Prayer Requests for December 29, 2009 – January 4, 2010

Thank you for your continued prayers!

(12/29) Tuesday – Pray for Dave Lenehan who is our Excel Conference Director. Pray for Dave as he coordinates many responsibilities to make this conference a weekend God will use in mighty and powerful ways to further the Kingdom of God. Pray for him to remain healthy and go have restful sleep each night.

(12/30) Wednesday – Pray for our administrative staff who deal with many details each and every day that help keep this ministry moving forward.

(12/31) Thursday – Pray for the Troy Teen Parents volunteers as they prepare to start this ministry on Thursday, January 7, 2010.

(1/1) Friday – Happy New Year!!!

Pray for John Richmond, Executive Director, as he leads the ministry team at Capital District YFC. Pray for him to protect his time with God each and every day.

(1/2) Saturday – Pray for the ministry happening in Schenectady and for our staff and volunteers as they share Christ with the teens God has called them to minister to this year.

(1/3) Sunday – Pray for the church youth groups who will be attending Excel next month. Pray for the youth leaders as they prepare for this conference personally and for them as they minister to the teens God has called them to invest into.

(1/4) Monday – Pray for the CD YFC Board of Directors as they play an important role in leading this ministry.

Prayer Requests for December 22 - 28

Thank you for your continued prayers!

(12/22) Tuesday – Pray for our ministry to teens in New Lebanon this week. Praise God for the team of volunteers who lead this ministry.

(12/23) Wednesday – Pray for the city of Troy today. Praise God for the pastors who meet weekly to pray for the city.

(12/24) Thursday – Praise God for providing opportunities to share the Gospel with teens this month.

(12/25) Friday – Merry Christmas! Praise God for His gift to us.

(12/26) Saturday – Pray for Dave Lenehan who is our Excel Conference Director. Pray for Dave as he coordinates many responsibilities to make this conference a weekend God will use in mighty and powerful ways to further the Kingdom of God.

(12/27) Sunday – Pray for the church youth groups who will be attending Excel next month. Pray for the youth leaders as they prepare for this conference personally and for them as they minister to the teens God has called them to invest into.

(12/28) Monday – Pray for the Troy Teen Parents volunteers as they prepare to start this ministry on Thursday, January 7, 2010.

Prayer Requests for December 15 - 21, 2009

(12/15) Tuesday – Pray for my meeting with the Troy Teen Parents volunteers as we prepare to start this ministry on Thursday, January 7, 2010.

(12/16) Wednesday – Pray for my meeting this evening with Sherri Hvizdak who leads our ministry in Greenville. Pray for Sherri and her team as they share the Gospel with teens who need to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

(12/17) Thursday – Pray for my meeting with Tim Hvizdak who leads our ministry in Berne and our Juvenile Justice Ministry as well as a paintball ministry. Pray for Tim as he splits his energy and focus on leading several ministries.

(12/18) Friday – Pray for the financial needs of each of the ministries of Capital District YFC. Pray for God to provide for all the needs of the staff and programs through the generous gifts of His people.

(12/19) Saturday – Pray for Dave Lenehan who is our Excel Conference Director. Pray for Dave as he coordinates many responsibilities to make this conference as weekend God will use in mighty and powerful ways to further the Kingdom of God.

(12/20) Sunday – Pray for the church youth groups who will be attending Excel next month. Pray for the youth leaders as they prepare for this conference personally and for them as they minister to the teens God has called them to invest into.

(12/21) Monday – Pray for our ministry to teens in New Lebanon this afternoon as the volunteers spend time connecting with teens and sharing the Gospel message.

Prayer Requests for December 8 - 14

(12/8) Tuesday – Pray for the Schenectady Teen Parents ministry this week and for my meeting this afternoon with Ruth who heads up the staff and volunteer team for this ministry site.

(12/9) Wednesday – – Pray for the financial needs of YFC. Pray for God to provide all that we need to do His work. Praise God for those who give regularly to this ministry.

(12/10) Thursday – Pray for the New Lebanon ministry called J-Café which I will be visiting this morning (free coffee and food for the juniors and seniors of New Lebanon High School on Tues-Thurs each week form 6:30-7:20AM).

Pray for meeting with a man from Pittsfield, MA as we talk about providing opportunities to bring the church youth ministries of Pittsfield together.

Pray for the Troy Teen Parents prayer meeting starting at 7PM at Redeeming Love Gospel Church.

