May-Jun09-Ministry Opening

As the school year comes to a close both for high school and university students, we find ourselves going through changes too.

We are currently looking for one or more part-time individuals for both Macomb and Bushnell starting in August 2009. If you are interested or know of someone interested, please have them contact the YFC office by either calling 309-833-3026 or emailing us at yfc@macomb.com. We can promptly email them the job description and application.

Position(s) will be filled as soon as possible.

May-Jun09-Message from Board Chair

Who is your favorite underdog? The Cubs; the little guy; the one picked last?

I love to root for the underdog – the one who everyone knows will lose, is down for the count, and is not expected to cross the finish line.

Being involved with YFC as both an employee and a board member reminds me that our local evangelical outreach, YFC, is the underdog. We have no director, no full time staff in Macomb, no big endowment, no fancy fundraising plan, and a 13 year history of just getting by. But to the teens that have been impacted by YFC, what matters is the life changing message of Jesus Christ.

Just think, the first crop of students who were impacted by YFC in 1996 are in their 30’s and have children, but still remember fondly the impact of YFC. Through the years, YFC has remained a fixture due to dedicated and modestly paid staff, board members who are also local church members, volunteers, local clergy, and the prayers and financial support from you. We are also mindful and thankful for all the saints who helped start and sustain YFC, who’ve since gone on to be with the Lord.

In McDonough County there are approximately 3,200 children who are school age. George Barna, America’s Christian pollster reports that two out of three born again Christians (64%) made that commitment to Christ before their 18th birthday. Additionally, “when asked to identify the most significant or challenging issues facing their teenagers, challenges related to their teen’s faith were listed by only 3% parents” (Barna). Given that only three percent of parents identify their children’s faith as a significant issue, it’s no wonder that teens are being buried by issues like pornography, drugs, alcohol, sexuality, greed, self-centeredness, and a lack of purpose, perspective, and meaning. Are we as a Christian community doing our best to reach the 3,200 youth in McDonough County?

The YFC board has been meeting with local pastors to garner feedback regarding the future of YFC. We’ve asked them if believers and churches in Macomb can come together and share Jesus with the next generation. What we are hearing is that YFC should stick with what is has historically done best: EVANGELISM.

If not us, then who? If not now, then when? YFC is the only purely evangelical organization in the county, and the only known strictly evangelical organization targeting youth in the five county region. Our many local churches do a great job with discipleship and training. By partnering with the local church, YFC aspires to specialize in evangelism.

Who’s your favorite underdog? How about the kid who has never heard about Jesus and is filled with hate and rage? How about the girl with everything going for her, but lives in a home devoid of love and purpose? How about the kid who’s parents are abusive and neglectful? How about the young man who is teased and bullied and is nearing the end of his rope? How about a young lady who is about to follow our culture into a world of impurity?

Are you burdened for the young underdogs in our community? Please make your best gift to YFC: time, energy, prayer, or finances.

To quote a board member, “…financially, times are nearing the point of desperation.” As a board, our request for financial help is based solely on our desire to sustain YFC for future teens that need to hear the message of Jesus.

Sincerely,

Tye Adair

Board Chair, Western Illinois Youth For Christ

Donations may be mailed to: Youth for Christ

PO Box

Macomb, IL 61455

May-Jun09-Macomb News

Redneck Olympics High Schools Girls Overnight Agape

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.” It can be very scary to be given responsibility in God’s kingdom, but we know that whatever God calls us to, He also equips us for. I have been privileged to experience that this year serving at Youth for Christ. I have learned much about God, myself, teenagers, and the journey of the soul. I wish I had learned some of it more quickly, but like all children, I had to learn some lessons the hard way. Fortunately these are the lessons most readily remembered, and I will carry all I have learned here with me wherever I go. This brings me to the fact that this is my last newsletter for YFC. It is time for my husband and I to move on to the next season of our lives, but we will always cherish our time in Macomb serving the Lord at YFC.

These several weeks have given us some especially great memories. We started out May with a trip to Agape Fest where we took three high school students to camp out and enjoy some good Christian music. The following weekend, we had a “slumber party” for our high school girls. It was a great night for fellowship and fun. We even went to Café Aroma’s open mic night, and some of the girls and Kayleigh performed. Later in May Kayleigh and I went with some students to visit the Crossing one Sunday night. We were happy to find that they really enjoyed it, and we hope that they will continue attending there or at another church and truly become part of the body of Christ in Macomb. Near the end of May we had our last presentation of the gospel at Campus Life for this school year. Many of the students communicated that they do have a relationship with Jesus Christ, so the next step for many of them is to learn to live in obedience to Him and to become part of a local congregation of believers. This can be a very difficult step for a teenager, especially if their family is not supportive and helpful in this endeavor, so please be in prayer for them about this. We ended the year with a cookout where we just spent a few hours hanging out and having fun with the kids to celebrate the end of the school year.

Kayleigh is planning to continue meeting with students every 2 weeks throughout the summer. The next meeting will be Monday, June 15 at the YFC house. She plans to continue discussing various topics from a Biblical perspective as well as to do some other fun activities.

I cannot end this without adding a HUGE THANK YOU to our volunteers. We could not have accomplished half of what we did this year without the help of our husbands, John and Jeremy, and two very dedicated young women, Jasmine and Sharee Young. Their consistent and energetic service has been humbling and encouraging to see throughout this year, and I speak for Kayleigh and myself when I say “Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!”

May-Jun09-Bushnell Beat

Photos from Redneck Olympics

School is out and summer is here! I have some praises from this past school year and some disappointments. There were many challenges this year with discipline. We also made some strides with a few young ladies, I hope. Also, we have a long-time volunteer leader retiring after 8 years of service.

