December 2018 Newsletter

The Parsons' family Christmas photo

The Christmas season is upon us and in full swing. Homes, shops, and spaces all over the globe have been beautifully adorned with trimmed trees and decorations galore. People are busy feverishly shopping and wrapping gifts they prepare to give. During all of the hustle and bustle of the season, how many really stop to remember all the amazing gifts that have been lavished upon them? We’re not talking about the tacky Christmas sweater you received in that work party white elephant gift exchange last year, or the outdated fruitcake your neighbor may have re-gifted to you perhaps out of obligation. This season of Christmas has got us thinking more deeply of the lavish gifts we’ve received over the years.

We often think of Thanksgiving as a time to remember and be grateful for all that we’ve been given, and don’t get us wrong, we certainly spent a good bit of time reflecting over Thanksgiving. We’re reminded of the warm home we’re fortunate enough to have, and the comfortable bed we’re able to lay our heads down each night, among so many other things. As we reflect, we’re so humbled as we know that not everyone is afforded those same luxuries. Gifts don’t have to be expensive to be meaningful. A kind gesture or word of encouragement can make such a difference especially for someone in the middle of a difficult season of life.

The Parsons family helping during the annual Wreaths 

Across America event at Fort Leavenworth

As full-time missionaries, it is the financial gifts of others, of you, that allow us to do the work that we do. We are grateful for each and every one of you. 1 John 3:1 states, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” Wow! Just let that all soak in for a minute….

Phil with Jacob (left) and Brandon (right) as

they rang bells together for the Salvation

Army kettle season

What’s the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received? A family heirloom maybe? Perhaps a nice trip taken with loved ones? We’ve all received special things that we’ll always remember. Far above any tangible mass-produced item that can be picked up and purchased in any corner store, is the gift of the great love that our Heavenly Father has lavished on us! We’ve been given such a rich inheritance as children of God because He loved us so much to give us the gift of His only Son, born in that lowly stable, next to farm animals, to teen parents that didn’t have a clue.

When we read the Christmas Story, the setting isn’t a fancy palace that is elaborately decorated. The characters aren’t on society’s most notable or best dressed list. It’s a story that includes teen pregnancy, homelessness, and refugees seeking asylum. How ironic that a momentous moment in history that changed the trajectory of our world, doesn’t sound all that much different from the world we live in today.

Many of the students we work with here in Leavenworth County struggle with homelessness, or they struggle to scrape a meal together, often only eating when we feed them. They may struggle with depression, which at this time of year is common for many. The struggles they and others around us face are endless.

From left, Dakota, Brandon and I ringing bells for

the Salvation Army

Amy, Parker and Phil ringing bells for 

the Salvation Army kettle season

This Christmas, we want to ask only one thing of you.
You may be thinking we want you to pull out

A view at the Riverfront Community Center

 where staff has gathered with students

your checkbook and make a year-end gift that will help us remain in the field. No, put your checkbook away! This Christmas as we make our lists and check them twice, we want to challenge you to remember all that has been lavished on you through the course of your life. As you remember all that you’ve been blessed with, all we ask is that in this season of giving, that you pay it forward. A small simple gesture can go so far! The possibilities are endless. Perhaps you hold the door for someone, when you might be in a bit of a hurry. Maybe you sign up to ring bells for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. You could find a place to serve at a soup kitchen or help your neighbor. Regardless of what you choose, we ask that you would carve out a little time this season to share the love that Christ has lavished on us with others.

We’re so grateful for each and every one of you. All of the prayers, financial gifts, chats over coffee, dinners, friendships. We love and cherish all of you and your kindness and generosity doesn’t go unnoticed. We pray each of you have a very Merry Christmas and a joyous and healthy 2019.

From our family, to all of you, we thank you for believing in how we are called to 'go and seek' these amazing teens in our area, wherever and however God moves us.
~Phil, Amy and Parker

November 2018 Newsletter

An incredible amount of thanks to be given...