(12/11) Friday – Pray for my time with Tom Beebe this morning who leads our ministry in East Dorset, VT and oversees our ministry in North Bennington, VT.

(12/12) Saturday – Pray for Tim and John as they minister to teens through our Juvenile Justice Ministry.

(12/13) Sunday - Pray for my time at the New Lebanon Congregational Church as I join the volunteers to share what God has been doing through our ministry.

(12/14) Monday – Pray for me this afternoon as I talk with a group of students from Columbia High School at their LIFE club.

Carrying The Gift

The road was rough going, the dust was flying around and the heat was unbearable. Was that a bug that I just swallowed? Why do I always step in it? What a beautiful view. I am so glad we are finally here.

The journey to a destination can be challenging and at the same time wonderful. This year my heart seems to be focused on the destination of not a place but a relationship.

I have been pondering what it was like for Mary and Joseph to carry The Gift to the world as they journeyed to Bethlehem.

As Youth for Christ, we carry The Gift (but in a different way) to the world of teenagers.

We carry The Gift when helping a suicidal 16 year old boy receive help and hope.

We carry The Gift when we sit and talk with 14 year olds who just heard about a car accident that killed a classmate.

We carry The Gift when we confront and provide comfort to 15 year old girls who are struggling with shame and guilt for sleeping with the same boy.

We carry The Gift when asking a Christian adult to give to the ministry of YFC.

We carry The Gift when we do the hard work of starting a new ministry site.

We carry The Gift when listening to a parent cry because of the decisions they have made that have hurt their child.

We carry Jesus to the world of teenagers and invite them to start a relationship with Him.

Prayer Requests for December 1 -7

(12/1) Tuesday – Pray for my meeting this afternoon with a potential volunteer for the Troy Teen Parents ministry.

Pray for my meeting this evening with some of the leadership from a church in Nassau as we talk about reaching out more effectively to those in that community.

(12/2) Wednesday – Pray for the YFC staff meeting this morning as we spend time in scripture and in prayer, reviewing assignments and on-going tasks and for the training on volunteer recruitment.

(12/3) Thursday – Pray for my meeting this morning with Tim Hvizdak as we talk about the Juvenile Justice Ministry and the ministry in the Berne-Knox-Westerlo communities.

Pray for my meeting with the New Lebanon volunteers this afternoon and for my meeting with two key Troy Teen Parent volunteers this evening.

(12/4) Friday – Pray for our City Life ministry in Schenectady and for upcoming conversations with two key pastors in Troy about laying the ground work to begin a Troy City Life ministry.

(12/5) Saturday – Pray for my meeting with the Cambridge volunteers this morning and possible meeting in the afternoon with Tom Beebe who works in East Dorset and North Bennington, VT.

(12/6) Sunday – Pray for the financial needs of YFC. Pray for God to provide all that we need to do His work.

(12/7) Monday – Pray for Dan Wolgemuth, YFC/USA president today as he leads the weekly prayer call with staff from around the USA.

Prayer Requests for November 24 - 30

Thank you for your continued prayers!

(11/24) Tuesday – Pray for the finances of Capital District YFC. Ask God what He wants you to give beyond what you are already giving and for more Christian adults to give on a regular schedule to this ministry. Pray that new donors would be able to replace the donors who have had to stop giving this past month.

(11/25) Wednesday – Pray for our Teen Parents ministry in Schenectady and Troy. Praise God for the young man who accepted Christ on Nov 8^th,

(11/26) Thursday – Thank God for everything today.

(11/27) Friday – Pray for family members who do not know Christ.

(11/28) Saturday – Pray for our Board of Directors.

(11/29) Sunday – Pray for your church.

(11/30) Monday – Pray for our staff and volunteers.

Prayer Requests for November 17 - 23

Thank you for your continued prayers!

(11/17) Tuesday – Pray for the adults attending the YFC banquet tonight. Pray that all of us would be more convinced than ever that reaching unsaved teens with the Gospel needs to be a priority in our giving, our volunteering and in time spent in prayer.

(11/18) Wednesday – Pray for our ministry in Cambridge, NY and North Bennington, VT – both are run by a team of volunteers. Pray that these adults will be used by God to reach hundreds of teens for Christ.