This years graduating class had so much potential going into high school. Over 15 of them trusted in Christ their 8^th grade year. It is sad to say that most of them drifted away, got choked out, or their seed landed in rocky soil. The reasons are endless. That’s why it takes the body of Christ to grow young followers. Most of these teens began going to a discipleship group of some kind, Sunday school, depth charge, blast off, or Sunday morning church. In the end, they compromised their faith and followed other things. Is there still hope? YES!

Others have drifted away, but we can be sure that God will keep drawing them back to himself day after day, year after year.

In the past school year, 5 teens have trusted Christ as their savior, several others recommitted their lives and are trying to live out their faith on a daily basis. Please pray for these teens as they are each challenged to connect with a church in their community and grow in their faith. Also pray that the enemy does not choke their seed out with the worries of this world. Thanks!

Donna Williams is retiring from YFC after 8 years of service. She is a wonderful lady that loves the Lord with all of her heart. She teaches Sunday school and Youth group at the 1^st Baptist Church in Bushnell. Please pray for her as she continues her service to the teens in Bushnell and her grandchildren. Thank you Donna!

One of the biggest praises of the year came a couple of weeks ago, when I found out that a high school teen trusted Christ following Dare 2 Share. She has been attending event after event and meeting after meeting this whole school year with a close friend. Several times throughout the year I have taken time to ask her about her relationship with Jesus. She just wasn’t ready, but I could sense her drawing ever closer to Christ. Then our second to last Campus Life meeting of the year, we had our gospel night and she indicated she had put her trust in Jesus for her salvation. What a miracle!! Praise the Lord for His working in her life through many people.

As far as our family goes, we will be moving some time late this summer, after our home is sold and we have been able to fix up the new place. We are really looking forward to that. Last month, Andrew and Abby attended a Faith Bible Camp retreat as campers and they loved it. I really appreciate that ministry that Twig does. They are planning on attending camp this summer, too. I love how the kids get a chance to learn so many bible verses and hear quality teachers of God’s Word. Pray for Andrew as he will be going into Middle school this next year.

Thank you for all of your prayers and gifts on our behalf. If any of you would like to get together and talk over the summer, just give us a call and we will try to arrange a time. God bless,

The Rodeffer’s

May-Jun09-Bushnell Summer Calendar

Every Wednesday - Depth Charge @ 8pm @ CCC (except Cornerstone Week and Week of Eastward Teen Adventure on 7/29)

6/8 - CLM to Ball Fore (5-9pm) bring $5

6/11 - CL to Ball Fore (6-10pm) bring $5

6/22 - CLM Fishing/Bonfire @ Rodeffers (5-9pm)

6/25 - CL Fishing/Bonfire @ Rodeffers (5-9pm)

6/29 - Cornerstone Week - get wrist bands for volunteers - need $90 deposit - after volunteer hours are served, deposit is refunded.

7/5 - Cornerstone Volunteering (9-5pm)

7/6 - Cornerstone Volunteering (8-4pm)

7/7 - Cornerstone Volunteering (8-4pm)

7/9 - CL Pool Party @ Rodeffers (5-9pm)

7/13 - CLM Pool Party @ Rodeffers (5-9pm)

7/23 - CL "Capture the flag" @ Rodeffers (6-9pm)

7/27 - CLM "Capture the flag" @ Rodeffers (6-9pm)

7/29 to 8/1 - Eastward Teen Adventure - Traveling to Northern Kentucky and staying at a church there for 3 nights. Creation Museum & King's Island. Trip is $150/person and includes food while there, lodging, gas and entrance fees to both places.

Fun City Day planning in the works - TBA - $10

May-Jun09-Macomb Summer Calendar

Starting June 15, we will be meeting every other week at the YFC house (except Cornerstone week).

Other events such as trips to Fun City, Cornerstone, camping and paintballing are being planned.

For information, contact Kayleigh @ (309) 335-7904.

May-Jun09-Golf Outing

We had 65 golfers this year. Although it rained heavily the day before, we were still able to have the outing on the back 9 at WIU’s Harry Mussatto Golf Course. The weather may have been cool and breezy, but all the golfers enjoyed an event filled with fellowship, lots of food and plenty of prizes.

We send out a huge thank you to our major sponsor Catch-A-Star Learning Center Inc., Hole in One sponsor Western IL Shotokan & Jujitsu Karate Clubs, Food/Beverage Sponsors: Neimann’s County Market, Ludlum’s Food Mart and CocaCola Bottling of Macomb, 25 hole sponsors listed below, the many businesses that donated raffle prizes (also listed below), the 65 golfers and our faithful volunteers. Without you, our golf outing would not have been the success that it was! Through this event, we were able to raise over $5,000 to be used directly in ministry.

Hole Sponsors -Ascone Family, Bushnell Banking Center, Citizen’s National Bank, Comcast, Cox Construction, Dough Delights, First Bankers Trust, In memory of JUDY FORNESS- CVS Pharmacy Employees, Gantner Family, Grand Prairie Assisted Living, Headliners, Rich Myers, Matt McClure, McDonough District Hospital, McDonough Power Cooperative, Robert McMahan, Mid-America National Bank, Midwest Crop Insurance, Digger & Sarah Oster, Pierce Law Offices, Professional Eye Care, Purdum Gray Ingledue, David Pyles-Financial Concepts, State Farm-Cathy Early, Walmart and Craig Waterstreet (Counseling Cares).

Raffle Sponsors: Arby's, Bushnell Banking Center, Bushnell Chiropractic, Bushnell Dairy Queen, Citizen's National Bank, Mel Blasi, Farm King, First Bankers Trust, Fun City, Hart's Nursery, HyVee, Il Spazio, Larry A's, McDonough Power, Nelson's Golf, Papa Johns, Rodeffer Family, WIU Golf Course, and Vaughn & Bushnell.