May 2015 Newsletter

During the last Club of the semester, our students had the opportunity to share about the impact of Club this past year.  Here is what they had to say:

                “The definition of Club: an organization dedicated to a particular interest or activity. Beyond: at or to the further side of. Together, Club Beyond is an organization that is dedicated to God and we go way further than before. In 7^th grade, I came to Club on and off and I didn’t get the full meaning of Club Beyond. But now, in 8^th grade, I get it. Club is for us. They have become my second family.” (Isabella C. – Stewart MS teen)

Micah and I as we embrace
before the end of his last Club.

AJ and I during the last Club.

Riley (right) and Shelby hugging as they
consoleone another during their share time.

                “At first I felt it would be the same as any other youth group with cliques, popular kids, and so forth, but here everyone is the same. They love you regardless and accept you for who you are no matter what. No matter your faith we all come together regardless of your denomination. Originally I thought I would not fit in and get odd looks or treated differently because I was Catholic but quite the opposite occurred. We all work toward growing in our faith backgrounds right where you are. Plus, I don’t know how he does it, but every week this year, I felt like Mr. Phil’s talks were directly for me. It was like he could read my mind and talk into what I was going through.” (Riley O. – Stewart HS teen)

A big crew of students expected to move this
coming summer from our high school Club.

                “I am more inclined to read and dig into God’s Word regularly because of this year’s talks and Bible studies each week.” (Nico G. – Hunter MS teen)

                “Until Club, I had been bullied for a long time based on how I looked and tried to fit in and even my family didn’t really understand me. Club gets me and accepts me for who I am and I love it here.” (Kenzie W. – Hunter MS teen)

Melissa G. (standing) as she shares the impact of the talks
specifically upon Romans 5:8. 

                “Because of my time here and with Club, I have become the young woman God has inspired me to be. My experience with the passing of my grandpa and then attending summer camp the first time brought me to the place to forgive myself and removing regret of not spending enough time with my grandpa before his passing. Club this past year has shown me a new way of God’s love and how can we not be moved by a God that loves us SO much that he sent us His Son?” (Melissa G. – Stewart HS teen)

Who doesn't love ice cream for the last Club!?

A large group of Stewart middle school teens who will depart
from our midst this summer. 

                “A year ago, I was drinking heavily and in the past year, I have stopped from that way of life because of Club.” (Christian H. – Hunter HS teen)

The Hunter Club crew watching
the end of yearslide show.

                “When I first started coming, I didn’t really want to be here. I remember first meeting Mr. Phil when I came for the first time. I ended up missing a lot of weeks but still Mr. Phil was there and he remembered my name from the time I first came. He still treated me as I am loved and that I belong here. Who does that kind of thing!?” (Hasaan W. – Stewart MS teen)

The panel of Hunter teens sharing the impact of Club over
this past school year. 

                 “Club Beyond has helped me in a lot of ways. It has helped me better with understanding the Bible and the basic stories. Club has taught me how to display virtues in real life scenarios. Another way Club Beyond has helped me is with deployment. Right now my dad is stationed in Romania and Club has helped me stay calm and not worry so much about the days when he is gone. Lastly Club has helped me meet new people around may age that understand what I am going through!” (Ella W. – Hunter MS teen)

                “At Club, Mr. Phil and the other leaders care about your interests and you personally, instead of forcing you to be interested in what they are interested in. This place leads us to do what we are passionate about – that’s home. The leaders love to see God’s talents of who you are supposed to be.” (Matt M. – Stewart HS teen)

Us with Shelby on
her final Club.

                “Until coming to Club, I always thought I was doing worship wrong. I felt like I couldn’t ever get it right. Now I know I am worshipping God in the way He desires from me. I used to doubt myself and who I was until I came to Club and now I am not afraid to be who I am.” (Shelby H. – Stewart HS teen)

To say that we were speechless would be a desperate understatement. Our teens have been impacted and feel as if they’re part of a family. It’s God’s family to them. It’s home. Just as many teens have shared with leaders and others: 

             “Somehow Mr. Phil just knows when life is crumbling and he can look past it all and show you that you matter to someone and God.”

