community!
  I know that some of us have realized that our trip to Heaven has already been paid for. It is our job to help pull the blackberries from these students lives as part of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Another night at club, another 60 students who got to hear the gospel. Dave Williams was our guest speaker (he is a youth pastor in springfield), and his testimony challenged both those that call themselves Christian and those that don't. Hurt by an abusive adopted father, disowned by his church, starved, a thief, in jail for armed robbery, sentenced to death by a doctor for the cancer (one type he still has)... What excuse can you make not to believe in Christ or go to church? This testimony covered many of those areas of pain that these students have. It was powerful and I am grateful Dave brought the word! The students listened well, and Dave even challenged the Christian students to reach out to the hurting. May we all heed that call and reach out to the hurting!
  Thanks again for your support!

(Work party picture, with two pictures from the talk @ Monday's Fear Factor Club. The picture at the very bottom is me sharing the gospel at the middle school all nighter).

Bus load

  No Pictures from Commandos, and I keep forgetting to get a group shot of kids at these events. When you get around 60 kids it makes for a pretty nice group pictures (it also keeps the chaos contained into a small space).
  Commandos was a great event, the Fern Ridge Youth Center helped facilitate by having a place for students to go when they were tagged out. This also provided me an opportunity to give a small presentation of the gospel (the prodigal son) and the Love God has for us through that story, before we began the next round. I could tell some students were captivated by the story by their attention and also by the students whom asked questions after.
  I maxed out my bus with 60 students coming to putters. I was thinking different event, not the high mark of commandos, maybe 30 students to 40. Boy, was I under estimating. It was a great time to connect with students and for them to just have a time away. As one parent said "thanks for another (child's name protected) free night," a partial joke and truth I am sure. Though I do not take these students for a baby sit or fun, the goal is that they see who they are in Christ through the love and care of myself and the staff. Please continue to pray for the students as we head back to the Cafeteria at EHS for the regular mayhem of Club!

The ones who showed up

Students motivations and reasoning can be weird sometimes. Take a table I have visited regularly at lunch for , going on, my third school year. Only one of the girls had previously been to club regularly and another had visited. This table, once just girls (though guys always join a table over time), used to harass me when they were freshman. They even took one of my schedule fliers and used my number off that to text bomb me (send texts from multiple phones at once to one phone to overwhelm it). Eventually maturity started to prevail and I got one of them to go on a six flags trip and get support from one of my caring female staff.
  Now I tell you this story because at my first club one of the girls from that table showed up. At the slip n slide event two more showed up. I don't talk to students for the selfish motivation of them to come to club, but in the genuineness of showing them love in the name of Jesus. When I invited a couple to various trips one of the girls belted out that sounds dumb and she would not be attending. I eventually explained the event to the other students and costs free/cheap and the same girl who called it stupid and declared she was not going took a flier and said "let me ask my mom".The problem is for some reason their is a fear of the new. (Granted that fear subsides a bit when 40-50 of your peers show up to club each week.) They also realize that free food, a trip to taco bell with a busload of 51 kids, fun games, and great bonding time with friends is not all that scary.

  Some of the fear is with the gospel message. One new freshman asked me if it was a "Christian thing". I told him we talk about Spirituality and Jesus and have discussions. He proceeded to tell me it wasn't for him and then had a conversation with me on what he believed about God. So when I say fear, the fear is about something new different, not a fear of what the student usually complains about. This one freshman shows that reasoning and motivation is built upon peer pressure, false idealisms, and a logic that doesn't benefit the student. 

  This leads me back to the table of once only girls and their male friends. What broke them down? More of their friends going and a breakdown in peer pressure? The false thought patterns being debunked? I can never know, but I am excited that they are getting an opportunity to hear the gospel, build relationships with people who care about them, and exterminate the fear that kept them away.

   

Club Kickoff 2012

  We had an amazing club kickoff this last Monday. We held a BBQ at the school and had 36 students show up with some parents and younger siblings in attendance. I used to call the first club Family club, but I realized students didn't show up when I called it this. So our first week is in the books. I don't get to excited about numbers for various reasons (primarily because loving kids isn't a numbers game), but this turnout number is awesome in terms of it being the first club and beating the high mark for a club in winter of last year (26). Last year only a dozen students made it to the first club.
  Part of the key to making club successful is having the students take more and more ownership of club. They have a full year of experience with it, I am more involved on campus, and they are more involved with club. With Mandy becoming the Director for Fern Ridge Middle School Campus Life, students are now having the opportunity to volunteer more with the middle schoolers and mentor them. Above all God has blessed us, and I look forward to seeing what he does in the students lives. Because more important than the numbers is the students learning about who Jesus is and what real Love from Him looks like.
  I had one students tell me at lunch that he could not come to club because it was a Christian thing. I told him we do talk about spiritual things concerning Jesus, but that he was by no means excluded. I explained that a lot of students who come to club are not Christian. While he was trying to tell me that club was not for him he began to start a conversation about his thoughts on God. I encouraged him to come to club after chatting for a bit, because club is a great place to begin and continue that discussion.
  On a different not, I have had several interviews over the past couple months. Recently I had another interview and I am at the point where I would like that supplementary income. Please pray that I get the job. I would like to contribute more of the money I get for Campus Life to the kids and less to my salary. My heart is for them. I also have a heart to support my family and to achieve my hearts dreams I need another job (or a big donor to support me with a ton of cash). Please continue to pray that God leads me, my family, and the students.