(11/19) Thursday - Pray for our ministry at Vanderheyden Hall and at Tryon today and for two teams of 3-4 volunteers to join us at each facility. Pray that the teens in these facilities would come to follow Christ.

(11/20) Friday – Pray for our ministry to teens in Berne and Greenville. Pray for more volunteers to get involved so more teens can be impacted with the Gospel.

(11/21) Saturday – Pray for my training meeting with the North Bennington volunteers from 9-12 and my meeting in Cambridge at 1 PM with the Youth Commission and the First Baptist Church.

(11/22) Sunday – Pray for the finances of Capital District YFC. Ask God what He wants you to give beyond what you are already giving and for more Christian adults to give on a regular schedule to this ministry. Pray that new donors would be able to replace the donors who have had to stop giving this past month.

(11/23) Monday – Pray for our ministry in New Lebanon. The Youth House is open Monday afternoons for 7-12 graders from 2:15-5:30. The J-Café is open Tues, Wed and Thurs mornings from 6:30-7:20AM for juniors and seniors.

Prayer Requests for November 10 - 16

(11/10) Tuesday – Pray for the Troy Teen Parents training meeting for the volunteers who will be working with the girls and in the nursery.

(11/11) Wednesday – Pray for the finances of Capital District YFC. Ask God what He wants you to give beyond what you are already giving and for more Christian adults to give on a regular schedule to this ministry. Pray that new donors would be able to replace the donors who have had to stop giving this past month.

(11/12) Thursday Pray for our ministry at Vanderheyden Hall today and for a team of 3-4 volunteers to join us in this ministry.

(11/13) Friday – Pray for final preparations for the upcoming YFC Banquets (Nov 15 and 17).

(11/14) Saturday – Pray for my time with the folks at Sand Lake Baptist Church this morning as I attend their mission conference.

(11/15) Sunday – Pray for the YFC Banquet this afternoon. Pray that we will be able to clearly share this ministry with those in attendance.

Pray for the first worship service at the Youth House in New Lebanon this evening.

(11/16) Monday – Pray for our ministry in New Lebanon. The Youth House is open Monday afternoons for 7-12 graders from 2:15-5:30. The J-Café is open Tues, Wed and Thurs mornings from 6:30-7:20AM for juniors and seniors.

Prayer Requests for November 3 - 9

(11/3) Tuesday – Praise God for giving us a location for the Troy Teen Parents to meet at in downtown Troy.

(11/4) Wednesday – Pray for our staff as we walk thru the banquet program this morning. Pray for my meetings with staff during the afternoon.

(11/5) Thursday – Pray for the finances of Capital District YFC. Ask God what He wants you to give beyond what you are already giving and for more Christian adults to give on a regular schedule to this ministry.

(11/6) Friday – Pray for the upcoming YFC Banquet (Nov 15 and 17). Pray that we will find enough table sponsors so that each banquet will be at capacity.

(11/7) Saturday – Pray for our ministries in Vermont; East Dorset (Thursday afternoons) and North Bennington (Saturdays).

(11/8) Sunday – Pray for my time at Hoosic Valley Community Church this morning and for our meal together with fellow missionaries after the service.

(11/9) Monday – Pray for our ministry in New Lebanon. The Youth House opened on Nov 2 to 7-12 graders from 2:15-5:30. The J-Café is open Tues, Wed and Thurs mornings from 6:30-7:20AM for juniors and seniors. A youth worship service will be held on Sunday nights twice a month starting Nov 15.

Prayer Requests for October 27 – November 2

Thank you for your continued prayers!

(10/27) Tuesday – I am taking today off. Pray that I get the rest and re-energizing that I need today.

(10/28) Wednesday – Pray for my meeting with Claire-Marie this afternoon. (Claire-Marie is our key volunteer in the Cambridge community).

Pray for my meeting with Sherri Hvizdak tonight. (Sherri leads our Campus Life ministry in Greenville.)

(10/29) Thursday – Pray for the finances of Capital District YFC. Ask God what He wants you to give beyond what you are already giving and for more Christian adults to give on a regular schedule to this ministry.

(10/30) Friday – Pray for Steve Prettyman and me as we lead our last group of the season through the Challenge Course today.

(10/31) Saturday – Pray for the upcoming YFC Banquet (Nov 15 and 17). Pray that we will find enough table sponsors so that each banquet will be at capacity.

(11/1) Sunday – Pray for our ministry in New Lebanon today. We are gathering from 4-5 PM today at the youth house for a time of prayer as we prepare to open the youth house to the teens this week.