The HS Club group praying over our departing youth.

Our teens matter. Although this part of the year is a sad one with farewells and memories of the school year together, they gathered in a place and shared how their lives have changed.  Each one of you who are ministry partners through your prayers and your finances are a part of this change. We thank you. We are humbled to hear what God has done in and through this past year. Continue to pray for us in the next season of summer and for the next harvest of teens to call this place – home.

The HS crew enjoying ice cream
together on the final night. 

The Hunter group watches as the panel
of students share with them.

April 2015 Newsletter

Of course, shenanigans during the meal!

Greetings from Fort Stewart and Hunter!

“Hey, what are you guys up to over spring break this year?” 

The usual question asked when we near that time of year for our students. Everyone has the ‘itch’ to get away and do something instead of being locked down and bored at home. My reply,“We’re planning on offering a spring break work project and retreat for four days and three nights if you’re interested in joining us!” Never before have I imagined so many parents and teens ready to enroll their kids for something during spring break.  I thought a majority of our teens would be busy doing something else or the family traveling elsewhere. Originally we planned to cap the total to 30 teens, but my heart broke when we had a few extra come ask if we’d allow them to attend. In all, 33 ended up attending during spring break. However, it isn’t normal when of the 33 signed up, 23 were teenage boys and 10 were girls. Before we even stepped into the camp, I had a feeling God was preparing us for something different than we expected.

The fun was on as soon as the
'yutes' showed up! :) 

Ladies enjoying the game of Life! 

The ladies petting the onery horse, Logan! :) 

We get enough food?!!?

 Our plan was to come alongside Marshview Bible Camp, the camp we take our students to during the summer and help them prepare for their upcoming summer camp season. There is no shortage of projects to help with. We helped begin the construction of their first-ever obstacle course to be used during their summer camps. We were slated to help build the first two stations for the multi-station course. Building the stations would include digging a dozen 2-foot holes for a bear crawl exercise and two 3-foot holes for the 2^nd station, a 7-foot wall to be scaled by rope and climbed over. Other projects we accomplished through the week included raking and moving  tons of leaves that have fallen upon the camp and thorough cleaning of every cabin for incoming residents in camp season.  Our group also gathered and donated enough cleaning supplies between both installation locations to supply the camp for the summer and beyond!

It was a great place to play DODGEBALL!!

Dodgeball in action! 

Of course, it wouldn’t be a great trip if we didn’t plan plenty of open and free time for our students to enjoy the camp.  We planned great team games, competitions in the “Gaga Ball” and 3-on-3 basketball and about anything else they could consider doing at the camp. If that weren’t enough, the dining hall, aka “lighthouse”, provided a place where the kids could gather together and play a wild round of Apples to Apples, Clue or enjoy some competition on the air hockey table or ping pong table.

The High School group's contribution
to the camp supply drive! 

The enormous amount from the middle school crew for the supply drive!

Hunter's contribution to the supply drive!

In between our work and play, our students had some great moments to think about the times when they’ve wondered if life was worth trying or just throwing up the ‘peace out’ sign and quitting. Many of us have felt this before where life is mounting to a point where we are tired and we want to walk away from our situation. Our teens don’t get that many moments to truly ‘unplug’ and enjoy time away from the normal life they have at home.  We gave them an opportunity to ask anything they’d like during the week by submitting their tough questions.  Later in the week, those questions would be answered by a panel of leaders who gave them insight from our own experiences and faith backgrounds. 

Big ball soccer with the other youth at camp!

This horse loved to take bites, of anything! :)

In the middle of the camp, our teens and adults were given the opportunity to write down something they felt that God would hold against them – where God’s love couldn’t show up unlike where the father came with open arms to his son who walked away in the story of the Prodigal Son.  As we sat around the fire, our group had the chance to take that card and pitch it into the fire and walk away. Not looking back but looking forward on what God is doing in and through them in the here and now. Our students also took the chance to show their God-inspired passions and talents around the fire where we threw together an impromptu showcase for them which ran well into the night. To say God showed up as the fire crackled and lit the faces of our students watching and also showing their talents was a shortfall. God was there in that moment.  During our time around the fire, we were given a reprieve of expectations, stress, challenges, school, bullying, issues with friends, relationship issues, divorce being discussed between parents, faith doubts, fighting at home, military life, moving again, deployments and anything else that we arrived with earlier in the week.

