Saying Goodbye in a Sea of Color

Dear Friend,
The colors were unmistakable. Shaker and Saratoga Blue, CBA Purple, Guilderland Red...and of course, Shenendehowa Green.  Typically rival teams, these thousands of high school athletes, students, families and friends came together in one night to honor and remember the loss of two outstanding lives. They also came to salute two who had survived.

The scene was a vigil held at Brent Steuerwald Stadium in the Shenendehowa school district, our area's largest high school.  By now you've heard about the two students from Shen who were killed in a car accident this past Saturday night. You've also heard the stories of the two survivors, one boy from Shen and a girl from Shaker high school in Colonie.  Both of those students lost someone very close to them in the wreck.

At the vigil, relatives, friends and teammates shared their memories of Chris and Deanna, the students who died.  They also shared the desire they believed those two would have for their friends and families to remember the good days, remember their lives in a positive light.  One of Chris' best friends said that the best way to remember his is to "smile and celebrate the life of such a great kid."

Shen Superintendent Dr. L. Oliver Robinson said that, "events like these cause us to question our faith and our mortality." Question our faith and mortality!  I could not stop thinking about the thousands of students gathered Tuesday night and THEIR mortality.  So many of them don't know the Eternal, Lasting Peace that Jesus offers them.  So many kids battling the grief of losing Chris and Deanna will do so without the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

That thought fires us up even more to keep moving forward in ministry.  Even while we have just welcomed four new staff on board (Ashley, Erik, Michelle and Arimentha) and one more probably very soon...there are still so many more areas...so many more KIDS who NEED TO KNOW JESUS.  How will they know unless someone tells them? Unless someone shows them?

Please continue joining with us in prayer, in financial partnership to reach more kids with the life-rescuing message of Jesus.  Please also pray for Matt and Bailey, the two surviving students as they and their families heal physically and emotionally. And pray for the Stewarts and the Winds, the families who lost their kids too early in life.

Thank you so much for continuing to lift our area teens before our Lord.

For the kids,


John Richmond, Executive Director 

Breaking Barriers

Dear Friend,

You probably hear often in the news about citizens of a particular community coming together to break down barriers they're struggling with.  It may be an effort to combat racism, poverty, or it might be rallying around a common cause such as cancer research.

Just last week, the 207 freshmen from Gloversville High School came together for three days of Point Break anti-bullying programs aimed, as the local newspaper put it, at "break ing barriers."

Our staff were so thrilled with the kids' openess and response in small group and large group sharing times.  The Gloversville-based Leader Herald newspaper offered up this extensive article about the students' experiences at Point Break.  
As the article accurately states, the freshmen will now be paired with upper classmen for the Bridges Peer to Peer Mentoring program. The mentoring program includes 25 selected juniors and seniors who were recommended by high school faculty and have had training in teamwork and leadership skills. One of those classes was partaking in the Shiloh's Edge Challenge ropes course earlier this year that forced teamwork and trust between the mentors.

Please pray for our staff as we have Point Break programs next month for South Colonie and Voorheesville schools. This program impacts an entire school culture in just four years!  We are so grateful for the changes and challenges kids embrace as a result of Point Break.

Thank you for praying for us and for the kids to whom we minister. Thank you also for your very generous giving.  I hope to see you at one of our annual banquets, starting a week from this coming Sunday. Please check the panel to your right for more information.

God bless you!

For the kids,


John Richmond
Executive Director 

Are We "All In?"

Dear Friends

"Speak In, Buy In, All In"  This catchy phrase came from City Life Director Andy Lightcap as our senior leadership team recently discussed a new leadership strategy we're pursuing for YFC's ministry.

Andy explained that knowing that each of us will have even more freedom to speak into the various ministries of Youth for Christ gives him greater "buy in" to each one and helps him be committed to being "all in" in our vision and mission.

As I thought about this idea, it occurred to me that we've all been giving these three concepts as we pursue life in Christ and as we seek to share his life-rescuing message with kids.  When we build a loving relationship with a young person, we are gradually given more and more freedom to speak Truth into their lives.  As they see us care for them, hold them accountable and continually love them regardless of their actions, their walls begin to drop and we can share more of Christ with them.

This "permission" to impact a lost kid's life is really the bottom line "buy in" for each of our staff.  We LOVE kids, we CARE FOR kids, we want them to know Christ.  We know that so many lives are broken, hurting and hopeless. But with an open door to their lives, we can bring the Light of Jesus to them every day.

