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

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

I just returned from an afternoon in Tillicum–lunch at Gertie’s with my friend, Chuck Remsberg, and then a quick visit to the new Youth & Family Center.  It’s hard to believe that just over 3 years ago this continue

Last week I had the privilege of being among 90 YFC leaders from across the nation to gather in Denver for our three day YFC/USA Leadership Summit.  There were representatives from each Core Ministry of YFC: City Life, Friend to Friend, Campus Life, Juvenile Justice and Teen Parents along with teams from YFCamp, Project Serve, and Executive Directors (the group I joined).  For 3 days we discussed continue

Why does YFC exist?  What purpose do we play in the overall picture?  What is the “heart” of our mission?

YFC/USA President Dan Wolgemuth presents the Heart of YFC well in this video (click here to watch the video) that shares our national vision statement along with real life examples of why/how we collaborate with others, why/how we empower adults, share biblical truth, enlist others to pray and build relationships with young people.

After 18 years, I’m as excited and humbled as ever to be a part of this mission to reach young people with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.  Press on!

This past Sunday I was with Trinity Church of Pierce County, that great body of believers located just next to REI with the sign “Jesus Cares for You”.  They are fantastic ministry partners with Tacoma YFC, always willing to jump into the ministry with us, help with Parenting Workshops, host our Foster Care monthly support dinner, financially bless YFC…and so much more.

I felt as though I was a family member coming home–greeted at the door with a hug and handshake, pulled aside to be prayed over and encouraged endlessly.  Pastor Rollie Simmons continue

Last Sunday night Dwayne Parker and the SOZO Soljaz held a special CD release party at the Vault in downtown Tacoma.  The SOZO Soljaz is a group of young people involved in our City Life ministry who are using their God given musical talents to praise God and tell others of how He rescued them.  What’s especially unique is continue

These are the words in the song “Change Ur Life” as sung by Devan, Shondell and Lacario, three of our SOZO Soljaz (”soldiers” in hip hop), performed on the new CD, SOZO Soljaz, Chapter 2: Deliverance.  I’m amazed at the talent of these young people, all of whom have come out of gang life and are discovering music as a gift from God.  Here’s the background: this summer Tacoma YFC brought 50 inner city young people to continue