These two guys hit half-court shots multiple times
during dodgeball to get their teams the win!

These guys are awesome together from Hunter!

Our teens rocked it. Our leaders brought it. Technology was no factor. Lives were changed. Impact was made upon every person who attended over spring break.

Snapshots of students together were perfect as they became a melting
pot of teens from two locations! 

Each one of you who come alongside this ministry and mission are part of God’s call on us to reach these teens and make an impact. Your ongoing gifts have provided the ample opportunity for us to be in those moments and present when God needed us. From in the moments of answering the tough questions at the fireside or offering support when a student asks about their parents’ pending divorce, each of you has a hand in this calling.

The group together in our final mealtime enjoying tons of pizza!

We thank you for being in this with us, as God anoints and equips the called for His glory. 

~Phil & Amy 

The squad of Stewart and Hunter teens chillin' on their final day.

March 2015 Newsletter

Dear friends of the military ministry, 

Back in December, Amy and I sent out a number of our personal magnets sharing the desire and need for prayer upon God’s harvest for more adults to reach our teens between Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield. For us to say that your prayers have been answered would be a misrepresentation of His amazing blessings upon the ministry sites already in 2015. So, come join us and read over what God’s been doing here……

Club Ministry

One of our giant groups of Fort Stewart
middle school teensplaying 'pinball!' 

A group of our HS teens gathered for a game! 

It might sound cliché, but energy always builds around the nicer weather down here especially since our weather turns quicker than most places. We’ve seen explosive growth from all fronts – middle school and high school Club and Bible studies at Fort Stewart have been growing all spring and we are seeing record crowds each night. Our core groups of students are multiplying and there are record numbers of students bringing other friends to come and experience Club weekly. One of my favorite things happens at least once nightly when a student rushes up to me and says “Mr. Phil, this is ____ and they’re new here.” It’s awesome. Our teens are eager to be celebrated upon for their eager hearts to bring their friends to a place they love to come each week. When we shared about the harvest, we never imagined our groups to become a steady and growing 35+ each week, however that IS what God has had in store for us because of your fervent prayers.

Bible Studies

At Hunter Army Airfield, students attending our ongoing Bible study which overviews and opens up dialogue of our ‘talk’ each week prior are hungry to go deeper. One of our newer high school attendees, Jacob, asked an awesome question about what happened to the Garden of Eden after sin entered the world. What a question! We’re seeing our students being unashamed just like Jacob who will ask the tough questions they are unsure and know they aren’t being judged by their curiosity of God’s Word. Because each of you have been praying for us, our Hunter teens are showing up weekly with a deep hunger to know more about God’s Truth. 

Leadership Team

We’re also seeing an explosion of growth on our leadership team at both of our locations. Fort Stewart’s crew of adults has grown with an increase of new folks who have moved into our area and are starting to own their part of God’s puzzle in reaching our military teens, whether at Club or outside of it. Two of our newest folks, Amy and her daughter Nia, have come to us with experience from  Fort Hood, Texas which also has Club Beyond ministry. They have joined our forces and have already made strides in impact bringing new games and energy to our teens. Not only this, but they have a passion to see things unfold in ways we never imagined.  Amy and Nia plan on helping spearhead our upcoming spring break work project and retreat. Your prayers have brought us a team of phenomenal adults who want to spread Christ’s love to these teens in shepherding and caring for them ‘right where they live.’

Community Partnerships

Ezra (left) and I at the spouses luncheon
sharing about the impact their contribution
has made upon our teens and the ministry.