The "all in" part really finds it's root in our calling - we are CALLED to reach lost kids.  Our staff in rural, suburban and urban communities; our guides at The Edge-Halfmoon, our mentors in Teen Parents or our staff on wilderness trips are indeed "ALL IN" with the mission of reaching "every young person...one kid at a time."  There's no compromise, no turning back.

What have you put yourself "all in" for?  How have you used God's call on your life to speak in to lives around you?  It requires us daily to seek after God, to dig deep into His Word and to ask, "Lord, what do you want from me today?"

Thank you for praying for our staff. Thank you for praying for the kids to whom God has given us the privilege to minister. While we move forward in this new school year and as we see new ministry areas build and grow, we covet those prayers more each day.

Thank you also for giving to YFC so generously.  There are many new opportunities ahead of us.  We have a cafe and gymnasium at the Adventure Center to equip.  We desire to build more faithful partners like you to get behind this ministry.

Together, we are indeed "all in" for the cause of the Gospel of Christ. God bless you!

For the kids,


John Richmond
Executive Director 

All It Takes Is One Person

Dear Friend,

Her name was Gracie.  If you met her, you would probably consider her a typical teenager.  No one really knew the pain she was experiencing.

Her father told police that her boyfriend had recently broken up with her.  The related emotions weighed all too heavily on her. She wrote on her Facebook page, "God hates me." The only response she got was stunning, "...and so does everyone else."

Gracie felt she had no one else nor anywhere else to turn in her most vulnerable moment.  She decided the only way to stop the pain was to end her life - and that's just what she did.

I share this true, very recent story with you not to shock you or to make you sad - but to CHALLENGE you...to CHALLENGE us. If one person had told her that she was loved; if one person had let Gracie know that there still was REAL HOPE in life; if someone spoke Jesus' words of forgiveness and healing to her, Gracie would probably still be here.

It's our responsibility every day to communicate the life-rescuing message of Christ to others.  We are all charged with it.  For us at YFC, we are more specifically called to share that Hope and Truth with teenagers.  And the amazing thing is that it really can take just one person: a staff member, a volunteer, a neighbor, a youth leader - just ONE to make all the difference in a kid's life.

As I sit here today, I am so grateful for the hundreds of lives we've been able to speak into at YFC.  Staff were sharing today about conversations they had with kids throughout this past week, some of which led to kids turning their lives over to Christ!  The relationship with those kids started with "just one" - conversation, staff, volunteer.

Be sure you are speaking God's Hope, Truth and Love into someone's life today.  You never know how much of a difference that "one" effort of reaching out can make.

Thank you for praying for us and for the kids to whom we minister. Thank you also for your very generous giving.  I  hope to see you at one of our annual banquets, coming up early next month. Please check the panel to your right for more information.

God bless you!

For the kids,


John Richmond
Executive Director 

News From Youth for Christ - Sept. 13

A Bold Move Saves a Life

It was a bold move. It was also a cry of desperation. A boy stood up at a YFC Point Break anti-bullying program in Schoharie County, NY and admitted that he had a plan to end his life - that he wanted out.

School officials knew this boy was having problems, but did not realize how serious his situation was.  They connected him right away with the Schoharie County Youth Bureau.  Staff at the Bureau quickly plugged him into several programs and counseling to help him.

Now this boy is being mentored as a student leader in the Youth Bureau. He just recently spent a morning at our Shiloh's Edge Challenge Course as part of the follow up to Point Break.  He is a changed life.  Because he realized that he needed help, because Point Break brought enough concern to the surface that he cried out - this boy's life was spared.

As we enter this new school year, we are already poised to bring Point Break anti-bullying programs to Gloversville and South Colonie schools - both of which have hosted our program these past three years.  The goal of impacting an entire school culture in just four years is now becoming reality.  As kids encounter our YFC staff and other presenters, as they face up to the painful issues going on in their lives, their Point Break experiences will continue to build a positive change within their schools.  And these two schools are just the start of the new Point Break season.

Would you pray for our staff as they present Point Break to Gloversville schools next month and S. Colonie in November? Pray for them as they also lead other schools through the challenge course in its final two months of operation for the year. Would you also pray that as staff share their stories of how they dealt with pain and rejection in their lives, that the love of Christ would pour out of them into the kids in front of whom they stand? Thank you!

I am continually amazed that God uses us and uses a program like Point Break - which does not mention Him by name at all -  to make a positive and sometimes life-changing impact on kids.  Thank you for standing with us to reach every kid...one at a time. Thank you also for praying and giving generously to bring the life-rescuing message of Jesus to teenagers in the Capital Region.