A group playing b-ball during our final 

Thanksgiving night

Every November, this time of year brings to mind how much God has blessed each of us on staff and in roles of the front lines where we work with teens in and through the mission of the Affiliate serving Leavenworth County. This year is nothing different than the years before. God has truly opened our eyes in the areas where we serve and how His plans have remained fruitful in our obedience to work with the lost and hurting teens in our area. Although we want to keep the confidentiality of the students, we will share some insight as to what we have heard and what God has shown us this past year.

Keshawn and I together

God placed it upon our hearts to lean back into a relationship with one of our longer-term students who has had a lot go on in his life and Phil got to re-engage with him in the early part of the month. Specifically, Phil invited Keshawn into the small group huddle which has been happening at the Salvation Army each week on Wednesday nights. It doesn't focus on the basketball, but more on the intersection of life and faith and getting real with one another about our own struggles and also celebrate what is happening in our own lives. Truly it is a family atmosphere which goes deeper than the Thursday night hoop sessions. Amazingly, Keshawn chose to come as he has mentioned to Phil multiple times he missed the group and the family he built in attending Thursday night sessions. Even greater about this story includes how Keshawn has been ailing in and through life as all of his possessions were gone through an incident where they were in a friend's parents' car which had been impounded. Presently, he's staying with his brother locally but still waiting to get into job corps in Manhattan, Kansas. It's truly apparent he's not been eating well as he's dropped a ton of weight and battling an issue of depression and anxiety. Keshawn truly belongs within our grips, even in the trenches and depths of his life because that is truly why we do what we do. He's our family.

All the drinks ready for Thanksgiving meal

The food is ready for the teens

The students get their food as the leadership 
feeds the students

Another story of an incredible area of thanks includes the numerous students who come into the facility each week notably hungry. Due to the continued weekly blessing from Karen and Teresa who choose to selflessly provide food to our Thursday group, these youth have come to know they are being loved by being fed. Countless times have gone by where teens will ask our leaders what's the plan for food each week due to the fact that they are excited and happy that they receive food to satisfy their hunger. It isn't just from the gracious generosity of these ladies who provide, but our ongoing blessing of our partnership with the Leavenworth County Salvation Army that has provided great amounts of food to feed these great teens as we meet weekly for ministry in the gym together. It has become a usual quote of 'fishes and loaves' where the food brought can take care of our teens no matter how much it looks like.

The small group squad together right before Thanksgiving

Faithfulness has been such a big thing this month as we have seen so many things come together as God has blessed our leaders in being faithful in gathering with our teens beyond the regular weekly events. Specifically, Phil and two of his newest leaders, Kobi and David have been meeting regularly with a group of teens who want to get deeper in their discussion on life and faith and everything in between. This is a group of teens who have shown interest that they want to build a real family atmosphere and get real with one another about life's stuff and unpack it together in a place where it's safe to share and be cared for. The group has ranged from 4 students up to a whole dozen as of late! Multiple students from this intimate group have chosen to reach out to adults when they have life issues that come up, ranging from home life struggles, anxiety issues and friends bullying one another at school. This is beyond a HUGE blessing to be able to provide something and stay faithful to the call God has placed upon us with this great group of teens.

One of the evenings where pizza was donated by one of our amazing partners, Unity in the Community

Finally 2018 has been an incredible year of so many partners who have chosen to join us in this mission and we are so grateful for the following folks who have come alongside us corporately: Lazy D BBQ, Pilgrim Community Church, Westside Family Church Leavenworth, First Baptist Church of Leavenworth, St Paul Lutheran Church, Elite Auto Details, CASA of Leavenworth, Salvation Army of Leavenworth County, Unity in the Community, Leavenworth Youth Achievement Center, Matt Hutabarat Photography, Taco John's of Lansing, Nathan Smith Ministries and Faith Evangelistic Center. As one can see, the Affiliate has been beyond blessed by so many folks who have come alongside the mission of Youth For Christ since our arrival here in reaching lost and hurting teens. God is SO good!