Amy and I never imagined these things unfolding the way they have in the ministry this spring semester, but God brought MORE yet. Each ministry location is encouraged to develop strategic and ongoing community partnerships with groups to be fully part of the community and allow the community to experience the ministry outside the doors of weekly Club. Let’s just say God wasn’t bringing one or two partners this spring, He was on mission to blow away our expectations.

Kicking off the month of March began with a repeated partnership with the Fort Stewart Red Cross and our spaghetti dinner for their 5k packet pick-up and late registration. Another new partner added to the mix are the wonderful ladies of Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC) who chose to come alongside us and provide all the pasta and fixings for the meal!

Being the banker and financially minded guy I am, I still desire to provide some great education and training to prepare our students as they head out after finishing high school. The great folks of Army Community Service (ACS) are highly interested in joining the efforts and we’re currently working on a workshop to provide a financial resiliency opportunity for our teens in high school.

A few of our HS teens helping at the 5k! 

Two of our middle school ladies who
ran and placed in the Red Cross 5k!

Each year we work diligently to provide an opportunity to reduce the financial strain on families to send their teens to camp each summer.  I approached the Marne Community and Spouses Club (MCSC) in the fall of 2014 to prayerfully consider awarding us another grant for summer camp. A parent and board member for community outreach for the MCSC  called me this month sharing they are partnering with us again as they did last year, pushing our total fundraising figure to send 60 youth to summer camp at ½ price!

You can see how your amazing prayer and partnership has been unfolding already in immense ways this spring. We thank you for being part of it and pray for each of you as we obediently serve our military and their teenagers. It’s not only breathtaking, but humbling to be part of this each day.

~Phil and Amy 

February 2015 Newsletter

What books are on your ‘must read’ list?  A great friend of mine who is a Pastor in Kansas City shared with me the name of a book that I should have on my ‘must-read’ list, “The Cost of Discipleship,” which was written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I am currently reading, “Bonhoeffer as Youth Worker ” which was based upon Bonhoeffer’s accomplishments within the confines of working with youth and the way he did ministry during Nazi Germany regime. When I dug deeper in this book, it shared how Bonhoeffer states many times throughout that we are used by God as His stellvertretung, or “place sharers” with our teens in ministry. Specifically, Bonhoeffer makes the case that when we work alongside people as one of Christ’s ambassadors, we join them in living together and sharing what they are experiencing in life. Whether or not it’s recognized, Bonhoeffer began relational ministry with those around him using this method of sharing places and stories in his lifetime as a pastor, mentor and friend.

In the start of our spring 2015 semester, I have been compelled to peel back the onion more on my own personal life and share deeper with the students what I have experienced pertaining to God’s love showing up in our lives when it feels undeserved. Specifically, I took moments in back-to-back weeks to share my intimate thoughts and feelings in the area of my dad’s passing in 2014 and in my divorce back in 2007. Not only did I relive these moments, but I truly gave our teens insight into where my personal faith was throughout these times along with my flaws showing up in my faith background too. God allowed me to lay a foundation for us to get real, together.

Some of our all-star middle school students warming up
during our Groundhog Breakfast fundraiser which raised
an astonishing $1100 for summer camp!!

A rowdy group of middle school teens playing
together, but have been gripped and evaluating
how God is using the talks to work in their lives.

To say and share that God opened a floodgate of opportunity would take away the magnitude of what God did in those two weeks. Our students at both Stewart and Hunter were gripped with their own lives coming into play when my life was shared and how God’s love was interwoven somehow. Our middle school crew got the first talks of each week. We had one girl, CR whom I knew would be impacted by the sharing of my father’s death since she had recently lost her mother. For some reason, God gives me the ability to see when our kids are ‘faking it’ when I ask how they’re doing personally. CR is definitely one I noticed in the past weeks. Sharing with our middle school students about asking why God would love me enough to take the man I love as my daddy from this world was enough to peel CR’s onion. God’s Truth shook the ground which she was planted. I felt it was necessary to check in with her after ending the talk with how we are comforters to those who need comfort and how God uses this ‘junk’ to identify with others’ junk too – 2 Corinthians 1:3-11.

