October 2016 Newsletter

Amy and I with SaraBeth and Luke at the
YFC Central States Conference in KC.

"We hope to reach a million lost kids with the Gospel within the next 5 years in America," states the overall Youth for Christ USA strategic plan. It was brought to our attention during our time spent with other YFC brothers and sisters at the Central States Conference in Kansas City at the beginning of October. Amy and I have noticed some incredible moments throughout the time back in Leavenworth County which includes opportunities to build relationships with folks throughout the area which will allow us to 'reach every military teen,' especially those far from God.

Getting a moment for a snapshot with a
great volleyball player, Laney, who we
knew in Georgia, and now in Kansas.

One of these moments included an incredible tour throughout the local Catholic Schools and getting the opportunity to meet teachers, administrators and other vetted adults who love working with middle and high school teens in the private schools in Leavenworth. The big piece of the puzzle was that two students we've worked alongside attend the school and their mother is now the director of marketing and public relations for the local Catholic schools. I personally had the great chance to sit down with their leadership teacher, high school principal and counselor to hear what their needs were along with what our intentions were in the local community. God blew open doors for the relationship to bud even further as Amy and I soon after sat down with their athletic director and hear what he needs most and how we could serve their school in whatever capacity they desire in the current timeline. He shared with us how he needed someone for a line judge in one of his upcoming volleyball contests and I chose to help out immediately.

Another opportunity came from the relationship built from last month's Challenge Day at Lansing Middle School when the momentum at the end of the week's events continued to develop. Multiple adults shared their interest in helping continue the effects on a year-round basis in the school to impact their now-changed teens. Around the first week of this month, the phone call came from the school counselor pertaining to the pending launch of the Challenge Day program on a monthly basis. It wasn't just the phone call to include us into their monthly program, but to hear that there are over a dozen adults in the local community who want to see this impact continue! Every piece of this puzzle has built from the openness and willingness to serve wherever they needed and the counselor asked if we could help compile statistics from the student survey since her time is limited during the week. She even called mid-month to ask if we could provide an ice breaker game since we shared it was something we've done in the past and we'll help in whatever they need anytime.

A great panoramic view of the Lansing 8th Grade football game cheering on students from Challenge Day.

If those two doors opening weren't enough, we had another situation come together as we sat down with folks who we knew and approached us in helping shepherd their teens who gather each week at their 47-acre homestead in the county. Apparently, they had up to 40+ teens showing up each week and they asked us about this early in our arrival in the area and God has allowed us to discern about coming alongside them and raise up adults who want to work with these teens as well. Amy and I gathered with about a dozen of the key teens who had been coming before and we created a focus group of them to give us honest heartfelt feedback of what they enjoyed, would like to improve and what they'd like to see in the future for the weekly group of teens.

As Ecclesiastes 3:1 states: "There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the heavens," and we truly feel that this is part of the season which is connected to our overall strategic plan nation-wide. God has opened doors in incredible ways that we never imagined and we deliberately ask you to pray for us in reaching every military teen in Leavenworth County, wherever God calls us.

Join us in celebration:

• Continued relationships throughout the schools in Leavenworth and Lansing
• Amy and I got an incredible weekend away in Omaha, NE, to spend some great time with family
• The group of teens of the focus group gave unashamed feedback when given the chance to be heard.

Join us in prayer:

• We still are seeking a home locally in the area as housing has been a continual struggle to find something financially workable for our familial needs and ministry hopes.
• In leading the local Leavenworth County Affiliate, we are seeking to partner with people who want to see our teens' lives impacted, for the Kingdom's sake.
• Pray for our challenges in continued seasons of change as we seek to reach teens in every place.

We thank you all for praying with us and being partners in the mission of going to where these teens deserve the love of Christ. Should any of you feel the desire to partner with us in any way, you may go to the online giving link here: https://yfc.givingfuel.com/30631 and if you want to be added to our prayer team, feel free to email us at pparsons@yfcmail.org.

~Phil & Amy

September 2016 Newsletter

Fifteen years ago, lives changed throughout the country along with the whole world in the attacks upon our country. One thing that hits me most is that the majority of our military teens we encounter on a daily basis don't know anything but continued years of war, deployment, training, fast paced-tempo and anything else that goes with the lifestyle of a country in a war on terror. It changed how I view our military and the immediate changes their lives were going to see in such a sudden moment of history.

Mr. Gus (orange shirt) as he shares his story with the MS teens.

