Aug10-Wish List

Needs and Wants - YFC Macomb

Audio System: We have speakers, we just don’t have anything to play through them.

Chairs: We need about 2 dozen folding chairs for Pizza Lunch. We are also looking for bean bag chairs & outside seating furniture.

Cookies: If you are willing to make cookies for the VENT program (Tues & Thurs), we can store them in the freezer.

Countertops: Not everyone coming for lunch wants to sit - especially in the Gaming Room.

Decking Materials: We would love to have the supplies donated so that we could redo the porch by the parking lot.

Dehumidifier: The basement would greatly benefit by one.

Game Systems: We would love to have video game systems and games on hand so kids don’t have to bring their own from home.

Fire Extinguishers: We have one. - I think it would be beneficial to have several.

First Aid Kit: Thankfully no one has been hurt, but it would be wonderful if we could have a stocked first aid kit.

(Fun) Floor Lamps: Additional lighting would be beneficial to the night time events.

Motion Sensor Lighting: For activities at night as well as added security for staff leaving after dark.

Shelving Units: We would love to install shelves under the stairs for better organization.

Study Bibles: I would love for these kids to start learning how to use Study Bibles.

Vacuum/Carpet Sweeper: We would love to have these for quick cleanup from pizza lunches.

Aug10-Lauren & Ken

Before we jump into Lauren’s latest report about Macomb’s activities,

we’d like to welcome Lauren to the Macomb YFC part-time staff.

Lauren deserves a BIG THANK YOU for volunteering this summer.

She organized events for Macomb youth, coordinated the painting and

cleaning of the lower level and her husband Tom kept the lawn in tiptop

shape.

Ken Krueger will also be back with us part-time (on staff) for part of his last semester at WIU.

If you recall, he returned to his hometown this summer for his regular summer job.

Aug10-Thank yous

We would like to acknowledge our huge appreciation for the Wesley United Methodist’s Streaming Waters Ministry for all the work they did at the YFC house back in mid-June Our back porch used to have 2 doorways. The one in use leads to the kitchen. The former one was nailed shut and led to the dining/living room area. That unused doorway is now gone. The siding on the outside looks great! The inside woodwork was kept and we now have a nice area for a whiteboard or corkboard that will be very useful for announcements and meetings. They also fixed several outlets, wiring issues, the door to the basement and several windows in the basement.

We would also like to acknowledge Lou Battin and Davey Mohr from Wesley’s Methodist Mens Group for installing a new water heater in the basement.

Aug10-Macomb News

July had been a bit quiet in Macomb, due to camps, Vacation Bible Schools and vacations. However, we recently held our Prayer Experience event over two nights. One of those nights we Prayer Walked (ok, drove) Macomb, including: MHS (praying for all students, teachers, knowledge), Armory (for all military and those in authority), Bridgeway (that everyone is fearfully and wonderfully made), Loaves & Fishes (for the poor), MDH (for the sick), YFC (for the youth of America).

Now we are gearing up for some great stuff for the school year - the interior has received some color (come check out the new look), Pizza Lunches return (FREE Pizza Lunch is Aug 27^th), and a few additional programs:

SENIOR HIGH MONDAY NIGHTS: Senior High students continue to meet on Monday nights. We are getting ready to begin studying Battlefield of the Mind for Teens, by Joyce Meyers. If you have a teen interested, please have them contact Lauren or Deanna to order a book for them.

VENT: Tues/Thurs 3:15-5pm We want to be a place for teens to just come and hangout… and frankly, vent about their day if they want to. This will be a safe place to celebrate your day or let out the frustrations and/or worries, within a Christian Environment. This will be open to both Junior and Senior High kids, Tuesdays and Thursdays immediately after school until 5pm. {Note: those of you who enjoy making cookies, I would love to have snack available for them - please let me know if you can help}.

PIZZA LUNCH IS BACK! We are kicking off with FREE pizza lunch on Aug 27^th. All teens eligible to leave for lunch are invited to join us at the YFC house. After Aug 27^th, the cost is $2.00 for pizza, soda and dessert.

FIFTH QUARTER IS BACK!!! The post-MHS football game event has returned to YFC. This event gives Junior and Senior High kids a chance to hang out with friends outside at a bon fire (weather permitting) or indoors - perhaps playing video games. We will be in need of firewood, marshmallows and roasting sticks. Also, we are praying hoping to acquire several gaming systems and some games to have on hand. This year’s Friday night home games are: August 27, September 10, September 17, October 1 (which is also homecoming), and October 15 (which is Senior Night).

CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS: Churches, we love you! Our God is an amazing God, and regardless of denomination, we love the same God. It is my goal to further develop partnerships between YFC and Macomb area churches. Please contact me (if I haven’t already contacted you) to set up a time to chat about how we can do this together. Wouldn’t it be great if kids could receive a helping of God each and every day? In small, steady steps, we can start that journey.

To kick off the year, I would like to invite Church representatives to meet at the Macomb

YFC house Monday, August 16 at 4:00 pm to discuss how we can partner together.

To reach Lauren: Cell: 309 252 0404 Email: Laurensurp@yahoo.com

Facebook - friend request me as well as join the group YFC Macomb

Aug10-Banquet

We know that November seems so far away, but the banquet committee has already begun planning. Believe it or not, this is our 19th year and November 12th is only 13 weeks away. Doors open/silent auction begins at 6:00 p.m. Buffet at 6:30 p.m.

If you are interested in hosting or organizing a table, be sure to send us an email or call the office at (309) 833-3026. Invitations will be going out in early October.

Churches also will be receiving information regarding the Annual Basket Auction soon. Last year, we had over 25 baskets that raised over $1800 for Youth for Christ. The baskets themes ranged from Chocolate Lovers to Christmas to Movie Night.

If your church is interested in putting a basket together or would like to donate towards a basket, please feel free to contact the YFC office or Kelly Barsi at 255-7010 or Vicki Reimolds at 772-3062. Dropoff locations are Barsi-Depoy Tax/Copy Pack & Post in Macomb or Bushnell First Presbyterian Church.

Aug10-Bushnell Beat

Cornerstone Festival

What do 7 tents, a small camper, a green table and a bunch of folding chairs equal? You guessed it, a campsite. When you camp with teens, along with 20,000 other people you get to know each other better. There is talk about the fest, life and God. We had kind of a rough time with a couple of the teens this year. We had language and behavior issues with a couple of teens. I pray that through the apologies, the time at the concerts, and the conversations that we had, those teens saw Christ in me. I pray that Andrew, Abby and Katy, who really enjoy the campsite and going to the concerts, did too.

Adult Leaders

I am so thankful for godly adult leaders that give of their time and reach out to lost teens. This summer a couple that helps with Campus Life has been consistently getting teens to church with them. The list has grown to over a dozen different teens, and some that, if you knew them, you wouldn’t believe they are going. As Richard relayed the story, he shared how they invite them, take them, and feed them. Kim, his wife, says there has to be a limit to how much they spend on the meals, but Richard just shakes his head and figures the Lord will take care of things. May the Lord truly bless them for their generosity and love.

Another leader that comes to mind is Pastor Dave Eden. (He is still a kid on the inside.) He has been so busy this summer investing in people with his family, VBS and community activities. He couldn’t do it though, without his supportive wife, Deanna. She really allows Dave to be the man he was created to be. Thanks, Dave and Deanna for your great support of YFC and the Kingdom of God!

There are many other faithful leaders that I will tell you about in the months to come.

A teen that needs Jesus

John (not his real name) comes from a home where dad isn’t home a lot. He fends for himself, along with his sisters on the weekends because mom and dad are often out of town. He is in desperate need of the biblical principal “training a child in the way that he should go.”

Fun City with Jr. Higher’s

What a day. It really wasn’t that bad. Water slides, pools, food and fun. Michelle & I took 11 teens one hot day in July to Fun City, a water park about an hour away. Times like these allow us to develop our relationships with teens so that they will be more open to listen and receive the gospel down the road. Thanks, Michelle for your sacrifice.

Things to pray about

• The young lady that we wrote about last month has moved in with her dad and is beginning to see that he has changed since she last spent time with him, which has been years.
• Pray for Andrew and Abby to be Godly influences on their friends in Jr. High
• That teens would expect God to do more in their lives and their friends lives
• Boldness to invite and come along side friends, even if they don’t know Christ
• A family of two teens whose dad is going away to a correctional facility for the rest of their teen lives.

Aug10-Bushnell Fun City Trip

Aug10-Bushnell Calendar

Bushnell Calendar

Mondays - Campus Life-Middle School 6-8pm @ CCC

Wednesday - Depth Charge 8-9pm @ CCC

Thursdays - HS Lunch - 11am @ CCC

Thursdays Campus Life-HS 7-9pm @ CCC