Isaiah on the left side of this photo during game time
at Hunter Club. 

If that wasn’t enough, this same message at Hunter broke through some kids I never thought would listen or be reached. Soon after I finished the talk, one of our boys named Isaiah stepped up to me and opened up, sharing his story about his dad’s recent failing health and being hospitalized. As he was sharing with me this intimate and personal feeling about his dad’s well-being, Isaiah’s eyes were welling up with tears, although he was fighting them off. God created a space where emotion and life could be shared with one another. A ‘place shared’ with our teens.  Stellvertretung.

A few of our high school ladies goofing off
while I took a 'selfie' together, but many have
been gripped by the talks and what God is
doing in their hearts and lives. 

I could go on and on with name upon name of our teenagers who have been impacted because I was obedient in sharing myself with them in the recent weeks. All we can ask is that you keep them in prayer. Isaiah, Kyle, Christian, Katie, CR, Gavin, Adeline, Ali, Shelby, Cora, Riley, Carissa, Reggie, Brandon, Matt……and many more that God will allow us to ‘share space’ alongside.

God doesn’t make these moments up. They are precious. Join the ride.
Humbly thankful,
~Phil and Amy 

January 2015 Newsletter

A new memory, during the
Christmas tree lighting @
Fort Stewart! 

Taking a moment to enjoy
a photo with one another
before the tree lighting.

Greetings and Happy New Year! 

During this part of the year our locations take intentional time off for our teens to rest, relax and enjoy time with their families and friends before going back to school and rushing into another semester. The same goes for our leadership team as well as Amy and I, which influences us more than ever to slow down. The best part about this is how we started new traditions and how we saw God’s hand all over the 2015 vision and plan for reaching teens.

As most of you know, Amy and I traveled a ton in the first 5 months of our marriage, which made us desire to stick around Georgia and make the most of being home for our 1^st Christmas and New Year together. Although missing family traditions and loved ones back in the Midwest, God blessed our time and provided moments which were wonderful for us. If it weren’t enough in starting new traditions with one another, we also were blessed with our first home in Hinesville which God totally blasted doors open for us to purchase over the break. Therefore, we also enjoyed setting up our own beautiful Christmas tree in our home and enjoyed an amazing Christmas dinner together that evening.

Amy caught a moment as I laid this wreath
on his tree during the ceremony. 

Taking a moment to breathe it all in
during the Warriors Walk ceremony.

Another blessing about staying in our area was being part of annual events happening around Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield. Each year at Fort Stewart, soldiers lost in the ongoing battle overseas are honored at the Warriors Walk by the ‘laying of the Christmas wreaths’ in an amazing fashion. Warriors Walk is an amazing and sobering memorial lining the parade field where our soldiers from the 3^rd Infantry Division deploy and come back home from battle. Each tree represents a life given in battle in the Iraq and Afghan wars. To say that it was humbling and breathtaking doesn’t come close to the emotions which hit me in this event. We not only went to witness this annual event but we also chose to lay four wreaths upon trees since these soldiers’ families weren’t able to do it for them.

Being that we took the time to slow down and rest over the holiday season, it was apparent that God was calling us into a new season. Leadership was starting to change over the past few months and recent weeks due to moves and job changes. Our photo magnet we sent out for Christmas to many of you shared the need of praying for additional help as God has brought the harvest and continues to do so. We are thankful to share your prayers already have brought new people into the fray for leadership to fill the gaps left from others moving!

Us together as we took the keys
to our home in Hinesville! 

Finally, a resonating feeling as of late in healthy discussion with other ministry leaders and friends plus inward soul searching and discernment led me to see God is bringing us into 2015 doing ministry ‘simple and effective.’ I have had some fruitful conversations with our military leadership to include the Garrison Chaplain who all believe this is and can be an impactful year in this direction. We’re finding out in our time of rest that our students don’t need all the ‘bells and whistles’ of attraction to get them to hang out; all they really want is our undivided attention and a person who cares for them and speaks into their life. Please continue to pray for us in this new season since it will include bringing more intentional plans on our time with our students and how we do ministry effectively at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield.

