Archive for February, 2010

My wife and I just returned from a great time away visiting friends in Germany and a necessary part of each day was our hotel wake up call. Transitioning from West Coast time to Heidelberg time was difficult and there were several nights that we simply couldn’t fall asleep til early the next morning, so the friendly wake up call was the only obstacle to us sleeping the entire next day.

The importance of this technology reminded me of a conversation continue

At Youth for Christ we believe that every child deserves a permanent family. First and foremost we believe in the restoration of families, but when restoration can not take place, we seek out permanency through our foster-to-adopt families. In 2009, YFC assisted in giving 24 foster children permanency and a “forever family” through adoption. In a system where children can have multiple placements and may languish in foster care for years, these 24 children now have a place to call home.

I recently finished reading an amazing book on adoption called “Adopted for Life” by Russell Moore. The book describes Moore’s experience with adopting two boys from Russia and the emotions and hardships that came along with the adoption process. While international adoption is very different from foster care adoption, the information in the book is very applicable to those who are interested in adoption through the foster care system. One of my favorite parts of Moore’s book is a section where he talks about life after adoption as well as how all believers have experienced adoption because Christians are adopted by God through Christ! Let me share with you what Moore says:

“Some unique challenges go along with adoption-challenges related to finding a sense of belonging, to discipline and discipleship, to answering questions about origins. Count these as all joy. They point all of us- not just kids who are adopted- to the gospel. The gospel welcomes us and receives us as loved children…the gospel shows us that we were born into death and then shows us, by free grace, that we’re adopted for life.”

This book is worth reading if you have thought about adopting a child or know someone who has adopted!
-Ciara Spacone

Proverbs from a Restored Youth
Airfeaira Nelson, City Life-Sozo

Every day I get a “devotional” from Airfeira texted to my phone (usually around midnight). Air is one of our youth that has undergone probably the most radical transformation. She now works with me at the REACH Youth Services building, where she was given an AmeriCorp position to do youth outreach (even the secular world recognizes her evangelistic DNA). I love her text devos, and wanted to share snippets with you…
-Doug Jonson, City Life-Sozo

FEBRUARY 2010

At times you may not feel complete. But I got the answer. All you need is Jesus Christ. No weapon formed against you will prosper. He loves you!

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Everyone wants to be loved and find themselves searching for love in all the wrong things. In the end you’re still so lost and confused wanting that same someone that would never stand you. “Why?” is what you ask yourself. Jesus said that His love is unconditional. Jesus said He loved us when we didn’t love ourselves. He will never hurt us nor leave our side even if we hate Him. He died for our sins. That’s real love.

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It’s hard to forgive someone who betrayed you–especially someone you called a friend. It’s hard to forgive a parent that’s not doing its job. It’s hard to trust someone when you’ve been hurt all your life. Jesus said, “Forgive and He shall forgive you. The world says, “Don’t trust no one and you will not get hurt.” I’ve come to realize that by not forgiving you’re only hurting yourself. You’re letting the next get the best of you. Who do you gotta forgive?

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Faith is sure of what we hope for and certain of what we don’t see. Life gets hard, but take your eyes off the moment and put them on the future.

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05 J.C. Saved Me 1

Kids in foster care have to adjust to a whole new set of rules, routines, and sometimes culture when they change homes.  They struggle with feeling accepted, longing for their birth parents, and learning to heal from the hurts they’ve experienced.  The foster parents at Youth For Christ do an amazing job of loving these kids right where they are at and helping to propel them forward in every area of development.  They also do whatever they can to make their kids feel special and a part of the family for as long or short of a time that they are there.

 I would like to highlight one of my families who have really devoted their past 8 months to helping two of these kids.  This family capitalizes on the strength of their foster kids and let them shine in the areas where they are strong.   They have special movie nights, play dates, and cooking times.  Every night, these girls will dance in the living room with their foster dad, as it is their favorite activity.    They love being “princesses” and have a chest full of play clothes.  One special evening, their foster mom bought the girls and the foster dad tickets to a “Father-Daughter Dance.”  These girls were able to dress like princesses, dance all night, and be accompanied by their “dad.”  There is a scripture that says, “The lonely will be healed in families.”  I believe this is true.

 Katie Bass

Lately I’ve been wrestling with the word “every”. You see, “every” is a word held dearly by YFC ministries across the country and, for that matter, around the world. To our YFC family it signifies our call to reach every kind of kid in every situation, engaging them in the life long journey of following Jesus Christ.  On it’s own, the word is inspiring and a call to excellence. In light of real numbers, it’s overwhelming, daunting and faith stretching.

Here in Pierce County alone there are over 70,000 11-18 year olds, YFC’s primary target audience.  If we run the numbers of those kids that Tacoma YFC is reaching continue

Open the floodgates, alert the media…Tacoma YFC staff are on the Twitter prowl!  This morning at our monthly All Staff Tacoma YFC meeting at the Tillicum Youth & Family Center I talked about the importance, and opportunity, of increasing “mission awareness” (thank you Mike Olson…also known as @viaticum on Twitter) through the use of Twitter. So, I encouraged our staff to try it out and sign up. Last week I “required” our Core Ministry Leaders continue

Last Thursday night  I had the privilege of speaking at the Eastern Oregon YFC fundraising banquet in LaGrande, Oregon. A quick flight to Walla Walla and then a great drive with my friend, Tim Gleeson, to their home in LaGrande. When we arrived at the banquet location that evening I was amazed to see continue