Recently at a middle school Club we hosted, they were asked what places they'd lived and the best and not so great parts of each location they have lived thus far. Briefly in passing, a student shared with me that he'd lived already in 8 places and was only in 7th grade. This also made the impact of being a military teen more challenging in the constant shift of home places. Over the next week, we also had them share favorite and not so favorite moments about their places they've lived. It was apparent that these students were passionate about their places and being heard from their peers and adults. Something brought to light was that we were empowering our students to have a voice, no matter what happened in their lives. This has been powerful for our teens.

Mrs. Deb shares her story to the HS teens at Club.

Let's not also forget the harvest we've seen in our first few weeks of meeting at the Harrold Youth Center on post as well. We've seen an average group of 40+ high school students and an incredible 35+ middle school students gathering together each week. The energy is high and the continued excitement for Club day rolls around when we enter the center and the kids there will say to us, 'see you tonight or tomorrow for Club!' Part of the blessing we've seen is the ability to reach our teens 'right where they are' in the youth center. We've noticed a great 10+ middle school students showing up weekly ever since they were invited to just hang out and join us one evening as we launched Club together. Ever since that moment of being included, they anxiously await to see us to say they're pumped for Club that week.

A record crew at one of our HS Clubs!

If those aren't things to celebrate, we ask you also to raise your arms in a great cheer as I (Phil) recently finished up 3 days helping Lansing Middle School in an incredible annual event hosted at the school for their 8th grade students. It's called Challenge Day. The easiest way to share 'what it is' would be to say that it's the closest ability to do Club in a school in one day with a huge crew of 75 teens and 20+ adults and to get them to get 'real' with one another and allow them to build relationships together. To say it changes schools would be an incredible shortfall. It brings students together in a way that breaks down walls in all the areas of struggles for students in the schools. Cliques are realized and sometimes dissolved; bullying is confronted in a gracious and loving way; students are allowed to see one another for who they really are in their hallways and finally they get to see what's really under the layers of just our exterior they see each day moving from class to class.

The best part of the Challenge Day was that I personally got to engage with a majority of the Lansing Middle School 8th grade class. It was incredibly amazing and I got to meet students of all types, cultures, backgrounds and many military teens who attended the school as well. Life was shared each day and my own was shared in 100% participation throughout the mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting day. However, I wouldn't exchange it for a moment in being drained so much. New friendships with adults who are passionate for these teens were built and we got to envision the idea of 'carrying the torch' after the event ended which meant a further involvement in the local school somehow. Only God knows, but if it's anything like what was experienced, I should probably get myself a LOT of rest and prepare big time!

My view as I got to peacefully
enjoy mowing the lawn of our
host family's yard.

As we come to a close on our letter, pray BIG for what is on the horizon. A lot of things are moving within our sights which include praying and discerning small group development with our other staff person, SaraBeth. We also are preparing some girls and guys day events and also a camp which will be incredibly impactful in November. The semester is in full-swing and God's got us working toward something we've never imagined here before.

Join us in celebration:

• An amazing harvest of students attending middle school and high school Club
• Amy's part-time job working as a behavioral therapist with kids with autism
• The incredible amount of leadership team members interested in working alongside our teens in all capacities.

Please pray with us:

• We continue to press into the needs of our local community outreach on and off post, hoping to reach more military teens as possible.
• We are ramping up into a fast-paced season of events, weekly ministry and more, so pray for our endurance and that we slow down the pace to enjoy what God has for us even in the moments of doing absolutely nothing.
• We are still seeking a home God has in store for us to start an eventual family and ministry!

We thank each of you for your ongoing support as we can't do it without the ongoing prayers, financial partnership and encouragement as we work to reach every military teen here in Leavenworth County, Kansas!

Phil & Amy

August 2016 Newsletter

It's been a month and a half now since our move to Kansas, and it's been a different season God has us upon. Rather than rushing into the community and running multiple ministry events per week and jumping into full-fledged youth ministry, we did exactly the opposite. We were graciously given the right to ease into the community and take our time assessing things as we got familiar with Kansas and Fort Leavenworth. 

Amy and I with her cousin, Katelyn and her folks
at a KC Royals game together.

I believe what was saddest about my time in Georgia was that I owned a fishing license with

Peace on the pond fishing.

salt permit, fishing gear and all the rest and never once went fishing. It took less than one month and a half for that to happen twice as soon as we got to Kansas! It was absolutely perfect as my gracious in-laws are connected to folks who own a local orchard with multiple ponds on it and we got to get away and meet for an evening of fishing together. The best part wasn't the multiple fish all  us caught and released, but the serenity. God brought me there to woo me and share how He was going to put things together, just as He did in Georgia. Withdraw and just 'be' in His presence. Slow down and relax and get back to the things that pour into our souls.