(11/2) Monday – Pray for our Troy Teen Parents ministry to find a location in downtown Troy to hold meetings at with the teen moms. Pray for my meeting with Janine and Mallory as we put together a budget for this ministry site and as I show them IMPACT (our web based reporting system).

Prayer Requests for October 20 – 26

Thank you for your continued prayers!

(10/20) Tuesday – Pray for my meeting this morning with Ruth Lightcap who serves as one of our part time staff with Schenectady Teen Parents. I start supervising Ruth and the Schenectady Teen Parents ministry this week.

(10/21) Wednesday – Pray for the Leadership Team meeting this morning and for John Richmond (Executive Director) who leads this team.

(10/22) Thursday – Pray for the Point Break program today at YFC’s City Life Center with teens from Schenectady.

Pray for the YFC/USA National Board members as they go through our Challenge Course this afternoon.

(10/23) Friday – Pray for the finances of Capital District YFC. Ask God what He wants you to give beyond what you are already giving and for more Christian adults to give on a regular schedule to this ministry.

(10/24) Saturday – Pray for our ministry in Greenville and for their time at the Challenge Course today.

(10/25) Sunday – Pray for the upcoming YFC Banquet (Nov 15 and 17). Pray that we will find enough table sponsors so that each banquet will be at capacity.

(10/26) Monday – Pray for our Troy Teen Parents ministry to find a location in downtown Troy to hold meetings at with the teen moms.

Prayer Requests for October 13 – October 19

(10/13) Tuesday – Pray for Janine Gross and me as we spend the afternoon at the Troy Public Library at a Parenting Fair to introduce the Troy Teen Parents ministry to the community.

(10/14) Wednesday – Pray for our staff and board members as we spend the morning on our Challenge Course this morning.

(10/15) Thursday – Pray for our ministry to teens in juvenile detention centers. Pray for Tim Hvizdak and John Conklin who lead this ministry.

(10/16) Friday – Pray for the finances of Capital District YFC. Ask God what He wants you to give beyond what you are already giving and for more Christian adults to give on a regular schedule to this ministry.

(10/17) Saturday – Pray for our ministry in New Lebanon. Praise God for the team of volunteers who lead this ministry.

(10/18) Sunday – Pray for my time to be fruitful while I attend Loudonville Community Church’s mission focus this morning.

(10/19) Monday – Pray for the staff who are planning the upcoming YFC Banquet (Nov 15 and 17) that they will hear clearly from God what He wants us to share at the banquets this year.

Prayer Requests for October 6 – October 12

(10/6) Tuesday – Pray for the Point Break program today.

Pray for safe travel back from Penn this afternoon for Tom and I and all the YFC staff and volunteers in the region.

(10/7) Wednesday – Pray for God to send more volunteers to serve in all of our on-going ministries of YFC.

(10/8) Thursday – Pray for the Point Break program today.

(10/9) Friday – Pray for the finances of Capital District YFC. Ask God what He wants you to give beyond what you are already giving and for more Christian adults to give on a regular schedule to this ministry.

(10/10) Saturday – Pray for the volunteer meeting I have with the team in Cambridge this morning.

Pray for the meeting in Troy tonight concerning the Troy Teen Parents ministry.

(10/11) Sunday – Pray for our ministry in New Lebanon as the volunteers are preparing to kick off the ministry later this month for the school year.

(10/12) Monday – Pray for the meeting tonight in Berne as we look to re-start the Campus Life ministry soon.

Prayer Requests for September 29 – October 5

(9/29) Tuesday – Pray for me as I work on the YFC web-based reporting system called IMPACT all day today. Pray that I will be able to stay focused on this task and not get sidetracked with other projects.

(9/30) Wednesday – Pray for the Point Break (Suicide prevention/ Anti-bullying) program we are holding for teens from Schenectady schools today.

(10/1) Thursday – Pray for God to send more volunteers to serve in all of our on-going ministries of YFC.

(10/2) Friday – Pray for the finances of Capital District YFC. Ask God what He wants you to give beyond what you are already giving and for more Christian adults to give on a regular schedule to this ministry.

(10/3) Saturday – Pray for Steve and me as we lead a group through the Challenge Course today. Pray for good weather, safety and teachable moments.