A view of the packed gym on our final night 
of the semester for Thanksgiving

So...there you have it. We have a TON to be thankful for this season. More than we can put on the blog and share with each of you and it's because of people who have partnered with our missionaries to have them in the field in this area, pursuing lost and hurting teens. Thank you all for being you. Thank you for believing in the call here. Thank you for reading these updates faithfully. Thank you for everything.
~Phil, Amy, Allison
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To give to the YFC Leavenworth County Affiliate, you may go to this link: https://yfc.givingfuel.com/31081





Staff Update: 
Phil & Amy Parsons - Phil and Amy are excited to spend Thanksgiving this year in Kansas and invite family to their home and provide the Thanksgiving meal for everyone who attends. Parker's growth has been incredible and he is walking around on his own, in addition to learning more and more with his inquisitive mind.

Allison Adragna - Our amazing second staff person Allison has recently let us know that 30 November will be her final day with our ministry serving Leavenworth County. Allison recently accepted a new position with a retail farm & supply store and will be training to be the eventual store manager. She felt called to stay around the Leavenworth County area due to the fact she has built incredible relationships with teens and others in her church community and is leaning into what God has next for her life. Please join us in thanking her and also praying for her journey.

October 2018 Newsletter

A snapshot of the fall colors setting in locally at our favorite orchard

We've noticed recently seasons come and go in regularity each year. Our part of the country saw an early snowfall mid-month and it has many worried how cold things could get for us this winter. Many leaves on trees are turning and the colors of the fall season look incredible during this month all throughout our county. Some seasons that we've noticed are how people can come and go in our lives but God mercifully blesses us to stay connected with them no matter how far away they might be.

Recently our staff, Phil and Amy Parsons, got the chance to get to escape to Dallas, Texas, for an early surprise birthday trip for Phil's 40th birthday in November. This placed them nearby some dear friends and longtime mentor in ministry, Damien Marts and his family. The Marts family had recently moved back stateside from their tenure in Hawaii doing incredible military youth ministry to a plethora of teens and doing it well. They found themselves back in Texas after praying where to land and where their son Leo could get the best care for his childhood Leukemia treatment. Their own family was nearby and it was the place where their son could receive great care from the medical practitioners in the Dallas metroplex. It was with this surprise visit that Phil and Amy got to reconnect with wonderful friends and they got to meet the children they so often saw on social media and the life they were living from afar in the Pacific. Although the catch-up wasn't as long as they all had hoped, it was life-giving and peaceful for everyone to spend the intentional time together sharing stories, life and everything in between.

From left, Amy, Desiree & Damien Marts and Phil at the Marts' home in Texas

The hooligans together again, Damien and Phil

Phil & Amy with Heidi (middle)

Another blessing to the trip included seeing a long-time partner in mission, Heidi Elliott, as she was working at her job during the day at Magnolia Farms in Waco, Texas. It was an added bonus they weren't too far from the location and it blessed Amy to check it out and Phil got to visit with the long-time friend from back when they served alongside at Fort Leavenworth. The Elliott family now lived in this area of Texas after her husband Jay had retired and now was a local judge. The Elliott's had two teenage students involved in the military youth ministry when Phil was serving alongside them as key leaders in the leadership team. Their passion for military teens was incredible and such a blessing as they have been partners with the mission awhile now. Even though the business was slammed that day they visited in Waco, it was still really awesome to get to see Heidi.

Adrian with Phil and Amy in Temple, Texas, over dinner together

Being that Phil and Amy were in Waco, it was only a half hour from one of Phil's longest running friends, Adrian Cannady. Recently Adrian had been hired to a position as the President and CEO of Temple Economic Development Corporation. Phil had the wonderful pleasure of working alongside Adrian in 2002 while at the Army & Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) as management trainees. Even though Phil and Adrian spent only a bit over 4 months together, God utilized the relationship built quickly for the long run in His overall design. It was via Adrian's friendship and insight that he became one of Phil's best friends in the muck and mire of his darkest moments all the while still bonded through the experiences in their work relationship in San Antonio. For Phil and Adrian to get to catch up while they did in Temple at his new location, that was an incredible culmination for his 40th birthday weekend in Texas.

