June-July 2018 Newsletter

Summer's a rolling along...

Things with Youth For Christ in Leavenworth County have been incredibly blessed this summer season. It was with great intention that the staff and leader team wanted to take a simple method in working with our teens and building relationships with teens whenever and wherever we met each week. From volleyball and ultimate frisbee at the park to middle school and high school nights at the gym, the teens have enjoyed different opportunities together.

The rededication and ribbon cutting of the newly updated Salvation Army Gym

On the 7th of June, our staff and leader team joined the Salvation Army team in a rededication and ribbon cutting of the newly updated gymnasium. Due to the generosity of a gracious community member, the Salvation Army was able to completely update the gym with new flooring, new wall padding and sound absorbers, new backboards and freshly painted walls and finally updated and more secure doors to the facility. Many of the community leaders came out in support of the event and ongoing partnership which included mayors, commissioners and main leadership from the Salvation Army in Kansas City. The flooring improvement was the biggest change and allowed safer play for all using the gym. The old floor was a tile type of surface and many of them were starting to come loose, so this new update allows safer play to happen. God has fully blessed our teens in a way we never imagined a year ago and now here we are in this gorgeous facility!

A beautiful panorama view of the updated Salvation Army gym

Allison with her 'squad' of girls from Basehor

Then, shifting into later-June, our staff and leaders got the chance to see a dozen teens to summer camp just 40 minutes from our area, named Awaken Camp. Five female students were invited from the wonderful group of middle school teens who Allison had been working alongside in the Basehor Middle School mentor program. The remaining students who came were from Thursday nights and the community who found out about our camp opportunity. Each of the teens who attended camp come from a position where church isn't too important but were open to the opportunity to what camp had to offer for them, plus a bunch of fun.

Phil with Zach, Logan and Jacob at camp

Allison, Regina and Phil ready to greet campers

Awaken Camp didn't disappoint and God broke open doors to the hearts of the students and leaders throughout the 4 days and 3 nights together. Tears and laughs were shared during their time together and after attending camp, the students were already asking the leaders when we'll be attending the camp next summer!? It blows our minds how God had all of this in mind in our obedience of providing a camp where our teens can come and be engaged by Christ-following and loving people and pointing them to Him. If that weren't enough, two young men whom we invited to camp made monumental choices to start following Jesus and also were baptized at the end of camp as well! Numerous seeds were planted as incredible conversations were beginning to happen with the adults through the camp week. Finally, when we gathered with our students, the teens came back from camp telling their friends and momentum for next year's plans are already building for Awaken Camp 2019!

Allison helping baptize one of her cabin

girls at the end of the week

Another thing that has come together recently for our teens and the affiliate was the development of a car wash with a local detail shop. A really kind gentleman named Liberty Hazelton came to our pancake feed in March really liked what our mission and ministry was up to locally and he was all about joining us in whatever way as possible. Thus, the car wash idea came up. We had the pleasure of having Elite Auto Details in Lansing, Kansas, host and help co-market the event all over our area for both June and July's car washes and they were a great success of getting our name out into the community and also building a great relationship with a business in town. The best part of the relationship was that Liberty was able to book new customers from the exposure of the event in the area and he kindly chose to make a 20% contribution to the affiliate from the business booked those days.

From left: Allison, Harlee, Phil Jacob and Zach hanging out after washing the big truck behind them

The marketing provided by Liberty, owner of Elite Auto Details for our car wash fundraiser in July.

Finally, both staff are praying and working diligently about what God will put on our hearts on what to do and how to impact our teens throughout Leavenworth County. Specifically, it was agreed upon that our teens in this community really need to hear about God's Truth and the topic for the 18-19 school year will be 'Loved and Significant.' So many teens feel hopeless in numerous ways as we got to hear about their personal lives in the past school year, and we felt this would be a key way to bridge God's Word to them and how it can apply to their lives.

The affiliate is also working on developing partners throughout the area and beyond who would like to financially partner and pray for the mission they are involved. The first-ever brochure is hot off the press and ready to go for anyone who wants to know more and the staff are open to grabbing a cup of coffee and visit about opportunities to partner. Should someone want to join the affiliate financially, they can do it via this link right here, being a tax-deductible gift: https://yfc.givingfuel.com/31081

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Staff Spotlights:

Phil, Amy and Parker while in Branson

Phil and Amy Parsons - Currently, they just celebrated their 4th wedding anniversary and Parker's 9th month and he's growing more and more and loving to stand up and try to walk. He enjoys music, loves books and is eating more and more solids. Phil and Amy have enjoyed some rest over the past month, traveling to Omaha, Branson and another upcoming trip to Colorado Springs to take needed time to enjoy together as a family before school gets back underway.

Allison is 2nd on left with her Basehor girls at camp

Allison Adragna - Since it's been so warm in Kansas, Allison's been spending a lot of time outdoors hiking, with friends or at the lake. A great way to spend her summer developing the next year's plans for our students. Join in praying for her as she is diligently working to raise additional partner support for her budget and is hoping to get 100% funded very soon.