Project Hope

4 Schools serviced by spreading bark dust and pulling weeds. Campus Life Students, The Farm Store, Fern Ridge Christian Church, Veneta United Methodist, and Fern Ridge Faith Center all joined together to serve our community. We showed the love of Jesus through our service and have hope that we can do more for our district in these hard economic times. The day culminated for the volunteers in a free lunch at Fern Ridge Faith Center's Block Party. It was great to see students receive school supplies and The Church together at this event. Seeing God's people move as one is amazing and I am glad I had the opportunity to partner with my Brother's and Sisters in Christ.

Below are some pictures from Middle School Camp and the Project Hope workday. I was program-lead along with fellow director Chuck Taylor. I am excited to report that 17 students reported to have accepted Jesus for the first time. Hopefully they can take that love and strength back into some pretty rough home lives.

For program we performed some magic ala "The Prestige". I performed a card trick, made a quarter disappear, read someones mind, and through a ball through a door and had Cody go and chase it while simultaneously his brother Jeremy came in the other door. The Kids were speechless (until we spoiled the trick later). We coordinated the games and activities as well as a skit. One of the benefits to helping with the middle school camp is the opportunity for experience I can pass along to our New Director Mandy Robertson at Fern Ridge Middle School. Mandy has been an amazing volunteer for Campus Life at the High School and has run Child Evangelism Fellowship on the FRMS campus. Our goal is to reach every student at Youth For Christ and that can not be done if you are not on campus.

I am excited for this next school year. We have some big trips planned! Registration got me pumped to meet the new freshman and to hear all the stories of summer adventures. More details to come.

The New Creation

In story writing your supposed to build to the crescendo, I however will start with it. Two of my students Stacey and Adreanna, did something monumental at camp, they accepted Jesus into their lives. These two became new creations in Christ. I have been working with Stacey for some time now (a year and a half). Stacey a year ago was that kid who wanted nothing to do with God. A year ago he believed he was a bad kid.


A Quote from his Facebook wall -
"The important news is I went to camp for a week and had a chance to meet some amazing people and I have become a christian. I know your probably thinking of all people me? But GOD has sure done some amazing things and he sent me to camp so I could learn about his word and how he helps so many people"

His Sister made a different proclamation
"Born agian christian- July 11th 2012"

Camp was full of fun events, friendships, and games. I challenged my students to read their word and grow in the spiritual journey with Jesus as much as they possible could. Camp is an amazing time because it gives students a chance to disconnect from the frenetic pace of the world. No Cell phone distractions, No parental distractions, no life drama and its distraction, and time to slow down and think. For some students it is the first time they have said hi to their brain in a while. I am excited when I see these young people grow and mature and I am super duper excited when they make decisions to follow after Jesus. Last months newsletter was written by a former student named Dylan whose life was greatly affected by his time with Campus Life (he was also baptized this year.) He was one of the first ones to respond to my post on Facebook about these Two embarking on a New Life. This ministry lets me see different generations of students encourage the next.


It is amazing to see the change, and awkward sometimes, in students (because sometimes you can't believe that the same student is a totally different person). I ask for prayer for these two students that they stay strong. It isn't easy in a peer pressure media society to be a genuine Christian. For a student like Stacey who was a sworn atheist, he is going to need your prayers, because his friends may think he has gone crazy. I again as always thank you for your support.


I also hope to post updates soon on the work we are doing to try and start a Middle School Campus Life Program at Fern Ridge Middle School.


 

School club wrap!

What a busy season, with the barn party, middle school all nighter, commandos, and the final club. As stated in the newsletter it has been a crazy year. God has done some amazing things! Christian students are connecting with other Christian students, students who have never gone to church have visited them, the gospel has been preached, students know they have adults they can turn to for advice, and Campus life is recognized as a fun place to go. 

The goal is to bring on a middle school director next year and start some biblestudy/discipleship opportunities for students.