Kyle and I grabbing food
and catching up together.

The Ackles' with CH Trogdon and his
wife, Connie with us eating some BBQ

together during their stop in KC!

If that wasn't enough, God was starting to give us a slower paced breath of fresh air so that I could get back into walking and running on a regular basis, something I've always enjoyed in personal reflection time with Jesus. Just walking along the 20th street corridor, I've had the wonderful opportunity to reflect on the beautiful Kansas blue skies, fields of corn, rows of alfalfa being cut to harvest along with the feel of country living outside of Kansas City - everything to enjoy of God's majesty all around me. Add into the situation some phenomenal humidity-free and cool mornings and God was speaking right to my soul about being back in the heartland of the country.

Although we had been relaxing quite a bit, reconnecting with some amazing people who had moved to Fort Leavenworth was also a joy. The Ackles, Ayers, Blumenfeld and Gwin families all were folks we were anticipating getting to see when we arrived to Kansas. God had amazing plans to reconnect the Ayers and Blumenfeld families back to us as we had previously served alongside one another as leaders with our good friend Damien over 5 years ago at Leavenworth and the Ackles and Gwin families were stationed at Fort Stewart during our time serving in Georgia.

We helped pick up my brother, Nick and his son,
Logan from the train station as they returned from
a long trip to Philmont, NM.

Finally, it's just been a peaceful entrance back to Kansas which was forced upon myself with a recent phone issue. Now to most, this isn't a big issue, but if one asks my wife Amy, you'll hear differently. My own cell phone went on the fritz for a period of 5 days where I was unable to do anything from it. Again, most folks wouldn't see much of an issue at all, however I do just about everything from my smartphone. Although it wasn't something I originally enjoyed, I noticed the freedom of just 'being' in moments in front of me that were starting to matter. I noticed that I could leave the phone (since it didn't work) at home and it wasn't any of a big deal at all. Conversations mattered more and were more fruitful overall with the people I was in front of regularly in this time.

Amy and I with the Ackles' girls.

So, as we are sitting in Kansas, pray as we follow what God is calling us to do with military teens throughout this area of Leavenworth County and Fort Leavenworth. Pray for the amazing leadership team that exists and new folks who will come into the fray to love on these teens just as they are.

Humbly thankful in the field, working for His Glory!

Phil & Amy

Please join us in prayer:

• For all the new students who will come join us this school year at Club
• For all of our new leadership team members who are ready to help reach every military teen throughout this community
• For our continued settling into the community, as we look for a home to live along with connect locally in strategic ministry partners all around.
• For our fellow staff, SaraBeth as she leans into staff work in transitioning from leadership as a volunteer and raising support for her position.

July 2016 Newsletter

"Welcome back, now what will you be doing?!"

The Kansas City downtown in the horizon as we arrived. 

It all hit home as I was driving our 20' U-haul into the landscape of the downtown KC horizon on the 7th of July. "We're really back in this area," I thought with emotion and some tears rolling down my face. Emotions were hitting me as I was coming to grips with the move from a place Amy and I had prepared to stay up to 20 years, and was now coming to an end. We weren't far removed from God's amazing and mind-blowing blessings of taking 57 teens and 5 adults to camp and seeing His glory show up ten fold and now we were stepping into the new landscape of our pending adventure in Leavenworth County, Kansas. 

Amy and I in front of the Royals' World Series 

trophy when we recently relaxed to see a game.

As I write this letter to you all, we have been in Kansas now for only 6 days. Usually, Amy and I visit this part of the country for up to 2 weeks, so we're waiting on it all to 'hit us' in this move in a couple weeks from now that we're officially in the Midwest again. Thankfully we have been graciously granted the first 30 days to slowly ease into our position here and adjust to living in Kansas and everything that comes with the ministry, to include visiting family, visiting ministry partners in the area and having intentional meetings with like-minded Kingdom builders in the area as well. It's a blessing overall to us so we can pray and discern about what God is leading us to do to make an impact to potentially reach every military teen in the Leavenworth County area. 

