Thanks and Praises

Here are some reasons why I am giving thanks and praise to God this week.

1) Last week I had the privilege of being at the New Lebanon ministry site's end of the school year picnic. During the afternoon (after eating delicious pizza from Jimmy D's) I led the group of teens and volunteers in four group experiences that require teamwork, communication and interdependence. After each one we shared how we did, why we completed the task at hand or not and what life lesson's we could apply to our lives. I shared how we often get told to be self reliant and how that damages our relationships wit others but more importantly our relationship with God. We were designed to be dependent on God just as Jesus fully relied on His Father to complete His assignment on Earth, we need to rely on Jesus to bring us into right relationship with God. I challenged the teens to no longer trust the lie that we are in this world alone and trust in God.

2) Last Friday night I co-led an informational meeting with Tom Beebe about the ministry of YFC to a group of 6 adults who want to start an YFC ministry to reach the teens in North Bennington, VT. God seems to be opening the door quickly to begin this summer.

3) On Saturday, I joined our YFC staff, volunteers and ministry partners to walk in YFC's annual Step By Step fund raiser. To date we have raised over $28,000. During the walk I was talking with a young man who is in 7th grade. I asked him what he learned about God because of his involvement with YFC. He shared that he learned that God will forgive people if they ask Him to forgive them. He further shared that he and his parents do not go to church because they are too busy. The last time he went to church was when we was a little kid. Praise God that the adults in his community care enough to reach out to him and share the love of Christ.