Below is a picture from the middle school all nighter where we took 54 FRMS students. Below that are pictures from club of group discussions after a talk and of a game called don't blow the joker (blow all the cards off a bottle except for the joker). The group discussion times yield varying degrees of depth bases on the students participating. Romans 6:15-21 (MSG because I like to mix it up) was what the talk was based on and the discussion questions. We discussed how we ought to live, one questioned was framed "In light of this does the saying 'you do what you want and I will do what I want' work?" Since the discussion centered on the freedom from sin and freedom in Christ we discussed how your actions can either free you or bind you. 

This last club we had Anthony Hardy guest speak and provide a message about loneliness to the students. Summer for some can be a lonely time, especially if they are isolated in the country with no summer plans.

I look forward to sharing stories and pics from BBQ's, Boating, Paintballing, and Camp. All the activites show how much fun God wants us to have and then we get to talk about what else He could possibly desire for our lives!

Barn Party 2012

The Barn Party was a lot of work and a lot of fun. I was covered in dirt from head to tail by the time the event packed up (took a lot of scrubbing to get clean). I had 22 Elmira students attend the event and they seemed to have a good time. Several of those students participated in the paintball obstacle course, of which Daisy shot me the most. I ran it if the student agreed to let me shoot at them as well. Daisy hit me in the head and 3 other times. I only got the luxury of hitting her twice. I had two students, Stacey and Xavier, run it the most and they will also help me with the middle school all nighter. 

I participated in an event that is different from my personality, mainly my utter distaste for country music and attire. Luckily I love reaching kids with the gospel so this goes out the window to "be all things to all people", thanks Paul. 

Our speaker, Shawn, gave a message about how screwed up and in need of a savior we are. He gave a story from his life about how a student from his youth group whom had a very bad home life. This student had one friend, her dog. While at camp her parents called her to tell her they put the dog down. Shawn ended the camp with a song called dead puppies by a guy named Doctor Demento. Needless to say the song was not uplifting and made the girl burst into tears. The moral of the story is all of us can point out how messed up the human condition is and that in order to make it through and have hope of improvement we need help. 

What a race

We get to run our race with endurance for a reason! Success is a milestone measured over a period of time and with in each point in time. Where we are at now with Elmira Campus life is amazing considering where I started in January 2011. Historically where Campus Life was in Elmira in the 80's not quite but we are getting there. Between various events I would say over 120 current students have been to a campus life event in the last year and a half.

This however is not the point I wish to emphasize. I have a couple students that I have seen tremendous growth in as they start to attend church. I see it in my volunteers as they coordinate events and reach out to the students. I see a couple girls, after the girls retreat, slowly realizing they are looked up to by other girls in their freshman class. One of them picks up a van load of students (several whom are new to campus life club). I get to answer questions from some of the Christian students who want to help their friends but don't necessarily know exactly what to say (their is a reason at our office the sign outside says youth guidance). God is doing something amazing and aren't you glad you get to be a part of it!

We have some students that are in very crummy places. Two students I can think of have a dad that the students might be better off out of the picture. One dad is more emotionally abusive and the other controlling with a fair bit of emotional turmoil for the child. One student who rarely comes to club has parents going through divorce and is caught in a very fragile place. I would name students but they are tech savvy enough to read the blog and that would not be fair to them. However I see a spark in these students and I see potential for them. I see how the Love of Christ reaches them through my staff. Where would they be without the added support?

Upcoming events: BARN PARTY - COMMANDOS - LAST CLUB - SUMMER CAMP - BBQ
------------------------------------------

I also performed a wedding at club last week. This was no normal wedding mind you! This was one of my volunteers Mandy and a stick in water miniature man. The miniature man grew in the water,  but was still a bit miniature. The girls dressed in summer dressed and Mandy in all white. Some of the guys lined up as groomsmen. I will post a picture when I get a chance. You may ask why is Skyeler performing fake weddings? I would ask you why wouldn't I perform an event the girls couldn't stop talking about from their retreat that bonded everyone closer together (the purchase of the tiny man). In it I see the heart of the kids for Mandy and her heart for them. In the fun I see God's love poured out!

Happy Easter

As I prepare to take some students to church this Easter, I would hope we would all be reflective on the amazing things the Lord has done for us. The last couple weeks I hosted a dear friend I met five years ago while on a mission trip to Mozambique. Feliz Correia was a former orphan working in the orphanage that raised him. I had the opportunity to fly Feliz over during spring break for a visit and his first trip to the United States. Over and over again, whether speaking at my wife's school, at Campus Life Club, or in the public school class rooms at EHS, he said we are a blessed nation. 

Thanks for your continued support to show these kids love and to bless them, and further more help them realize the blessings they have in Christ Jesus. 

