August News

Wow, we can't believe summer is almost over. We hope your summer has been enjoyable for you and that you have gotten some summer adventures in. We have done the family picnic at great Grandma G's and tenting in the backyard. We hope you have had some good lazy summer moments as well. Flower picking around the neighborhood has been the popular choice for the girls. Now I am giving Maureen one of those lazy moments by doing the composing.

I wanted to follow Maureen's example and share a little about myself, and how youth ministry has become such a desire for me. A lot of it originates from what I went through in my early teens. When I think back on those years, there were several phrases that I heard every day of school. "Loser", "Worthless", & "Who would want you" were the common ones I heard from my classmates and other teens. It didn't help that my parents were just starting a new business that required a lot of their time to make it successful. This went on for almost three years. During this time there were a few people who took some extra time for me and challenged the lies that were being spoken into my life. I found acceptance and that I didn't have to hate who I was. God used these people and my family to show me how He viewed me. That I wasn't a mistake, I was fearfully and wonderfully made as it is so beautifully worded in Psalm 139:14.

Unfortunately a young teen having to face immense pressure and verbal abuse is nothing new. In fact maybe it is even more common. Maybe that would explain why in Ireland binge drinking among teens is one of the highest of any European countries or that one of the leading cause of deaths for young men 15 and older is suicide. The divorce rate going up 70% in four years hasn't made things any easier for these teens. I know Maureen & I can't fix these issues. However we know Someone who can. We pray that as we strive in Him, we will be able to bring the hope that is Christ in to the lives of the teens that we come in contact with. For those who hear that they are "worthless" & "unwanted", that we would be able to speak His truth to them as we stand beside them. That together through your partnership & prayers young Irish lives will experience God's love at a time when they will need it most.

Prayer Requests

: Please pray for the new YFC youth center in Bray, Ireland that is nearing completion: For financial partners who would join the ministry and for youth workers and volunteers to keep it running so that youth from the local housing estates' would have a safe place to hang out and experience God's love first hand.

: Please pray for the Galway Steering committee as they continue to prepare for us to move to Galway. Seven area pastors and youth workers have helped to form our leadership committee. Many of these work full time on top of their pastoral responsibilities. They have an important role in helping us understand the culture as well giving wisdom as to the direction YFC Galway should go.

: We would appreciate prayer for healing as I recover from a 25 foot fall from a house a couple of weeks ago. For the swelling and stiffness to go down in my left leg. Praise God there were no broken bones and that was the worst of my injuries.

: We would appreciate prayer for travel as I go to N Ireland for youth-worker training from August 30th - September 20th. And for grace as this will be the longest time that I have been away from the family...oh, and Maureen is due with baby 3 on September 25...

: We would appreciate your praying with us for monthly partners. For 50 more sponsors at $50 a month to help us to move to Ireland this year.