Now that we have settled a little bit and are absorbing information from Youth for Christ, we thought this letter would be beneficial to give some good updates for people who want to know the how, what, why of the ministry we'll be doing in this area. There were many updates along the timeline to multiple groups of folks and now that we're here in Kansas, we thought it would be good to share that information as best as we can with as many as possible. Please do bear with us as this will be an ongoing 'living document of Holy Spirit driven ministry' in which we will serve. 

1. Question: What will the ministry be doing in the area, specifically? 

Answer: Just so all are aware, we've been called to stay specifically with Youth for Christ Military in efforts to potentially reach "every military teen." We will be looking to provide ministry on and off Fort Leavenworth, literally throughout Leavenworth County which will allow us to reach many more military teens who may not ever get the chance to get on post but can be influenced by the ministry and mission that works alongside their life experiences. A few of our logos and such may change, but the mission stays the same!

2. Question: What will ministry look like?

Answer: This will be an ongoing Holy Spirit driven mission. We want to be influenced by Christ to be reaching our military teens in efforts never imagined before. Being the ministry will now be volunteer invited and non-contracted via the Post Chapel and overall community, this mission will allow us to adjust when necessary to the needs of the teens and military community. 

A great view to take in the game with Amy's folks as

they blessed us for our anniversary.

3. Question: What will you and Amy be doing in the ministry?

Answer: Our ministry role will look different than ever before, as we'll be led to raise up indigenous leaders within Leavenworth County (on and off post) to work to reach military teens right in their own locale. We'll be guiding and developing an overall ministry plan where the Holy Spirit can help us see the needs and adjust when necessary. We will be assisting with Club where needed and empowering leaders to 'run with the torch' in creating avenues to relationally meet our military teens and their friends whenever and however they feel led. We'll be training our leaders in the Youth for Christ methodology of relational ministry to include partner training with the other YFC Affiliate program in Kansas City. 

Found a new friend as we were visiting
friends at their home in the county.

Other pieces of this ministry will be developing the YFC Affiliate Serving Leavenworth County and reaching new ministry partners who want to see the impact unfold even more to reach all of our military teens in this area. An Affiliate program will include an advisory board of people who desire to see military youth ministry in the area strive and be a thriving program in years to come on and off post. Networking throughout Leavenworth County within the school systems will be essential and effective to reach teens 'right where they are' along with providing great support to the communities in places in rich need. Another area of development for Amy and I along with the advisory board will be raising up financial and prayerful support throughout the area for Kingdom impact. Items may include may be banquets for possible partners, Church partnerships for events and service projects, on Post relationships to serve and bless the Fort Leavenworth community and other items that may come up across our desk to build Kingdom impact. 

4. Question: Without contracts, what will change in military youth ministry?

Answer: Essentially contracting was the gateway of our presence on military installations in doing ministry. Being that we'll be working without them, we'll work from a presence of relationship building with our Chaplains on the installation and humbly ask them how we can partner in doing military youth ministry as it has been done in the past. This will become more of a partnership that is relational and desired and open dialogue between both parties will be essential to share intent and hope for reaching military teens for Christ's glory. 

Amy's new friend "sprinkles" in the home
of our dear friends in the county.

One big piece folks have asked about is without contracting, how will we be funded. This is the area where faith and sharing need will go ten-fold to whomever and however they feel led to partner with us moving ahead. Contracting did provide a part of our funding source, nearly about 25% of our annual need. Being we are no longer contracted, we will seek whomever and however God leads us to raise that additional support base. Sometimes the military installation can choose to partner with us in how they feel led with gifts to our support account, just like folks do today. All of it depends on God's plan and how it will all unfold accordingly but we are so thankful for people who have stayed on mission with us in this transition to Kansas. 

We continue to meet with as many people as necessary to share what God's mission and vision will be for us to work alongside amazing military teens. Please know our hearts still pray boldly for our Georgia teens at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield. We are adjusting to the emotional change of location and excited for the next piece of the journey. As Amy shared with me in this transition, she felt like we were like the Apostle Paul who journeyed all over and then had to move from place to place after raising up ministry in each location. We too have had to do that, but are thrilled to be on Christ's mission for His glory. 

The official 'tagline' of our mission with YFC as we 

get to know our students' stories and share our own.

That being said, should you feel the desire to join us in this mission, whether interested in our Advisory Board, financial partnership, prayer partnership, reach military teens in Leavenworth County or anything of the like, please reach Phil at pparsons@yfcmail.org or Amy at amyparsons7414@gmail.com and we will gladly correspond with you. For our online page for giving, you can go here: 

http://www.yfc.net/missionary/pparsons 

Honored to be still on His mission for military teens, 

Phil and Amy Parsons 

The Journey Camp 2016

You can't make this stuff up......!

