We wanted to
say "thank you" to the community. We've been in our facility in
Halfmoon for three years. Town officials, neighbors, local businesses
and patrons at the Edge have been so gracious to us as we continued to
expand and renovate. Last Saturday, it was time to give back.
You likely saw some form of advertising for YFC's Free Fun Day @ The Edge.
Everything here was free: indoor rock climbing, the outdoor high ropes
course, GaGa Ball, food, the gymnasium. From the start, it was an
amazing time. The Lord gave us one of the most beautiful fall days I've
seen in years. Bright sunshine and plenty of warmth with a slight
breeze.
In the week leading up to the Free Fun Day, our staff and
volunteers worked tirelessly to get our facility ready. When we opened
the doors Saturday afternoon, the crowds began to pour in. We had set
aside climbing time slots at the Edge and on the ropes course. Both
filled up within the first hour and a half. There was an exciting and
festive atmosphere throughout the day.
Our kitchen staff gave out
smoothies, snacks and the very special Christi's Cafe' House Blend of
coffee non-stop. YFC staff not only ran the various game and climbing
areas, but had many opportunities to talk with our guests, to share the
story behind the bricks and mortar. Families brought their children,
youth groups came from all around. When all was done, over 500 came
through our doors - many for the first time.
One of our staff
told me that their new next door neighbors stopped by to check things
out. While the climbing spots were already full by mid-afternoon, they
took a tour, grabbed some snacks and promised to come back and climb at
the Edge. So many guests told us how impressed they were with the
Adventure Center and that they, too, would come back soon to do it
again.
I have to thank our business sponsor for the day, Simmons
Capital Group, for backing this outreach to our community. Their
partnership allowed us to provide everything for free and at the same
time not have a huge bill waiting for us at the end.
If you were
one of our guests last Saturday, THANK YOU for making the day an
incredible success. We were constantly fascinated with how many came
through our doors and with the enthusiasm everyone showed for our
facility. If you did not make it to the Free Fun Day, there is another
opportunity for you to see not only the Adventure Center, but to hear
about Youth for Christ's ministry.
On Saturday and
Sunday, November 1 & 2, our Annual Banquets will take place,
focusing on our mission of bringing the light of Jesus Christ to lost
kids. If you would like to be our guest at one of the banquets, please
let us know by clicking on the banquet button to the right. The banquets
are part of the Grand Opening & Dedication Weekend for Christi's Light of Mine
Cafe', named in memory of my late wife Chris. Information on the Grand
Opening itself is a just a click away on the button to the right.
Thank
you so much for standing with us to reach kids for Christ! We are
constantly amazed, grateful and inspired by your partnership with us.
The room was
silent. Kids shifted in their chairs, but no one seemed to want to
share as the Point Break program wound down. In one of the small
groups, a boy stood up. He was wearing a slick name-brand track suit
with his hair carefully in place. But something was bothering him - you
could see the emotion already stirring in his eyes.
He pointed
to a boy across the room in the community center and called him out by
name. That boy was dressed in what you might consider stereotypical
'farm boy' clothes. The track suit boy, a high school freshman, then
began to apologize to the boy across the room. He admitted that he had
bullied the farm boy for years, picked on him, called him names, abused
him. As he spoke, the tears flowed.
Then he made a confession - one no one probably thought was coming. He said that he bullied the farm boy because...that was HIS true identity as well. The boy in the track suit also lived on a farm...but he wanted so bady for years not
to be known as a farm boy. He had taken on a different look, a
different personality just so other kids would think differently about
him.
With that confession and apology made, the boy in the track
suit sat down, weeping, shaking and pulling his hood over his head.
Then, from across the room, the farm boy stood up. Tall, lanky and with
a deep voice, he sauntered over to the boy who had been his bully, whom
he likely avoided as often as he could in the school hallways. The
farm boy did one simple thing - he stood next to the boy in the track
suit and put his hand on his shoulder. Few words were spoken, but few
were needed.
That one act spoke volumes - forgiveness, grace,
understanding. For a boy who hid his real self for years behind a mask,
there was releif. For the boy who had been the subject of years of
bullying, there was an opportunity for an act of mercy. Both boys left
that day experiencing a change that will stick with them for life.
While
our Point Break anti-bullying programs are faith-neutral, we see over
and over how love, forgiveness and hope can deeply affect kids who
participate. As our staff and other volunteers work alongside these kids
for a day, they communicate the love and light of Jesus through their
actions and attitudes.
The changes are stunning. The
confessions, from students and teachers, are often deeply moving. The
impact on a school is widespread.
We are so grateful to the Lord
for the many schools we'll be bringing Point Break to this year. We're
thankful that several have allowed us in for multiple years, making an
impact on an entire high school culture!
Please pray for our
Point Break facilitators and volunteers as they will present to four
different schools just in October alone. Please pray for the remaining
details to be worked out for other districts who want to bring in the
program. Thank you.
You'll notice that there are a number of web
links posted on the side of this email - October is a very full month
for us! Please take the time to visit each of these event's web pages
and find out what YFC is offering.
As I mentioned in our last
e-note, be sure to mark Friday, October 31st on your calendar. We'll be
holding our Grand Opening and Dedication of Christi's Light of Mine Cafe' from 11:30am - 2:00pm.
On
Saturday and Sunday, November 1 & 2, our Annual Banquets will take
place here at the YFC Adventure Center, continuing the theme of being a
light to lost kids. If you would like to be our guest at one of the
banquets, please let us know by clicking on the banquet button to the
right.
