Nov12 - Bushnell Beat

5^th Quarter is an after game fun time that happens a few times a year for high school and middle school students.   At our last 5^th Quarter we had a chance to clearly present the gospel to the teens that had been coming.  About half the kids present were not saved.  Pray for fruit from the time spent with them.  It's been great to partner with the Bushnell Christian Church on this outreach to teens in the Bushnell community.

This past month I  had a chance to attend and speak at the Bethel Baptist Voyager group in Galesburg, IL.  I love these people! It has become an annual speaking engagement for me.  It is great to see people I grew up around and that had an influence in my spiritual development.  Praise the Lord for sunday school teachers and adults willing to disciple youth.

Thank you to all of the local churches that have partnered with YFC to help put on the Breakfast club for teens before school on  Wednesday's!  It seems so simple, but going to Grenada this summer, made me realize just how important it is to share your testimony with others.  It encourages, brings real life experience into others lives, and gives glory to God.  This is what happens at Breakfast Club.  If you would like to share your testimony with teens, please contact me to set up a date.  God will use it!  

A few of the events we have had in the past month are highlighted with pictures.  We have had a paintball trip and a wild hay-rack ride. 

                -the Rodeffer’s 

Bushnell Prayer Needs

·          Pray for several of the teens I am currently working with.  Recently I have spent time with them in numerous ways and not need the right time to share with them the hope that can set them free for eternity.

·          Pray for a couple more adult leaders

·          Pray for unsaved teens to make a decision to accept Christ as their personal Savior at our middle school gospel night coming up soon.

·          Pray for Christian teens get a vision to reach out to their non-christian friends

“It seems so simple, but going to Grenada this summer made me realize just how important it is to share your testimony with others.” -Todd

Nov12 - Financial Data

Current Financials

Oct donations $7,721
Oct expenses $9,710

YTD donations $22,192
YTD expenses $32,560
YTD shortage $10,368

Sept/Oct12-Meet Our Executive Director

Greetings!

I’m Connie Sadler, the new Executive Director at Youth for Christ Western Illinois. I’m excited to be on board and am    looking forward to being able to serve you. I’m also looking   forward to serving our gifted staff and volunteers at the Macomb and Bushnell sites. Most of all, I’m looking forward to serving the youth of western Illinois.

Those who know me know I tend to approach life with God with a sense of wonder. I think it’s a wonder that so much around us goes unseen by any eyes buy God’s. I mean, think about it. Think about the thousands of leaves that have been falling over the last few weeks. What percentage of those leaves is ever viewed by human eyes? Yet each one is a work of art and God sees it.

So much of what goes on at a YFC site also goes unseen; volunteers and staff freely giving their time; hearts being changed for the better. Even though we may not know all the good that’s done while we’re on earth, God pours Himself out through this ministry—some seen, much unseen.

One of our biggest unseen blessings is the prayer team that lays the groundwork for the rest of us: the people who freely spend time with God interceding on our behalf. We’re grateful for these bold prayer warriors.

As you peruse this month’s newsletter, be mindful of prayer points. Please pray for our ministry sites, staff, volunteers, board, and upcoming banquet. Pray for the youth who are impacted by YFC.

Sept/Oct12-Banquet Date

Sept/Oct12-Financials

Sept/Oct12-Prayer Team

Sept/Oct12-Bushnell Beat

It seems to me that August and September are months for new beginnings.  These months signify the start of a new school year, new programs, and new challenges for families.  Think about it.  This is when your kids first start school, or you are presented with new logistical challenges for work and extracurricular activities.  They can be very hectic months and they were for us in Bushnell.

This year our family has 3 kids in three different schools in Bushnell.  Katy (9) is in 3^rd grade, Abby (13) is in 8^th grade, and Andrew (15) is a freshman in high school.  This is going to present some very interesting logistical challenges for Michelle and I this school year.  Right now, Michelle is teaching 5^th grade and takes the kids to school with her.  I usually tote and fetch when necessary after school or in the evenings.

Anyway,  ministry events this year are off to the races as well.  I attended our Youth for Christ Regional Conference in Indiana in the middle of August.  This year, as many years, this conference provided refreshment and refocus.  It also helps set the tone for the school year.  I am very thankful for these days away. Praise the Lord!

We again put a float in the Fall Festival Parade in Bushnell at the end of August.  This helps get things “rolling.”  We had our Kick-off events for middle school and high school in the middle of September.  We saw 37 kids come out for the middle school event and 16 for the high school.  We also started a time of praise and encouragement before school at the local Community Christian Center which is averaging around 12 teens per week.  We call it Breakfast Club.

One collaborative effort includes a 5^th Quarter following home football games.  We have partnered with the Presbyterian Church and the Bushnell Christian Church on these events during the month of September.  Another is SYATP (See you at the Pole). This is an annual prayer event that occurs at the school flag pole.  Over 30 people showed up for this in Bushnell, including 20 teens and 13 adults.  We prayed for our friends, schools, community, and country.

An opportunity to talk about what the gospel means and what following Jesus is all about took place on the back porch of of one of our adult leaders.  We had campfire dinners cooked on the grill, played touch football in the yard, and talked about real life solutions on the dock next to the lake.  What an inspired and important time in the life of 8 teens. Neat!

God bless you all and thank you for your support prayerfully, financially, and emotionally.  It's AWESOME to be part of the body of Christ!!!

The Rodeffer's