(10/4) Sunday – Pray for Tom, Ruth, Janine and me as we travel to the Eastern States YFC Regional Staff Conference this afternoon. (Ruth and Janine will be traveling back in Monday afternoon and Tom and I will come back Tuesday afternoon).

(10/5) Monday – Pray for God to continue to encourage and equip the staff and volunteers in all the YFC chapters in the Eastern Region.

Prayer Requests for September 22 - 28

Thank you for your continued prayers!

(9/22) Tuesday – Pray for the planning/prayer meeting with the volunteer team for our New Lebanon ministry this morning at 6:30.

Pray for the CD YFC Board Meeting tonight that starts at 5:30 PM.

(9/23) Wednesday - Pray for the Christian teens who stood at their flag poles this morning seeking God’s face for their friends, school, community and nation.

(9/24) Thursday – Pray for Tim Hvizdak and me as we meet with some adults about starting a Campus Life ministry in the Berne-Knox-Westerlo community this evening.

(9/25) Friday – Pray for the second of about ten Point Break (Suicide prevention/ Anti-bullying) programs we are holding for teens from Schenectady High School.

(9/26) Saturday – Pray for the Troy Teen Parents volunteer training session scheduled for today from 9-3. (Postponed from 2 weeks ago).

(9/27) Sunday – Pray for your church today.

(9/28) Monday – Pray for all financial deficits in each ministry department budget from low giving over the summer to be overcome by the out pouring of giving during this month.

Prayer Requests for September 15-21

(9/15) Tuesday – Pray for the prayer meeting with the volunteer team for our New Lebanon ministry this morning at 6:30.

(9/16) Wednesday – Pray for Sherri Hvizdak as she leads the Campus Life ministry in Greenville and for our meeting tonight.

(9/17) Thursday – Pray for Dave Lenehan as he continues to work on putting together all the pieces of our Excel 2010 Conference to be held in Jan.

(9/18) Friday – Pray for the first of about ten Point Break (anti-bulling) programs we are holding for teens from Schenectady High School.

(9/19) Saturday – Pray for the team of adults (of which I am a part of) leading our biggest group yet through our Challenge Course today. Pray for Steve Prettyman as he oversees and manages the Challenge Course.

(9/20) Sunday – Pray for my time at the Challenge Course with teens and adults from my church this afternoon.

(9/21) Monday – Pray for all financial deficits in each ministry department budget from low giving over the summer to be overcome by the out pouring of giving during this month.

Prayer Requests for September 8-14

(9/8) Tuesday – Pray for safety as Steve Prettyman and I lead a group through the challenge course (ropes course) this morning.

Pray for my meeting with a potential volunteer for our New Lebanon ministry this afternoon.

(9/9) Wednesday – Pray for the staff of Capital District YFC as we gather today for our first staff meeting after a very full summer of ministry.

Pray for my meeting with Tom Beebe this afternoon as we put together our goals for the Fall and Winter months. Tom leads our ministry in Vermont.

(9/10) Thursday – Pray for my meeting with the New Lebanon volunteers as we choose a curriculum and plan the schedule for the new school year of ministry.

(9/11) Friday – Pray for Dave Lenehan as he continues to work on putting together all the pieces of our Excel 2010 Conference to be held in Jan.

(9/12) Saturday – Pray for me as I teach the Troy Teen Parents volunteers as we spend the day together going through the first official training meeting.

(9/13) Sunday – Pray for me as I preach at Connecting Point Church in East Greenbush.

(9/14) Monday – Pray for all financial deficits in each ministry department budget from low giving over the summer to be overcome by the out pouring of giving during this month.

Prayer Requests for September 1-7

Thank you for your continued prayers!

(9/1) Tuesday – Pray for the Troy Teen Parents ministry as we look to begin meeting with teen girls starting in October.

(9/2) Wednesday – Continue to pray for God to provide the finances needed to keep this ministry moving forward and to meet all expenses.

(9/3) Thursday –Pray for the CD YFC staff as they gear up for another school year of weekly ministry programs.

(9/4) Friday – Pray for our volunteers who invest their time and talents in this YFC ministry.

(9/5) Saturday – Pray for families that have teens starting school this month and for those parents who are now “emptying nesters”.

(9/6) Sunday – Pray for our churches today, for the pastors and those in leadership.

(9/7) Monday – Pray for each of us to take extended time with God today and that we would praise Him for the work He gives us to do.