September 2015 - Amy and I were sitting in Charlotte, NC, with our friends who worked with Club Beyond as we were having an incredible dialogue with the guys who were running and directing a possible summer camp we had heard about. Nathan and JD were the real deal in understanding relational ministry, plus they LOVED military teens. As we finished our time together in prayer, we were looking forward to having up to 5 installations together at a summer camp for the first time in history stateside. The momentum was starting to build.....

We brought back the feeling of Kingdom building for camp and how epic it was going to be to take our students in summer '16 together in late-June, possibly with up to 4 more installation locations. Something everyone was starting to feel the vibes hit.....

Move ahead to November and December toward Christmas and the bottom falls out.....all my buddies are looking at other options as Club Beyond at their locations are closing the doors and by the end of the semester in December only about FIVE kids were interested in camp and literally wanting to go at all. To say that I was expecting camp to fall through and not attend would have been 100% accurate. Nobody was interested at all and I shared with folks that we probably will take a small 5-10 group of kids to camp maybe. 

After getting into the spring '16 semester and still sharing the opportunity for our teens to go to camp, we started to see some wheels turning. It wasn't until early March that BOOM....we were 100% booked....FIFTY SEVEN.....yes that's 57 teens were booked to attend camp along with 5 adults. We even had a waiting list if people dropped out. We shared with the camp our group grew to a point beyond our original estimate and they were more than pleased with God's momentum on our eventual arrival to camp. 

Not only we had our regular teens booking spots, we had one teen fly all the way from Qatar to join us as they were stopping over stateside for a trip to see friends and families. Then, we had another student who spent time with us a couple years ago, recently PCS (move) right back to Fort Stewart and book their spot within minutes of our opening of spaces available. Yet again, another student who was with us had moved across the country and his family drove down from Montana...yes, that far, and spend camp with us as they were in the area for summer plans. Finally, we met up with one of our homeboys who moved north of us a couple hours at Fort Gordon, GA, and we were able to include him in our camp plans. To say that we roll deep as a family and spend whatever time we can together whenever it is....this is exactly it! 

We'd been doing summer camps with our teens for every summer we had been here, so to expect something to happen with the vehicles would be expected. Every year, something would occur where we'd wonder if we had the transportation necessary to get our kids to camp. This year was nothing different. Our group was so big that we knew immediately we'd need a bus and 2 vans. It was via multiple issues with bus classes and getting people into them and then the classes being dropped/closed that we knew God would have to show up with our bus driver situation. It ended up being a 'no fail mission' via the Chaplain and we ended up getting what was needed, only days before departure. Then, the TMP (van) driving situation was even more of an issue as apparently being our leader was a 'okayed' driver to take care of it, her boss didn't like the idea overall. Thank the Lord I had my license and we were set, but goodness, another thing with the vehicles to get our 62 to camp! 

Continuing to watch the days evaporate on the calendar, we noticed that an amazing number of students didn't drop this year before camp. Perhaps it was the reason they knew this was our finale with them and the final camp we'd go together, or God had something else in store, but we'd see. The normal drops literally hours before camp did come though. However, God still reigns supreme and it was UNREAL who was allowed to go when those drops came together. 

As we all gathered at the Victory Chapel at 0730 so we could get our teens together with their gear, stuff and emotions, the trip was just beginning. Although the van ended up getting there later than expected, our kids showed up at camp only 6 minutes after our desired time to arrive. Again, God showed up there too. The camp was perfect from the moment we drove onto the college campus as one of the people was speeding by us with a big American Flag as our vehicles entered to empty our kids on the property. 

The week unfolded incredibly as I already knew 3 guys who wanted to get baptized at the camp whenever we were going to do it. Kadence, Matt and Trey all reached me and talked about the impact and desire to follow Jesus and take their faith to the next part of their journey. Unbeknownst to me, God was going to blast open the doors throughout the week to the point that on the 23rd of June in the mid-afternoon, we were going to baptize NINE....yes 9 teens into His Kingdom and their personal journey of following Jesus. Adding to the original three included Kyleah, Abigail, Alyssa, Kayla, Timmothy, and Tabitha. Overflowing with immense joy throughout the opportunity, we were able to lead these teens into a life-changing moment with Christ as they took that step into His Kingdom. 

