Prayer Requests for May 27 – June 2, 2009

Thank you for your continued prayers!

(5/27) Wednesday – Pray for our staff as we take time this morning for a Personal Spiritual Retreat instead of our weekly staff meeting. Pray that this added time alone with God would be of great benefit to us individually and as a team.

(5/28) Thursday – Continue to pray for our ministry at Vanderheyden Hall that meets on Thursday afternoons. Pray for Tim Hvizdak as he leads this ministry.

(5/29) Friday – Continue to pray for the finances of YFC to increase. My ministry budget was about $2,500 in the red at the end of March. Pray for our Step By Step fund raiser happening Sat June 6.

(5/30) Saturday – Pray for the Paintball Bootcamp retreat this weekend being held at Good Tidings camp with about 60 high school students.

(5/31) Sunday – Pray for my time this morning updating the Grafton Community Church on what has been happening through the ministry of YFC this year.

(6/1) Monday – Pray for the team of adults being formed to begin the Troy Teen Parents ministry an for our meeting tonight.

(6/2) Tuesday – Continue to pray for the pastors who are leading the way for the Troy WOWJAM this summer. Pray for more Troy pastors to get involved with the congregations they serve with this event.

Prayer Requests for May 20 - 26, 2009

(5/20) Wednesday – Pray for my time at the youth center in New Lebanon this afternoon as I lead the meeting on dating with middle school boys.

(5/21) Thursday – Pray for our ministry in Vanderheyden Hall that now meets on Thursday afternoons.

(5/22) Friday – Pray for the finances of YFC to increase. My ministry budget was about $2,500 in the red at the end of March.

(5/23) Saturday – Pray for the team of adults being formed to begin the Troy Teen Parents ministry.

(5/24) Sunday – Pray for the pastors who are leading the way for the Troy WOWJAM this summer. Pray for more Troy pastors to get involved with the congregations they serve with this event.

(5/25) Monday – Thank God for all the men and woman who served in our military.

(5/26) Tuesday – Pray for our board of directors, for wisdom, discernment and even more passion for unsaved teens to know Jesus.

This is God's work

The following three stories were shared with me from YFC staff from different areas in the US. (Names have been changed)

Last week Sarah said, "My dad puts his cigarettes out on my arm"... "When I go to Campus Life my little brother is alone." Sarah is 12 years old. Her little brother is 8.

Melissa got involved in drugs at a young age. The only adults she would talk to were her mom and a YFC staff. Eventually she ended up in rehab. All the while she was "on the streets," in rehab and since her release, YFC staff have maintained contact and Melissa is now a follower of Christ.

Tony grew up with a Christian background and attended church as a kid, but there were family problems and he eventually found himself in a foster home. He is on is own now and his mom has told him that she still believes in "God" but now embraces the religion of "Wicca," which Tony totally refutes, although he has distanced himself from God.

What a privilege to be in relationship with teens who need Jesus for salvation and for navigating through life day after day.

Earlier this month I was part of a team of adults from our staff who presented an anti-bullying program called Point Break. For two different days (different group of teens each day) we interacted with over 140 freshman and sophomores. We shared how our words and actions or our lack of words and actions impact not only our own lives but the lives of those around us. There was a time of being vulnerable and taking risks. There was a time of affirmation and trust building. At the end of both days the teens left a little less burdened and with more hope and understanding.

One of the adults commented after we were done that we were Jesus to these teenagers. What she meant was that we got the opportunity to show Jesus' character to these teens. Without being able to share about Christ we had the privilege to show them Jesus. I know God will use our time during both days to draw these teens into a relationship with Him. We get to be part of the process of the teens knowing Him. Praise God!

Prayer Requests for May 13 -19, 2009

(5/13) Wednesday – Pray for the teens from Schenectady who attend the Point Break program on May 1 and 11 that they will hang out to our Hope.

(5/14) Thursday – Pray for our ministry in Vanderheyden Hall that now meets on Thursday afternoons.

(5/15) Friday – Pray for the finances of YFC to increase. My ministry budget was about $2,500 in the red at the end of March.

(5/16) Saturday – Pray for the team of adults being formed to begin the Troy Teen Parents ministry.

(5/17) Sunday – Pray for our time with teens from Saratoga County as we lead them through our Ropes Course this afternoon.

(5/18) Monday – Pray for the pastors who are leading the way for the Troy WOWJAM this summer. Pray for more Troy pastors to get involved with the congregations they serve with this event.

(5/19) Tuesday – Pray for our board of directors, for wisdom, discernment and even more passion for unsaved teens to know Jesus.

Prayer Requests for May 6 - 12, 2009

(5/6) Wednesday – Pray for my meeting with Tom Beebe our staff person for the North Country this afternoon and for the meeting with new volunteers in Bennington later in the day.

(5/7) Thursday – Pray for my meeting tonight with a couple who are interested in volunteering and coming on staff part time for our ministry in New Lebanon.

Pray today for our nation as today is the national day of prayer.

(5/8) Friday – Pray for Steve Prettyman and me as we lead a group of adults through our ropes course today.

(5/9) Saturday – Pray for my meeting with the Cambridge volunteers this morning.

(5/10) Sunday – Thank God for moms.

(5/11) Monday – Pray for the YFC staff and volunteers who will be leading the Point Break program with high school students from Schenectady High School today.

Praise God for a great program on May 1.

(5/12) Tuesday –Pray for the Troy WOW JAM meeting this morning.