For the kids,


John Richmond
Executive Director 

News from Youth for Christ - July 18

Dear Friends of YFC, There are a number of words and phrases commonly used to describe the relationship between and organization and its supporters or volunteers: getting connected, ministry partners, like-minded individuals, collaborators. In Youth for Christ, there are five essential tenets we adhere to in reaching EVERY young person with the life-rescuing message of Jesus Christ.  One of those tenets is Collaborative Community. That means that we intentionally work together with local churches, agencies and other partners to provide sustainable youth and family ministry.  Recently, one of those community partners honored CDYFC with a generous donation as part of a restaurant opening. Andrew James, pictured below with me and ABJ Management's Sarah Johnson, donated the $700 to YFC at the Grand Opening of his McDonald's franchise in Rensselaer last week.    Thank You, Andrew for your commiment to reaching kids in the Capital Region for Christ! As our staff continue ministering to kids throughout the summer within our climbing clinics, special wilderness trips, activities and the Blazefest HipHop Camp next month, there is an opportunity for YOU to become a community collaborator with us. Monday, August 20 marks the 15th Annual "Tee It Up for Kids" Golf Benefit for CDYFC. It takes place at the incredible Shaker Ridge Golf Club in Colonie.  There's a BBQ lunch at 11:30 AM followed by a shotgun start at 1PM.  You can sign up a foursome TODAY simply by calling our office: 518.533.3617 and speaking with Pamela. If you are a business owner or connected to one, there are opportunities still available to become a corporate or hole sponsor. Pamela can answer those questions for you as well. THANK YOU for standing with us in prayer, in your generous giving and in spreading the word about Youth for Christ.  I am so excited to see what the Lord is going to do with our new Adventure Center as we move into the new school year in the fall.  God bless you. For the kids, John Richmond, Executive Director CDYFC

News from YFC - May 21

Dear Friends of YFC,

PRICELESS: the word probably brings a number of things to mind. You might remember seeing social media postings that make fun of an embarrassing moment and how priceless it is to have a camera on hand to capture it. A credit card company uses the word to describe times in life that apparently become priceless because you have your credit card on hand to pay for it (I'm not really a fan of that idea).

On a personal level, I think you could easily come up with something or someone in your life that you consider priceless. Maybe it's your own children, a grandchild, a treasured photo of a very special moment in life. You might also think of a gift you've received from someone dear to you.

For us at CDYFC, every kid to whom we minister is priceless. It's vital that we share Jesus' life-rescuing message of love and forgiveness with each one we meet. God has sunk into our souls the mission to do whatever it takes to communicate God's truth to kids, to show them their worth in His eyes, to love them, to help them grow in Christ.

This week we have another opportunity to communicate priceless truth to a group of freshmen and sophomores. Tomorrow and Thursday, our staff are bringing the Point Break anti-bullying program to students from Middleburgh Central Schools. While we are not allowed to share the Gospel message in this setting, the Christ-filled lives of our staff and other presenters, the way in which we treat and love on these kids will speak God's love to them.

Remember that these programs are happening because the kids who attended January's Excel high school conference knew that helping kids see they are loved, that they are not alone in the pain and difficulties they face is priceless enough to respond. The offering collected at Excel paid for these Point Breaks.

Please pray for our staff as they present the programs. Pray for our ministry staff as each week they speak and live God's truth and love into the lives of kids. We will never stop pursuing lost kids. They are priceless - they are worth it. We will do whatever it takes!

Thank you for praying! Thank you for giving generously to this ministry.

For the kids,

John Richmond, Executive Director
CDYFC

Update on Chris

Dear Friends of YFC,

This past 13 months has been an incredible journey for us in the Richmond family.  As you may recall, in April 2011, we learned that my wife Chris had stage 4 lung cancer and doctors originally gave her only a few months to live.  A year has past and she is alive and living strong.

However, as I mentioned in yesterday's note, we learned the results of Chris's latest PET scan this morning.  The news we received was not what we expected.  There has been some growth in her cancer tumor - about 30% (it had reduced to about 70% by December),  plus there are some new spots.  She will be going back on an IV chemo treatment.

Needless to say, we truly value and appreciate your prayers for us as we deal with this news and as we continue to see what God is doing through this situation.  We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is faithful, that He is Powerful and we are called to trust Him no matter what.  

Thank you for standing with us, for your faithful prayers over this past year and for continuing to lift us and the YFC staff up as we walk through this together.

In God's hands,

John Richmond, Executive Director

Youth for Christ 

YFC Silent Auction Items are up on-line NOW!