Relationships matter to God, so much. They mean the world to us in the YFC Affiliate, whether with adults, teens or anyone in between. We continuously work to intentionally build them with folks to understand where they are coming from and how God has plans to connect their story to His. That's one of the biggest beauties of working in military youth ministry, specifically that wherever we go God provides those whom we've connected in one way or another and the relationship continues.

We thank each of you, for being part of our relationship, whether in prayer, support, friends, ministry leaders, pastors, leaders and anything beyond. Truly that is what makes this mission possible.
~Phil, Amy, Parker and Allison

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Staff Update: 
Phil and Amy Parsons: Phil and Amy recently celebrated their son's 1st birthday on the 10th of

Parker on his 1st birthday

October and my goodness, how fast time flies for them! It's been an incredible year of firsts for their family. 

A snapshot from Allison's regular serving in the

mentor role at Basehor-Linwood Middle School

Allison Adragna: Allison has been busy with the mentoring program at Basehor-Linwood Middle School. She has enjoyed continuing to meet and build relationships with students at the school and is thankful for the opportunity to serve.


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To give to the YFC Leavenworth County Affiliate, you may go to this link: https://yfc.givingfuel.com/31081. 

September 2018 Newsletter

Fall is in full swing as we have noticed the seasonal shift in starting mornings in the upper-40s and no longer seeing high temperatures in the 90s like our unseasonably warm summer. School is back in full swing as well, which means football games under the Friday night lights, building relationships with students over school lunches, and a plethora of other activities that keep our calendars busy. The need for direct contact ministry with students is such a vital part of what we do as a Youth For Christ affiliate. Equally important, is continually taking the time to sharpen our skills and glean from others on how we can improve our effectiveness.

Amy, David Kinnaman and Phil during the Fort Leavenworth Symposium

We recently had the opportunity to glean from others while attending the Next Generation Religious Support Symposium at Fort Leavenworth. This event spanned the course of 3 days. We were able to hear from various chaplains throughout the military regarding their experience, expertise, and vision to reach the upcoming generation. The opening keynote speaker was David Kinnaman, President of the Barna Research group. He has authored several books and conducted numerous hours of research on millennials, and generation z. The resounding theme of many of the speakers' messages, was that if we want to reach this generation of students with the gospel, we have to approach it in a fresh, new way, that allows us to connect with these students on their level. It sounds simple enough, but what makes it so difficult? After all, that's exactly what Jesus did, he went to where people were and simply met them on their level.

Attending the symposium allowed us to realign our hearts and our vision to keep ministry simple and just meet students on their level. Students crave to be in authentic relationship, and that's exactly what we hope to do in empowering our adult leadership team members in building time with the students that they encounter, with the hope of sharing Jesus with them. The symposium also encouraged our staff as we have felt God's leading to us in meeting our teens specifically in schools and places they already are in the normal day.

Phil got the opportunity to see the local news station give the starting 

running back with the player of the week award.

As we have been going to where students are, the affiliate is gaining new permissions in several areas of Leavenworth County. Phil was recently granted the permission of being the chaplain for the Leavenworth High School football team and has been getting to know many of the players on the team. The players have come to appreciate his presence in the locker room and on the field during home games. He is able to share a devotional during team meals, practices, and before they take the field. In addition to the football chaplain position, some of the students attending the basketball nights at the Salvation Army are also on the football team at Leavenworth High. They are really starting to crave more and more time together, and a small group of them are wanting to dive in deeper into a faith conversation. Most recently, a small group of those guys will gather together to do exactly that! How awesome is that?! They will be meeting on a weekly basis for a couple of hours and begin unpacking what it means to be a Christ follower.

