Sept/Oct12-Having Some Fun at Banquet

This year we’re trying something new—and bringing some comedy to our Banquet.  Tickets cost $20 for the evening banquet and includes both dinner and a comedy show… as well as hearing about YFC Western IL.   Be sure to get your tickets early—space is limited.

Sept/Oct12-Custom Tee-Shirts

YFC Macomb has added a fun fundraiser for its Student Activity Account— Custom Tee Shirts.  You may send an electronic copy of something you      designed (ex: photos, scanned items such as winning brackets,  or something drawn freehand). 

Cost is $20 and includes

· Your original design

· Sales Tax

· Near immediate turn-around

· Your support of teens in Macomb

· Add letters for $0.25 each

Email Lauren at Laurensurp@yahoo.com for an order form and any questions you  may have.

Come see us at Altrusa—bring your design or    create one there.

Aug12-Welcome Tamara!

The YFC Board is pleased to announce the addition of Tamara Parker to our growing list of trustees.

Tamara Parker is the Executive Director of the Macomb Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.  Tamara graduated from Western Illinois University.

She and her husband Morris have been married for five years. They have a handsome little boy named Elijah.

Tamara accepted Jesus Christ into her life when she was thirteen years old at vacation bible school.  She is a member of Shepherd’s Gate Foursquare Church where she is actively involved in the ministry as the Women’s Ministry Coordinator, volunteer in the nursery, janitor, sings on the praise team, and is a member of the prayer team.

Tamara has a great passion for youth, and is excited to join the Youth for Christ board.

Aug12-Banquet reminder

Please note that this year’s banquet will be held on:

THURSDAY

November 15th

Noon and 6 pm

options

Spoon River’s

Community

Outreach Center

2500 E Jackson

Macomb, IL

Interested in helping?

Contact the office

to join the planning

committee!!

Aug12-Congrats Todd!

It is with great pleasure that Youth for Christ USA announces that Todd Rodeffer, a 13 year veteran staff person from Western IL Youth for Christ was presented with The Five Essentials Award at their Great Lakes Staff Conference on August 14, 2012.

The honor is Youth for Christ USA’s most prestigious award, recognizing one local staff person within the region whose ministry site reflects all the five essentials YFC has identified that contribute to creating a ministry that is both fruitful and sustainable.

Todd’s ministry in Bushnell is the staging ground through which he has launched mission-driven relationships with young people.  The “Essentials” that we have seen Todd apply in his outreach are:

Widespread Prayer:

He deliberately engages lots of Christians to intercede on behalf of the ministry site. 

Loving Relationships:

He and his team consistently pursue lost kids & engage them in life-long relationships with Jesus.

Faithful Bible Teaching:

He accurately handles Biblical truth, regularly coaching kids to apply it in their lives.

Collaborative Community Strategy:

He intentionally works together with local churches, agencies and other partners to provide sustainable youth and family ministry.

Adults Who Empower:

He strategically develops leaders to reach young people from every people group.

YFC/USA is pleased to have Todd Rodeffer as our Great Lakes YFC Region Five Essential Award recipient for 2012.

Aug12-July Financials

July Donations $3884

July Expenses  $5992

YTD Donations $3884

YTD Expenses  $5992

YTD Shortage ($2108)

**Our fiscal year is

July 2012-June 2013

Aug12-Bushnell, Our Trip to Grenada

Grenada was the highlight of the month for sure.  It was great to get to go with Michelle.  The 4 girls we took were very well behaved.  We led a VBS for one church each morning of the week and held evening services for another Sunday through Thursday night.

Overall, 27 Grenadian kids made decisions for the Lord on the side of a mountain that week.  We got to pray with many others for assurance of their salvation.  God worked in a mighty way.

I was praying that God would change me and help me to  be renewed in my faith prior to our trip.

Grenada!  A treasured experience it is to me.  To be able to go and see, go and serve, go and be humbled by the Creator.  Yes!

The people are so open to talking about the Lord.  They listen and share their beliefs.  They have not been distracted by so many technological contraptions (inventions).  Most adults seem to have phones.  Some teens even have video games. Life is much simpler though.

With 45% unemployment, basic needs are imperative.  But thanks to the warm climate, there seems to be an abundance of  fruit and plants, which is mostly what they eat.

There is no need for insulated houses or air-conditioning.  Most people do without, or don't even like the air-conditioning, because it makes them cold.

Not only did I get to teach about the One and only Creator, I was taught by their friendliness and open hearts.  One service in the middle of the week, I once again surrendered all to Jesus.  I get so caught up in what “I am doing” that sometimes I miss what God is doing around me.  I was reminded that Jesus often took time to get away, pray, and be ready to do God's will wherever He went.  That's what I need to do, too.

I am so grateful for those of you who prayed for us, or gave a little money for us to go.  It was truly a trip of a lifetime for me.  In a couple of years, I would like to take our family back.

Praise God for what He has done and how He draws all people to Himself, if we let Him.

Pray for...

 · a 16 year old boy named Kaiheba who has a soft heart toward the Lord to find his purpose preaching the Word

· Our family to be changed for the better as a result of serving in Grenada

· a new effort to start up a before school worship and testimony time for teens in Bushnell

· The start of school – that teens connect with someone in the body of Christ.

· Recovery for me as I may have caught some kind of bug from the trip