May you take the time to reflect as we approach Easter on all the Lord has done for you, and how he is calling you to be a blessing!

I also had the opportunity to go to my first Portland Timbers game (with Feliz too).

Quick Update

I thought I would post a picture of minute to win it. It is an opportunity to entertain students during lunch and show clips from sporting events by local media, music videos, and minute to win it videos/countdowns. Minute to win it will take a three week break until after spring break, as interest seems to wane after a few consistent Wednesdays of it. Coming up this weekend is the girls retreat, hopefully I will have a report to share from Mandy and Erica next week.

2012 Dodgeball Champions

I am proud of our champions! I am excited that the other team finished 8th out of the 10 competing. Elmira has had a long history of being less than stellar at dodgeball. This group of kids worked well together, showed discipline, listened well, and had a ton of fun. Many good conversations were had on the bus and throughout the season. I pray for each one of these students!

Below is the Championship Elmira squad. Below that all the kids that showed up from across the county for dodgeball. And finally below that the championship sponsor the Farm Store (where the trophy will be displayed for the next couple weeks.) Thanks to the Farm Store for you support of Elmira Campus Life and the dodgeball team, also thanks to all the parents who made that gym rock and stayed engaged the whole season, and Stacy Cornelius for cupcakes!

Dodgeball 2012

What an interesting season! 2 kids suspended by parents due to grades, 2 kids flaked out, one girl has her foot in a cast, another broke his arm two weeks ago, and one student was sick for 3 weeks. Luckily I found a couple replacement girls and for the first time Elmira fielded a full squad of 8 on the dodgeball court. The result 4-0 on the day. The other dodgeball team has their best result going 2-2. While the records aren't important from a ministry perspective they are from a moral perspective.
Last year Elmira had only one team and didn't win a single game. Sure they won a match here and there but never the whole game. This year @ 9-7 and 5-11 the two teams are doing well and moral is good. Every now and again a kid from the team that is 5-11 will say I stacked the better team. I try and explain if that were true they wouldn't have 5 wins.
Besides building relationships, which team sports do very well, I get to talk to students about their motivation. Why are you playing dodgeball? To have fun? You have a friend who plays it Your competitive and want to win? You love the sound of a dodgeball hitting another in the face? The reasons vary but the overarching theme is if you aren't motivated correctly how can you even think about success? Where does the best motivation come from? Then the conversation continues.

CHECK FACEBOOK FOR VIDEOS.

Duck Game vs WSU

I had the privilege to take four of my students to the duck game vs Washington State. It was fun and a good bonding time with two freshman and two sophomores. The two sophomores Stacey and Ashley (sitting next to me picture right) are Beaver fans. I was hoping to convert them to duckonianism and I believe that would make Jerry happy. I had a good conversation with Stacey on the drive home about the heart of God. The three girls attend (or loosely do) some church. My goal is to get these students into relationship, or deeper relationship, with Jesus Christ. I never force anything on them, just discuss and support them regaurdless of their decisions. Unlike as a duck fan, For Jesus I am not in the conversion business. I am in the relationship business and Jesus decides what areas of life are in need of revision. I simple guide and encourage with the leading of the Holy Spirit. On the Jesus end I think these students are experiencing Christ love and moving slowly closer to Him. On the Duck conversion thing....their still beaver fans :)

Dodgeball Season

Dodgeball is officially underway! I guess finals week, after a week with 1 and a half days of school (due to weather closures) effects teenagers focus. The two Elmira teams were a combined 1-7 this last week. I had one team of 5 with 4 students studying for finals. The other team barely listened to their coach. Going to ride them a bit harder at practice so they can learn a bit more abut the value of discipline. Can't find a better teacher for discipleship than first instilling discipline into the students. One team has athletes on it and the other does not, and it is interesting to see how the demeanor of both teams is different. Dennis Coaches Elmira 1 and I coach Elmira 2. Dennis' team got me this week, but this week I intend to beat mercilessly on his team.....In LOVE!

The BULL

My Student Leader for the Middle School All Nighter Xavier having a crack at the Bull!
More video's available at Facebook.com/elmiracampuslife

I have been a bad poster

New baby go figure! Though we have had a lot of events. Dodgeball starts for the first week of finals week. Club begins tonight! We had the middle school all nighter as the pic below indicates. I took 34 FRMS students. Also minute to win it will return to the cafeteria on Wednesdays. Hopefully I will insert more information soon! Mechanical bull was a huge attraction until we burned out the motor...hopefully someone can help Todd out and get that thing back up and running. Despite the setback to his Bull, Todd brought the message to each of the groups as they came through.

Pray for me I have a bit of a cold!