Allison (center) with two students from

Basehor-Linwood Middle School

Diving down south of our area into the city of Basehor, our other staff person, Allison has continued to build upon her mentor relationship in the middle school and many students and faculty are excited to see her back. Specifically, the leadership of the affiliate met with a few highly interested Basehor parents who wanted to see the possibility of Campus Life launch in their middle school. Apparently all it took was sharing the information and the plans for our next meeting and how to prayerfully invite the right folks who would like to see this happen in the school, to include administrators, local church leaders, community leaders, other parents and any folks who would like to know more about YFC and how Campus Life can impact the school. Allison has shared how much opportunity the administration and teachers have permitted her to go in and through the middle school whenever she is present and can impact the teens and build upon relationships with them. We ask you to be praying for our upcoming 7 October meeting in Basehor which will build upon our initial adult interest meeting and what God has in store for these teens in their school.

Then there's Patton Junior High, located directly inside the front gates of Fort Leavenworth in which we have returned to serve their teens in the common areas before school and return the same day during lunch, building relationships with them and serving the need for more adult supervision. The biggest part of our return this year which we have immediately noticed was the impact for the teens to get outdoors during their abbreviated recess in their lunch hour. They usually can't get outdoors unless there are two more adults to help oversee the students in going outside and coming back to get to class. To be able to serve these military teens in this capacity has been an amazing blessing and it was readily welcomed in our return for this school year.

Staffing updates: 

Allison with her friend, Sierra at
her recent wedding in Florida

Allison Adragna - This month Allison had the privilege of traveling to Florida to celebrate the marriage of one of her closest friends. Being in Florida also allowed her to spend time at one of her favorite places to rest and recharge: the beach. Please continue to pray for Allison as she diligently works to become fully funded. 

Phil, Amy and Parker Parsons - Parker's first birthday is on the way, 10 October and we are excited to celebrate it with him. Goodness how fast the time has flown! Please also celebrate with us that a chaplain friend of ours on Fort Leavenworth has chosen to sponsor our limited access cards (LAC) on Fort Leavenworth. This will allow us permission throughout the next year on and off the installation with ease!  

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We can NOT thank you all enough for praying for us wherever God leads us to serve His youth in this amazing area throughout the county, either on post or all over the area. Please continue to do so as we are seeing immense Kingdom opportunity. Should you have questions about how, what, why and anything in between of our mission, please reach us anytime at pparsons@yfcmail.org or 913-683-1793. We are always prayerfully seeking new partners who want to invest in the Kingdom work that we are called, therefore if you would like to do so at any time, the link to do so is listed below. 

To give to the YFC Leavenworth County Affiliate, you may go to this link: https://yfc.givingfuel.com/31081. 

August 2018 Newsletter

It's never a surprise when August rolls around; the end of summer breaks for our teens, new military students and families moving into the area to attend the staff college in Leavenworth over the summer and settling into their surroundings and the anticipated and dreaded back-to-school on the horizon. Emotions that pour into our teens in this area are anticipation and excitement but some are apprehensive and unhappy with the school, students, new home location and anything else that can hijack a students' mind in the coming of a new school year.

A record crew of adults and teens out during a Super Sonic night playing volleyball together

The students we have had the pleasure of working alongside and meeting this summer have had a blast just doing what teens like to do - enjoy time together and build relationships with the people they hang out with. Instead of spending all our time in the gym like we did in the school year each week, we chose to make it a 'simple summer' and invited our teens and their friends to come out into the community to build opportunities to work with more students who aren't just all about gym time and basketball. God really provided moments for us as we alternated times at the local park in Leavenworth, in the Salvation Army gym and also at the newly built Super Sonic fast food restaurant which installed a sand volleyball court in their property. It was incredibly amazing to see new and current students in which we knew choose to come out and spend time with us, whether playing volleyball, ultimate frisbee, touch football or just hang out and enjoy a slushee we bought for the teens at Sonic. 

From left: Derek, Jacob, Dakota and Richard all
chillin' together during a Super Sonic nite

One key thing our leadership noticed was how our existing teens have grown into a dependable group of youth who live, eat and breathe all what we offer for them, no matter what. Both Phil and Allison have groups of teens who will come out and spend time with them in whatever capacity is provided, whether going to the Legends for a bite to eat or helping clean up the Salvation Army flower beds and gym. Both staff have ongoing chats with these groups of teens who are always asking when the 'next moment' will be that they all get to hang out. Truly, this is what God has instilled in our opportunities with these teens and is a blessing to build incredible relationships with them that go deeper than just the weekly gathering at the gym on Thursday evenings. 

