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

July 2010-Banquet Date & Location Change

Mark your calendars!!!

The Annual YFC Fundraising Banquet is moving!!!

New Location: Spoon River College’s Community Outreach Center at 2500 East Jackson in Macomb

New Date: Friday, November 12th, 2010

-this is one week earlier

July 2010-Macomb News

Hi All - My name is Lauren Surprenant and I have been having a great time with the YFC kids since the end of May. We hosted our First Annual (?) Photo Scavenger Hunt. We had 12 kids participate! Frankly, any activity that gets a picture of a Board Member in a sombrero, in her bathtub with 4 teens is surely one memorable event! (Thank you Kelly Barsi!)

The YFC building in Macomb hosted a youth group event. The first event connected YFC with other Jr/Senior high schoolers, including students from the Industry/Rushville school. We had so much fun, we needed to call parents and ask if we could extend the time.

Because of this event, we are launching a mentoring program, connecting godly High Schoolers with Junior High students. Presently, 5 students are connecting with 9 students. This program kicks off June 24, with a Connection Event at Ball Fore. Three remaining YFC students are interested in working with younger kids - I will be working to launch that sometime in July (I hope).

A few more social events are being developed. If you would like to stay informed as they are developed, please email me at Laurensurp@yahoo.com to get onto an email mailing list or join the Facebook Group, YFC Macomb.

July 2010-Bushnell Beat

SUMMER = MORE FAMILY TIME

Thank the Lord for summer time. I really do enjoy all of the seasons that He has made. For me, summer is a chance to spend a little more time with Michelle and the kids, because they are not in school.

In mid-June we took a trip up north to Lake Benedict, MN for my mother’s family reunion. The last time we did this was 12 years ago. Ironically enough, that was our first summer on staff with Youth for Christ. My how time flies. I am reminded of Psalm 103 v. 15-16, where it says, “As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field, the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.” We have only a relatively short time here and it’s very important how we live our life.

Finding their place in this world

Summer is also a great time to connect with teens. We have already had several to our home, helping with projects, playing with kids, hanging out in the pool, and of course eating. You can never underestimate the example of Godly living for teens that grow up in an ungodly environment. The teens God has drawn to me are desperate for that role modeling. They haven’t seen their parents embrace their children with love and take time to talk situations out. They haven’t had the family interaction time together. I just can’t imagine life without spending significant time with my family. But, some of these teens do not have that interaction with their parents and siblings. It’s almost as if they are at war. They are starved for attention and meaningful interaction. No wonder we have so many kids diagnosed with ADD or ADHD or … Pray for teens in Bushnell to see the difference Christ can make in their future.

A new world for a senior

Casara trusted Jesus Christ as her savior in the spring of 2009. This year she graduated from BPC. Over the last year she has grown in her walk with the Lord, through reading the bible, attending church, helping with jr. high girls ministry and Depth Charge. Pray with me for her as she stretches her wings and flies. Pray that she will seek the Lord’s leading in her life. She really likes children and plans to take classes related to working with kids this next school year.

Things to pray about

Pray for a needy young lady that is 18 and has been left behind when her mother went out east to relocate. Some Bushnell YFC teens have helped her out in the last month.

Pray for Andrew and Abby to be Godly influences on their friends in Jr. High

Pray for the ministry of Faith Bible Camp and other Christian camps this summer

Pray for a teen named Boyd (not his real name) that I spoke with about the Lord the other day. He needs to trust Jesus as his