I hope you are enjoying this amazing day! Thanks to many generous people, we now have over 50 SIlent Auction Items up for preview on-line RIGHT NOW!

Visit the CDYFC Website and follow the link to see the items. This comes with a reminder that the YFC Auction is on Saturday, May 5 at the all new YFC Adventure Center and The Edge Halfmoon on Rte. 9. Doors open at 4:30 for early viewing. The Silent Auction runs from 5:00 - 7:00 PM.

LIVE AUCTION from 7:00 - 8:00 PM. Hor'dourves and a desserts buffet will be served.

To register for the Silent Auction, click HERE.

If you have an item you would like to donate to the auction, please contact us at 518-533-3617 or info@cdyfc.org by April 30. Thank you very much for your support of Youth for Christ. We look forward to seeing you on May 5th!

News from Youth for Christ

Dear Friends of YFC,

I am always amazed at the power of prayer and the power of God. It was just over a year ago (April 19) that my wife Chris was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer - a cancer that had also spread to her liver and some other areas of her body. The news was devastating, the prognosis from the doctors was 4-6 months for Chris to live!

As you may recall, that diagnosis launched us as a family and as YFC staff into a journey we never dreamed we would take. It also brought to the forefront the power of prayer. From across the nation friends, colleagues and even people we didn't know PRAYED. Chris radically changed
her diet, took on some of the typical cancer chemo treatments - and we continued to pray.

Then, several months into this journey, God showed us His power. Chris went in for a scan and the results showed that her cancer had been reduced by more than 50%! WOW! (and words here don't even begin to describe how we felt) We continued to pray, Chris continued to heal and grow stronger. She also started a new cancer treatment that had a great track record of success for those with her form of cancer...even the TYPE of cancer she had was miraculous.

Here is Chris and our family today, on vacation in Florida. Doctors said 8 months. It's been a year and Chris is alive and well. She's still receiving treatment and sticks with her diet that has us growing wheat grass in our house (yes, I actually eat some of her foods as well). Another scan last fall revealed that the cancer had reduced even further to a total of around 70%. All we can do is PRAISE God for his miracle of healing, for surrounding us with so many encouragers and prayer warriors.

This also reminds me to keep on praying for the kids of our area - pray for God to meet them with His love, forgiveness and hope; pray for our staff as they minister to kids each week; pray for the Holy Spirit to open up conversations about Christ so that we can share Him with them.

Lastly, an update from last month when I asked you to pray for Sherri Ferguson's surgery. Here is what her husband Scott sent to us: "All went very well per the doc. No problems at all. Had to take about 1/8th of her kidney, got all of the tumor; expects a great recovery. We'll see how next few
days go. Goes back to doc Tuesday AM (yesterday) and if all is well we head home that afternoon. God truly has had his hand in this from the beginning, as he does everything!..... Praise the Lord!"

Thank you for praying! God is so good!

For the kids,

John Richmond, Executive Director
CDYFC

Dear Friends of YFC,
She only had a few words to say when she came on stage at Break Out. It was Sunday morning - the last General Session of the conference before kids and youth leaders went home. We gave kids a time to come up on stage and share what God had done in their lives over the weekend - what
they wanted to do or be differently when they went home. This girl summed up one goal of the weekend fairly well.

"I came here an atheist, now I'm saved."

One more life ushered into God's eternal kingdom! What a blessing and privilege to witness such an incredible life change at Break Out. Another student shared that at her school, kids of faith get picked on for their beliefs. She then said that one thing she's going to do differently is not let that type of harrassment bother her - she's going to be clear and bold about her faith in Jesus no matter what others say or do. Now that's COURAGE!

Some people may think that 11-13 year olds don't have much to say. Well, they are flat wrong - the kids at Break Out showed that they were undestanding who they needed to be in order to truly, fully follow Jesus Christ. All told, there were 579 adult leaders and students
in attendance at Break Out. We are also very grateful for the incredible team
of 60 volunteers who kep the weekend flowing smoothly.

Meanwhile, the interest in and growth of The Edge Halfmoon continues to amaze us. There are more competitions coming up in the next three months and in early April, the Shiloh's Edge Adventure Course - our outdoor ropes course - opens for the season.

Thank you for the incredibly vital part you play in communicating the message of Jesus
Christ to our kids. Thank you also for continuing to lift up our ministry and our staff as we seek to follow God's leading each day.

God bless you.

For the kids,

John Richmond,
Executive Director
CDYFC

News from Youth for Christ - Feb. 22

Dear Friends of YFC,
He's only 8 years old. He's definitely NOT in our ministry's target age group.
Neither is his mom. She's 22. When you do the math, you realize this boy was
born when mom was about 14. But he's been coming to City Life's Jump Off
ministry every Monday night for a few months.