The Harvest is upon us. Let us execute well as God anoints His plans! 

Amy and I enjoying a new tradition with our
Christmas tree decorating in our home.

~Phil & Amy Parsons

December 2014 Newsletter

Us together at Carolina Point summer
camp with our high school students.

With the holiday season upon us, many find themselves reflecting as the current year comes to a close. For me, Amy, this year has been one of a lot of changes. Never in my wildest dream, did I think I would be living in Southeast Georgia, married to a man doing youth ministry with military teens.  Sometimes during our time of reflection, we often wonder, “How did I end up here?”

Initially, I felt completely unprepared for this mission to serve military teens and their families. I wasn’t quite sure how things would unfold, if I would fit in, or if the students would even like me---which I am learning, are all very similar feelings of these military students we work with. As I began to reflect, I have seen the hand of God woven throughout my life experience, preparing me all along the way for this mission.

I grew up in a very missions-minded church. Not only did we support missionaries all over the globe, but also many families within our congregation were either away serving in the field or had at one time. Annually, we had a missionary fair that allowed the missionaries we supported to come and provide updates and share all that was happening where they were serving. I always enjoyed helping out with the event and soaking up all the exciting stories of the far away lands and the work that God was doing through our missionaries and the people they were serving. Not only was my church one that was very missions-minded, it was also comprised of many military families from neighboring Fort Leavenworth. It wasn’t uncommon for the military families to get connected, only to just disappear a few years later due to orders they had received to move to another installation.

Phillip and I together after Melissa's
baptism last month at Chapel Next.

A snapshot of us during the 2014
staff conference.

Given my upbringing, it was only natural for me to develop a servant’s heart and a desire to help others. As a high school student, I went on a mission trip, and did all that I could to serve those in my own backyard that were in need. As I began to think about a career path, whatever I ended up doing, I knew it would involve serving others in some way.

Phillip and I on the golf course
during our outing at the 2014
Club Beyond Staff Conference.

After college, I found myself still searching for my purpose for my life’s calling. I pursued a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, where I also felt compelled to serve military families through the lens of mental health. It was shortly after I began my graduate work that I remembered the “crazy guy” that had attended my life group the year before trying to raise financial support to work with military teens. I had the opportunity to connect with Phil while he was on a visit back to our church in KC in December 2012. Just like the exciting stories from faraway lands I enjoyed hearing as a child at my church’s missions fairs, I was so intrigued to hear Phil share about the work God was doing through him in Georgia, as well as share my new-found passion to serve military families. We could have talked for hours, but life had to move forward for both of us. Neither of us ever imagined that our paths would ever cross again, but once again, God’s hand was busy at work, preparing us for the journey we are now on together.

As I sit and reflect about how I have ended up here, I think about athletes. Whether football players or marathon runners, it takes a lot of training and practice for them before they can take the field or enter the race. I feel that my life up to this point has been a lot of training and practice, sitting on the sidelines observing the game. Now, I find myself taking the field, in the middle of all of the action, serving alongside my husband as we serve military students. My journey hasn’t always been a smooth ride, but I am forever grateful for all of my life’s experiences that have helped pave the way and prepare me to travel this current road. As I reflect, I am grateful for my Christian upbringing; for all of the missionaries that poured into my life, and for all the service members of the United States Military that sacrifice so much for this country. I am grateful for all of you that have chosen to partner alongside us in this mission, whether through prayer or financial support. As this year comes to a close, I encourage you to reflect on your life and how the hand of God has been woven throughout your story. I am excited to see what God has in store in the upcoming year as He continues to use us as His vessels through Club Beyond.

Phillip and I at the 2014 Club Beyond Staff Conference in
Panama City Beach, Florida.

If you are already currently partnering with us through prayer or financial support, we thank you for your gifts that keep the mission to reach military teens alive. If you have yet to join our team, we ask that you prayerfully consider joining us in whatever capacity you are able. One-time gifts are just as vital as ongoing monthly support.