And if that wasn't enough, we noticed incredible Christ-movement in ALL of our teens, no matter if they shared it with us. God's Holy spirit showed up in ways we couldn't imagine, but He wanted to provide a final culmination on the last night with all of our teens. Just as Jesus shared in the washing of the disciples' feet, the leaders were asked to the front of the stage and the teens were allowed the opportunity to do the final part of living what they believed in their own personal faith - serving another. Therefore, the students were given the opportunity to come down and take a towel and wipe off our feet. Personally, I have never felt this kind of incredible joy and humility in serving our teens.....EVER. To be in that moment knowing that our pending departure is coming and the kids were coming in huge numbers to wipe down our feet in love and sacrifice - that was unreal. My own words can't describe how I felt. 

Yet, I am not finished. Being our teens were the ONLY military-centered group which came to camp, the flavor of our kids was AW SUM. The other groups got to see the idea of true family come together in a way some other leaders shared with us as incredibly blessed. Many adults walked up to myself or other leaders saying that it was refreshing to see the Gospel lived out in a love that can't be described in how we work with our teens who have parents serving our country. Many groups left camp with one another, knowing they'll see each other days, months and even years down the road. Our kids....not so much. Truthfully, they had to farewell Matt as we dropped him off to fly to Texas to be with his family in his new state and home as he prepares to head to the University of Houston to focus on petroleum engineering as a freshman in college. Yet again, we dropped Alex off to his family as we said farewell to him for coming with us to camp and re-engaging us as his family of peers who love him and he prepares to head to Chicago and go to college and prepare for life after high school. Finally, I had to say farewell to another student (again) as Gavin headed out with his family to visit other friends before flying across the globe back to Qatar. 

See, we provide a place and space and a VOICE for our military teens. They are HEARD, not just seen. Best yet, they were LOVED this week by the Lord and Creator of our world and met Him for the first time. No matter the junk, past, present or eventual future of our teens and their lives - Jesus brought it and NEVER TURNED DOWN. 

Although as it occurs each year with its struggles off and on, whether seating assignments on the vehicles aren't what were expected or dorms weren't as comfortable or whatever small things came up - Jesus showed up. The kids loved the camp. They loved the speaker, which many mentioned how great he shared the Bible in a relevant way so they can understand it. To that, we are humbled. To be able to celebrate life well with our teens like we did was impeccable.  

As the days continue to dwindle down for our eventual departure, Jesus provided something that Amy and I will never forget in how we were able to serve our teens of Stewart and Hunter. The perfect finish to His perfect story as we are called to serve. 

In His grace, joy, peace and glory.......thankful to be part of these teens' stories. 

Phil & Amy 

***If you'd like to partner with us financially, prayerfully or any other way, please reach us at pparsons@myyfc.org or amyparsons7414@gmail.com or you may go to this link online to give in whatever way you feel led: http://www.yfc.net/missionary/pparsons

June 2016 Newsletter

The End of an Era

Amy and I with Alyssa after graduating.

 When I arrived here on the ground at Fort Stewart 4 years ago, I was greeted warmly by Alyssa, a student who had just completed her 8^th grade year. She had been a part of Club prior to my arrival under the tutelage of my predecessors. Alyssa and her two sisters have always been very involved throughout our time here. We just finished up the season of attending graduations and award ceremonies for our middle and high school students. Alyssa was one of our high school graduates this year. It was amazing to be present for the day she entered high school as well as the day she completed her high school education, as well as many moments in between. After the ceremony, friends and family were allowed to gather on the field for photos. As we made our way through the sea of people, Alyssa quickly found us and her face lit up with a smile as she was so glad we were able to make it out to see her and our many other Club students celebrate this milestone. Over the past 4 years, her family has had to endure a lot of hardships, as her mom has battled serious health issues, and her dad recently retired from the Army in order to care for his wife. Alyssa, along with her sisters, Stephanie and Kayla, have voiced their appreciation many times of how we were there to support their family through some pretty difficult times. “Club has been our family, and we’re so grateful to be able to celebrate the joys, as well as walk together through many rough storms; we love you Phil and Amy and we’re not sure where we’d be without you and Club.”

The 2016 Bradwell Institute Tiger 

graduates celebrate their finale together!

 As I reflect on Alyssa’s journey, I think about the many students that have passed through the doors of Club here at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield. It has been so amazing to see God work mightily at these two locations. When I arrived, we struggled to reach kids, sometimes only having 2 kids show up. We persevered, remained faithful and obedient to the call, and God brought the harvest. Before I knew it, God was blowing open the doors and students flooded in. Regardless of whether a student visited Club one time or came regularly for weeks, months, or years, each student has impacted our lives in one way or another.
 