His mom came two weeks ago. She told City Life's Andy Lightcap that she stopped going
to church a long time ago. But, she said that all her son talks about is the
Jump Off and that he can't wait to go each week. She also said that she needs
to be learning the things her son is learning...and that she wants to start
going to church again.

22 and 8 - not in YFC's target - but needing ministry, needing the Hope that only is
found in Christ Jesus. THAT's why we do what we do...because people need
HOPE.

From the Jump Off to Campus Life to Teen Parents to Excel and Break OUt - meeting a
kid (and sometimes a parent) one on one and sharing the love of Jesus is the
core of Youth for Christ - it is the core of our daily ministry.

With the Break Out middle school conference now just 3 weeks away, please continue to
pray for our staff as they prepare for the event. Pray also for the 600 students
and church youth leaders who will be attending. Pray for their hearts to be
prepared for what God will challenge them with over the weekend.

Pray for the kids coming with our City and Campus Life staff, too. Pray that God
would clearly speak to them and draw their hearts to His.

Thank you so much for the incredible part that you play in this mission to reach every
young person, one at a time with Jesus' love. Please know that our staff and
volunteers value and cherish your prayers and your generous giving very much.
Your partnership with us is vital as we move ahead to reach more kids, to impact
more communities for Christ.

God bless you.

For the kids,

John Richmond, Executive Director
CDYFC

Edge Video

Here's a great video about The Edge Halfmoon climbing gym...part of the new CDYFC Adventure Center. Thanks to our Steve Prettyman for filming and editing this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07fgS0t20TM

New Contact Info & New Offices

Dear Friends of YFC,

A move is usually challenging, almost always takes more effort than you expect, but, is typically very rewarding once you're done. I'm not sure if that's a completely accurate picture of a move, but it covers well this week's experience for Youth for Christ.

We began today the process of moving our offices up to the new YFC Adventure Center and The Edge Halfmoon on Rte. 9. We made tremendous progress, but there will be much more to move up over the rest of the week.

I'm telling you all of this to let you know that we have new contact numbers going into effect this week in Halfmoon:

Phone: 518-533-3617

Fax: 518-982-5544

Email addresses will remain the same. We have a new mailing address:

P.O. Box 443

Halfmoon, NY 12065

Our old # 518-783-5332 is still up and running and you can leave a voice message there too if needed.

We are so thrilled to be settled into our new space. Thank you for standing and praying with us through this move. Please continue to do so as we unpack, set up and move ahead with this new space that God has blessed us with - all to be used for His Glory and to see more lost kids reached with the life-changing message of His love.

God bless you. Enjoy your weekend.

For the kids,

John Richmond, Executive Director

CDYFC

Excel 2012 - Amazing Encounters with God

Dear Friends of YFC,

"Just got back from Excel 2012 and it was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. I've gotten so much closer to so many friends this weekend and more importantly, God. I want the people in my school to see what I've seen and to have the same feelings toward our creator as I do. Now a note to people I go to school with: This doesn't mean that I wont screw up at times, but I'm happy I have a clean slate. Yes I am a Jesus freak and I cant wait until next year at Excel:)"

This was just one Facebook posting from a student who attended this weekend's Excel 2012 high school conference in Saratoga Springs. Over and over, we've heard from students and youth leaders about the deep, life-changing encounters with God they experienced at Excel. During our student testimony time in the final session last night, one girl could not even speak about what she is facing in her life and how God is rescuing her. A friend of hers then got up and told the rest of the kids in attendance how important it is for friends to walk through their life and their faith together.

Here's what another girl wrote to us today, "Just had the most amazing weekend ever at excel and God has revealed to me that I have more gifts than I thought I did. Excel brought my whole youth group of 45 people plus youth leaders closer to Jesus Christ and I am so thankful for him allowing us all to be there and praise God."

Here's a photo of just part of the 1,000 kids and leaders at Excel during one of the worship times. We are so grateful to God for witnessing His work in countless lives throughout the weekend. We are also thankful for the highly gifted men and women God provided as our ministry team of speakers and artists.

Thank you so much for the incredible part that you play in this mission to reach every young person, one at a time with Jesus' love. Please know that our staff and volunteers value and cherish your prayers and your generous giving very much. Your partnership with us is vital as we move ahead to reach more kids, to impact more communities for Christ.

Thank you. God bless you.

For the kids,

John Richmond, Executive Director

CDYFC