Merry Christmas from Phil and I to each of your families! 

November 2014 Newsletter

Amy and I had the wonderful opportunity to get back to the Midwest and spend some great time with so many friends, family and loved ones. Stops along the way in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Tennessee allowed us to draw from God’s wellspring of love and care. We enjoyed wedding celebrations with awesome people in Omaha and Kansas City and a rivalry football game in Lawrence, Kansas on a sunny afternoon with family and dear friends. We also had dinner with a wonderful mentor couple, Tom and Lynn, who poured more life into us than what we ever imagined. Sometimes God will take us away from our routine and our own chaos to see what really matters the most. Time with others mattered to us and got us to thinking about what to do in the time when we got back home. This got me to thinking about the next comment I’m about to make.

Amy and I with our dear friend, Toni,
at the KU/OSU game.

Rick (old boss) and I during the recent visit
in Kansas City, a true blessing!

Amy and I with my family back in Iowa during our Midwest visit.

Normally when I cross paths with someone who asks how things are going with the ministry at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, things usually trend toward the weekly attendance at Club. Sure it is exciting to share what is going on at both of our locations with our teenagers and the uprising in attendance. It’s a wonderful thing, but it’s not the only thing.

In the recent weeks, Amy and I have spent some great moments together visiting our kids in special moments where they shine in their passions and strengths. One evening was in Savannah watching a couple of our Hunter middle school girls, Clairah and Alyssa, participate in their first volleyball scrimmage for their school. Their sports teams are in the developing stages and this was a monumental event to see how far the kids have grown in their abilities and we got to share in that moment!

Clairah (far right) with her friend and Alyssa next to me after their volleyball scrimmage! 

Amy and I with Alysia and Austin
at the Long County Football Game
....which was COLD! :) 

Another shared event was where we decided to pick up Austin and Alysia from Fort Stewart Club to hang out with them as we watched a mutual student compete in the color guard for their football halftime show. This young lady attended camp with us and has a heart of gold. She’s passionate about life and has poured herself into this new talent and for us to see her in action was such a moment for Shelby.

Shelby and I after her halftime
performance for the flag corps.

Bradwell Institute's band during a bitter
COLD day'scompetition!

Ethan with us after his team's game.

It isn’t enough that we know our kids are involved in specific activities, but when we get to physically see them doing it, that is where the sparks fly for our teens. This is certain for quite a few of our local high school band members who shared with us about their band competition right before state kicks off for them. Amy and I not only made it up to see them in the blustery cold wind – yes it was THAT cold in southeast Georgia that afternoon, but we also made it up earlier in the morning to watch one of our Hunter youths play in one of his final soccer tournaments in the Savannah area.

Recently, Desiree (name changed for privacy), a girl from Hunter followed up with me after she shared she had been struggling at home with life changes and all. It wasn’t enough that it blew me away a 7^th grade teen wanted to grab my ear to visit about some deeper things, but this young lady admitted where her physical anger was getting the best of her and how it might be bad for her to be thinking that way.

Our dear friends, Tony and Michelle.

The daily grind of full-time ministry can sometimes be exhaustive. We have been praying earnestly for a mutual couple for God to put into our path and grow relationally and spiritually as we work with our teens. As of late, Amy and I had the wonderful moment to sit down and have dinner with an amazing couple, Tony and Michelle, who lives locally in Hinesville and does youth ministry at their church in town. Interestingly enough, this couple also understands the value of relational ministry. Tony once commented to me after the guys marathon day and said that he knew we ‘got it’ in relational ministry to teens. It was a breath of fresh air to sit down with them over a meal. Before we knew it, we’d been visiting about life, ministry and whatever else for three hours!   

It is true that our weekly efforts matter because they lay the foundation for us to be able to be readily available to hear when our kids want us to plug into their activities or lives when we’re trusted. Please join us in praying as our leaders spend time outside of the weekly ministry routine and that our hearts and ears are open when these teens desire for us to live life with them.

Thank you for being part of our life. Life on life matters, especially to these teens.