Amy and I with another graduate, Matt,

who will live with us until he attends

camp with us as a 'finale' with Club here.

 4 years. That’s the amount of time a student spends in high school. It’s also the timetable for a student to earn a bachelor degree. I’m sure if I thought about it long enough, I could come up with countless other journeys that last 4 years. Never in my wildest dream, did I think that God would bring me down to this area to serve these middle and high school students at these 2 locations, and move us to somewhere new after only 4 years. With so many families moving in and out, we thought we would always be the ones left behind; a constant and consistent piece of the community here. God apparently has different plans for us. Leaving is definitely bittersweet and the coming weeks will be very difficult as our time here winds down, however, we are excited to see what He will have for us as we move forward in that same manner of faithfulness and obedience.

Amy and I with Christian and his mother after his baptism in the
insane rainstorm that hit us late in the afternoon.

 Although we are the ones moving, we want to also share with you some phenomenal God moments we’ve experienced as of late. Take Christian, a past Club kid who is now on our Hunter leader team and helps when he can at Club when he’s not working or volunteering for the Tybee Island Fire Department. It was over 2 years ago when he said to me that he accepted Jesus while attending Carolina Point with our group in the summer of 2014. While walking alongside him in the past 1.5 years, I was able to share with him the joy I felt in his decision and what the next steps looked like in his life with Christ. Glance to another student named Justin. His mom shot a text my way on Easter Sunday asking if “I were there—aka Savannah Christian Church” where they were at that moment. Sadly, I had to share that I was not, but in Chapel services on Fort Stewart. Justin informed his mom he wanted to wait until the moment that I could physically baptize him. Fast forward to getting all the pieces all together and we scheduled within guidelines of the Hunter outdoor pool and so all families and friends could be there to observe—then boom….a rainstorm resembling something torrential hit Hunter. Pool Closed. Christian’s mom had come all the way from Miami and that day was the only moment we had to get this done. After scrambling for options outside the normal parameters of pools around post, we found ourselves in the front yard of one of our other students’ homes filling up their baby pool in preparation of baptizing Christian and Justin. Don’t even worry about not having the ‘plugs’ to hold the air on the sides of the pool, we had kids hold it up! Dodging multiple local lightning strikes and raindrops, we were able to successfully baptize Christian and Justin, just as we hoped. No matter what came our way, God made the way for it to happen and to bring about life changing impact on these guys’ lives. All because we chose to stand in the gap and show up. 

Justin (holding towel) with his family and friends as we gathered
after his baptism.

 Just as we have impacted the lives of these students and they have greatly impacted our lives; we remember the pivotal role you play in this journey. You have been a huge piece of our story here as we have worked to serve these students and families. Every moment, whether we celebrating, or whether we’re giving comforting hugs and wiping tears, has been made possible through your prayers and financial support. As we transition to our new location in Kansas, one thing remains steadfast: our call to reach every military teen. For those that have already joined our team, we hope that you will continue to remain on mission alongside us. For those that have yet to join, we pray that you will consider jumping on board and help us continue to impact these students’ lives for the Kingdom. Information on how to join us can be found at this link: http://www.yfc.net/missionary/pparsons and we have our own video sharing the 'how and why' we work alongside military teens located here: https://vimeo.com/153276728.

Celebrate with us: 

• We got to see a record crew of graduating seniors from Bradwell Institute who have spent time with us at Club. 
• Two of our Hunter teens were baptized in the midst of a major rainstorm! 

Join us in prayer: 

• Summer camp will be 20-24 June in Toccoa Falls, Georgia, with our record 64 people!
• Pray for the leadership team members who have shown interest in helping with the youth ministry when we depart in early July. 
• Our final weeks are coming to the forefront as we prepare to say farewell to the 3rd ID and Marne Pride. 

In utter obedience with our Stewart and Hunter teens in this life down in Southeast Georgia until our final day,
 

Phil & Amy

May 2016 Newsletter

"Finishing the School Year Well"

  Family. Accepted. Home. These words and so many other descriptors are what students used this week to summarize their experience at Club. This week, the students showed up in droves as it was our last club of the regular school year. We rocked it out with pizza and celebrated all God has done here. This week was the first of many “lasts” we will soon experience as we transition back to Kansas. Before we look ahead to what’s next, however, we want to remember all that God has done here at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield…

The Fort Stewart middle school crew

doused us with silly string to show their

love in the end of the semester finale.

