February 2018 Newsletter

February is the month of love. The celebration of Valentine's Day and the events that surround it make folks more open and willing to show their love for people in their inner circle and beyond. It was quoted via the national retail federation that Americans will spend $19.6 billion on showing their love in one way or another celebrating this holiday. Sadly, a majority of the items purchased will end up in landfills or flowers dying off and easily forgotten and moved on toward the next 'thrill' or event. 

One thing we have learned as of late with our teens was something pivotal that was shared with us via multiple pastors' preaching in their sermons about the idea of 'love.' "Love shows up." Love isn't something we feel or is sporadic from within but an action. When we truly act in a way that is contradictory to the norm and choose to shower it upon another person or group of people, that is where love evolves. 

A snapshot of our record 60 teens in the gym on 1 Feb! 

We kicked off the month with our largest-ever group of teens coming out to spend time with us on a Thursday at the Salvation Army gym. After all was said and done, 60 teens had come through the doors to hoop and spend time together! The more we ask our teens about how they hear about our weekly gathering, the more they share and point to a friend stating they were invited or the friend told them about what we were up to in the gym each week. This night alone, easily 18 new teens had shown up to hoop, hang out and get a plate full of food served by our gracious kitchen team. 

A photo of the group during the 'huddle,' where

60 teens crammed in the community room.

An audacious prayer we have had recently has been to expand our reach relationally with our youth outside of Thursday nights. The best part of Thursday is that we get to know many students and hear a little about them while we wait on the sidelines for the next game or whatever is going on. As we offer the weekly 4:13 basketball ministry, we really hope our leaders get to know our students and provide moments to hang out outside of Thursday nights, whether over a meal or a soda or going to one of their games, events or anything at their school in which they participate. The 'launching off point' is always Thursday nights which show the teens we do love them and care for them. Life really begins in ministry when we get the opportunity and trust to spend more time with our teens outside of our regular events because we get to hear more about their passions, challenges and their own stories as they share and are comfortable to do so. 

Let the floodgates roll...

First, it came across while I was attending church mid-month and Danny (name hidden for integrity) hit me up on messenger about some pivotal things happening to him at home. It was deep, rough and he was on an emotional roller coaster. It was apparent I was the one he wanted to share this with because the rawness of his truth was coming out in every comment he made about his situation. Life was getting dirty for him and he needed someone to talk to and share with. Instead of just messaging him, I chose to include him on a weekly trip I take down to the southern part of the county and have him come along and spend time with other students I get to know and work alongside, plus my buddy Howie who is a rockstar youth pastor. Being able to be present and with Danny through all of this has allowed me to hear and care for him in all of this mess, all because we prayed BIG for moments like this that we can step into with our teens. The best part is that Danny has become one of our amazing teens who selflessly serves in any opportunity we have in serving our community. He's helped clean the Salvation Army gym location a number of times along with cleaning up our local youth center as well. I truly am a better man knowing him. 

A group of students hanging out playing PS4 as

an added bonus while they wait to hoop.

Next, it was Jason hitting me up on Instagram messenger about a situation of a pet which had been struggling lately. They were up in arms with his health and worried if it would live any longer. Not too long after our convo about needing prayer, Jason shared about how they had to put the dog down and it was a tragic mess for him and his brother, who both come on Thursdays and hang out with us regularly. Being that I earned the right and trust to share, I got to unpack how recently I had to face something similar in putting our dog down nearly 4 months ago with ailing health. Through the time spent on Thursdays along with multiple service project events, Jason and his brother Larry have been rockstars in anything we need help with on a regular basis. They are always willing to come help out and spend time with us when we offer it outside of Thursdays. Jason recently got the chance to join the younger group of middle school teens when we opened up the gym to them and his leadership of those younger students was impeccable. He really is a leader in his own regard and lives his life well around other teens, no matter what trouble the others might be getting into. 

The front view outside of the

Harrold Youth Center on 

Fort Leavenworth.

Another opportunity of "just showing up" for our youth included continued efforts to serve our youth center on Fort Leavenworth and their ongoing programs. We've mentioned how the staff really enjoys having us come and serve the military teens since we join them and just spend great relational time with them, right where they are. It was with that permission and trust that the staff invited Phil to come join them on a more permanent basis and start mentoring one of their teens in preparation for his competition of 'military youth of the year' opportunity. Specifically, the young man needed help with his speech and interview questions for the next level of competition. It was also offered to Phil that he could start coming up to the youth center regularly during other times and spending time with the youth whenever possible since he had been developing relationships with many of the students who go there. 

Our students in action together playing together.

Lastly, there's other students who have engaged us, sharing how they long to be in the gym as long as it's open because they can't stand being at home due to parental conflict, sibling issues or they just want to be in a place where adults care about them. Add in continued home changes over and over again where parents are given eviction notices and the teens share they moved yet again with a grimace on their face, life just gets ugly for our youth and they are longing for adults to care about what they think. Or it could be the high usage of marijuana of our teens just to numb the pain of what they face from day to day in their own worlds. Again, no matter what the issue might be - our love shows up in all of these moments, no matter how tough on us they might feel. It even includes 'showing up' and attending our students' games and events they participate. We had the chance to go visit our Leavenworth High freshman basketball team compete and see the achievements our teens had been making in playing for the high school squad. It's really an honor to be invited to their places they are passionate about! 

The Leavenworth High School freshman game we got to see.

Truly we thank each and every one of you who have been praying for us as we step into the lives of our teens we meet. We ask that you continue to pray for us and our leader team as it continues and the trenches get deeper when we love these teens in their lives each time they show up. We also ask you join in praying for more adult hands on the team as we are reaching more teens each week and in more places throughout our county. It will take an army of adults and we know that it takes prayer beyond all else. 

We thank you all for your love showing up for us as we shower Christ's love to each of these teens God has provided us to serve. 
~Phil, Amy & Parker 

Amy, Parker and I took a selfie while watching 

our freshman teens play at their b-ball game.

FYI - if you would like to partner with us in any way possible, email us at pparsons@yfcmail.org and we can visit with you about those opportunities