On the way back from our TYFC Board retreat this past weekend I received an email from our YFC/USA President, Dan Wolgemuth, that made me both smile and “gulp”.  Here is an excerpt from that note:

Tacoma Board of Directors,

I understand that you are at your annual board retreat planning the future of the Tacoma YFC ministry.  When you pass your 2009/10 budget it is possible that it will be the largest chapter budget in the YFC/USA movement.  Tacoma YFC has been able to run counter the economic challenges and surge ahead with strong ministry growth.  I join you in giving God the glory for this incredible momentum.

First let me congratulate you.  We often press into the next challenge without adequately celebrating the Lord’s blessings.  So let me commend and thank you; as a board, to Bobby as the executive director, to your 48 staff, and the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of supporters who have a vision of reaching Tacoma.   Blessings to all of you.  You should know that I am writing this from our Summer Institute training conference in northern Indiana, where once again, your new bright staff stand out in God honoring and service oriented ways.

Second let me challenge you.  The eyes of 170 chapters across the country will be looking to Tacoma YFC to see what excellence looks like.  They will want to know how a board can balance some hard decisions while demonstrating love in each of those decisions.  They will want to know how a busy executive director can use his drive and God given gifts, yet have time to feed his soul and nurture his family.  They will want to know what excellence looks like in the handling of finances, employment, volunteer development, events, and most importantly in reaching lost young people.  So, now as one of the largest chapters in the movement, you are no longer leading only the Tacoma chapter, you are showing the way for all of us, including our YFC chapters across the country.  With humility, grace and courage I ask you to show us the way.  I will commit to pray for you as you do just that.

Having given you that challenge, let me also say, I know many of you on the board, I consider Bobby a dear friend, I have watched Tacoma staff such as Chrissy minister to kids like Air (I spoke specifically about that example tonight).  I have every confidence that you will honor the challenge and continue to make all of us proud to serve side by side.  And in the process you will continue to give God the glory that he deserves.

Thank you for your service.  May God overwhelm you with his presence, and empower you by his Spirit.

Soli Deo gloria.

Dan

Wow! I’ve since passed this note onto our TYFC Board (a fantastic group of men and women passionate about kids coming to Christ) as well as my Leadership Team and many of our donors.  With Dan Wolgemuth at the helm YFC/USA is a movement focused on God’s Word, the power of the Spirit working in kids lives and our greatest calling of seeking the Father. There is no better time than now to be a part of YFC!

I, as well as our staff, take this note seriously as it serves as a “call to action” to continue to do our best in reaching lost kids, collaborating with like-minded partners, honor our ministry partners (donors) in the stewardship of God’s resources, and always be on the lookout for creative ways to grow God’s Kingdom here in Pierce County.  Is there pressure with this note?  I’d be foolish to say “no”…of course, it’s a bit intimidating!  But I’m convinced that not only do we have the vision (”to have a noticeable spiritual impact on Pierce County by engaging young people in the life-long journey of following Jesus Christ”), the right staff and cutting edge ministry methodology, but most importantly we fully realize that all the credit and glory go to God the Father. It is his power at work in us that can do “immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20).

Let’s keep pressing on!

Bobby