  For 4 years, Phil has been embedded in these communities, living life alongside these military families and working to introduce middle and high school students to the Life Giver by simply living life together with them. It’s not always easy to see the impact a person has had or the lives they have touched until you stop and reflect.

  This week, we were able to welcome a student back into our family. Kadence had joined us during his middle school years at Ft. Stewart and loved coming to Club each week. 2 years ago, we had to say farewell to him and his family as they moved to another duty station.

In the Army, you never say “goodbye,” but rather “see you soon,” as it’s likely you may cross paths again. His family just moved back to Ft. Stewart last week and he couldn’t wait to get back to Club. The now high school student walked into club a few inches taller, but we were able to pick up right where we left off as though he never left. A few of the students still remain from when he was here before and it provided a nice reunion for all of them.

  At our Stewart and Hunter Club school year finales, we gave each student an opportunity to have their say. So often, the military child is one that is forgotten. They often don’t get a say in what happens but rather, have to just go along with everything as it unfolds. As the microphone was passed around, students were given a space to voice what club has done for them; they finally got their “say so.”

Our rowdy Fort Stewart middle school gang together at 

their end of school year finale.

“You and Amy have been there for me in ways nobody ever has before.” – Carissa

“Club is a place where I can be myself.” – Kiara

“Normally I stay in the back corner and don’t get involved much. Club has allowed me to grow and step out of my comfort zone.” – Cyrus

“I’ve been to many youth groups, but this place is the only one I have felt that I am free to be me, and really explore my faith.” – CJ

“Mr. Phil always knows exactly what to say; he ‘gets us’.” – Riley

 “Thanks for always being available to talk to and for always listening to us, as we don’t normally get that. Thanks for making us feel safe and loved.” – Kyleah

“Mr. Phil has always been like a big uncle to me and knows things that nobody else does…..things I’ve shared with him about me.” — Jaylon

“I was originally skeptical about Club but after Mr. Phil helped me through so much in my life, I knew this was a place I lived to be.” — Hasaan

“Club and Mr. Phil taught me so much about life and even how much they will go out for me to the point where they are letting me live with them so I can go to camp after I graduate.” 

— Matt

“Mr. Phil and Mrs. Amy showed me truly what faith was all about from another perspective.” — Katie

“I don’t get emotional much, but Mr. Phil…….you’re my dawg bruh.” — Zach

“Although I have only been coming for 2 weeks, Mr. Phil’s talk from last week got me thinking a lot and it made me come back again for more.” — Devin

“You all have become my 2nd home and 2nd family.” — numerous students

The Fort Stewart high school group being themselves at the end of

semester finale.

  It was definitely an emotional week as we prepare for our departure from this awesome community in the coming weeks. As students had their say, the impact that has been made during our time here became very clear to us. Student after student echoed a resounding theme. Alexis is one of our newer high school girls and has only been coming to club for a couple of months. Her words not only resonated with us, but gave us a space to give God the glory for everything Club is here at these 2 installation locations. As she grabbed the mic, she spoke of the energy Mr. Phil always has, how it bubbles from within, and is evident in everything he does. Her words were the perfect segway into sharing how each and every student can experience that same energy bubbling within them – that being the energy of Christ in us and how we can let His light shine through us to others.

  In the coming weeks, we will continue to experience “lasts” here in the Southeast. We will attend graduations for the last time. We will go to numerous awards ceremonies, band concerts, and summer camp all for the last time with these students. As these events come, we will celebrate them all with that same energy and light as we continue to reflect Jesus Christ in us to these students.

The Hunter Army Airfield gang together at our end of semester finale

at the Hunter Teen center.

 Running this insane race, finishing the school year well with these phenomenally incredible military teens, 

Phil & Amy Parsons

   

Celebrate with us:

• Four students have said they wish to be baptized before our departure!
• We have 60+ students registered for summer camp!
• Two new leaders have come on board to help carry the torch after we move!

Join us in prayer:

• Pray for our impact to continue with our students' graduations and end of semester ceremonies. 
• Pray for the way ahead for all our students at Stewart and Hunter as adults have shown they would like to help for the future ahead. 
• Pray for the new financial monthly support we will need to raise as we prepare for Kansas. 

Should you desire to partner with us in any way, we are stateside military missionaries with Youth for Christ, attempting to reach every military teen. Your contributions are tax deductible and you can see how to partner with us at this link here: http://www.yfc.net/missionary/pparsons