The snapshot after the Basehor teen color war

The Affiliate chose to pour into simple and effective moments to end the summer well with a first-ever color war for Basehor and surrounding areas to reach a new group of teens never done before. In praying and listening to youth which we reached in a small amount in that area, we chose to expand the reach by providing a messy but wonderfully fun summer's ending event at the city park. The weather was perfect and allowed everyone to enjoy the event, plus some parents chose to jump right into things and have fun with us. We began the event getting soaked with water challenges and then began to play capture the flag to see the color fly. The outcome of it all was a wild and messy color-induced memory these teens would go to school and tell their friends all about. If that wasn't enough, we had a friend of the ministry who does professional photography and videography come out and spend some of their own personal time taking photos and videos of the event! 

Basehor teens having a blast in the color war

The blessing to the Affiliate occurred when we had those parents share with us personally how they loved what we provided and they were highly interested in hearing more about what Youth For Christ could provide in a regular basis in their community and were open to coming to an information session in the near future. We ended up having a decent hand full of parents show interest and partnering that with a few parents who already had said they'd come when we shared the idea, we will be having our first meeting to see where God leads us in the southern part of the county to work with military connected teens and their friends. We ask you to be praying for us that we don't shove an agenda but listen and provide information to the adults who show up and might want to get behind something like this in the near future. Truly our hearts are all about empowering adults who want to relationally love our teens right where they are and point them toward Jesus! 

Finally, as the Affiliate is finishing out the month of August, we intentionally stopped doing weekly ministry after mid-month to leave 3 weeks open for rest, prayer and preparation of doing weekly ministry through the school year starting after Labor Day. We had known other locations in which we have worked alongside who have used these weeks off for leader development and leader celebration time, so we felt like it was a blessing God was providing us to utilize the final 3 weeks of August to spend time together as a team so we were more united than ever going into the upcoming school year. Little did we know that we'd have FOUR new leaders to work alongside and see God's hand all over this chance to spend time with one another regularly. Three of our newest leaders are active duty soldiers who work on Fort Leavenworth and came from their walking into the Salvation Army and by simply asking where they can help out; thus their leadership role began with the Thursday night basketball ministry and their own faith background and athletic background. The fourth newest leader came from a friendship of reaching out to the local church community and them coming back to us when their seasons shifted and she's all about helping out in our opportunity where we feed our teens each week. 
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Staffing updates: 

Allison Adragna - Allison was visited by 2 dear friends from college this month. She enjoyed getting to spend time with them again. Continued warm weather means more hikes and time spent at the lake. Please continue to pray for her as she continues to work to be 100% funded.

Allison (left) with two teens she's known from mentoring who attended the color war

Phil, Amy and Parker Parsons - Phil was recently introduced as the newest member of the Leavenworth High School football team, specifically their chaplain. He'll be a key piece of the vision and mission of the head coach who hopes to impact these young men for greater good and point them toward Christ. Amy has found a place where she can plug in spiritually with a group of ladies on Fort Leavenworth at the weekly PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel), specifically in their small group studies, all the while having care for Parker while attending. Parker continues to grow quickly and soon enough, he will be walking and making mom and dad stay even more on their toes than they are now!

One of Phil's photos from the field as he has had permission to be there during practices

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We thank each of you who partner prayerfully and financially as God has called us to provide ongoing relational ministry to Leavenworth County, Kansas. We are always looking for additional leaders and board members for our advisory board as well if you are in the Kansas City area and would like to serve with us. Should you wish to partner with us in any way, we are always looking for additional monthly, one-time or annual giving partners. 

To give to the YFC Leavenworth County Affiliate, you may go to this link: https://yfc.givingfuel.com/31081.