The Normal-ness of Church

At Youth Group, Jamaal (alias), who is one of our long time regulars was sitting near me and Chuck asked, "What are some of God's promises?" Jamaal's hand shot up, and he rattled off a couple.  Just a little background, Jamaal is in eighth grade, is basically an orphan, attempted suicide a few years ago, and has a really rough life.  I'm always impressed when he can make it through the evening in control of himself and avoiding trouble.  Well, that Tuesday was a good night for him.

So, I was already feeling proud that Jamaal was having a good night and knew a couple of the promises of God, but then it got even better. He turned to a new guy who was there for the first time and said with equal measures of shock and disbelief: "You've never been to Church before?!?!" I was blown away! To think that a Native kid from the Reservation would see Church as normal and be confused that there are those out there who haven't been to Church is mind boggling.

It's great to see the impact Youth Group, Kids Club, and Church are having on kids like Jamaal and others who haven't known a day when there wasn't a Church and Church people that love them, and most of all, that there's a God who loves them, protects them, watches over them, provides for them, is a brother, is a Father, and is a Savior to them.

Tiny House

For the past two years, I've lived in this RV: 

It's been an ok place, but is a little too cold in the winter (and an eyesore).  We need to keep someone here on the Church property to keep an eye on things, and because of county codes, we can't build another permanent structure, so here's the plan: 

The plan is to build a Tiny House, a small cabin on top of a 8x20 Trailer.  Because it's on wheels, it won't be covered by Yakima County Codes.  I need to raise $10,000 to buy a flatbed trailer and supplies (wood, door, electrical, windows, etc).  This fall, I'll be building the cabin and adding a small bathroom, kitchen, and living area (you sleep in the loft).  The Tiny House will belong to the Church, and I'll be staying in it, kind of like a manse/parsonage.  Please pray about making a donation to make this happen.  To donate, send a check to Sacred Road Ministries PO Box 400 Harrah, WA 98933.

The Eyes of Faith

(I changed the girl’s name to Laura for anonymity)

During Kid’s Club, a girl named Laura, ran up to one of the team leaders and said, “Hey I remember you, you were here last year!” And then she excitedly said, “I also remember the Bible Verse!” The previous year, that team had the kids work on memorizing one Bible verse throughout the week, and everyone who remembered it (and those who couldn’t) received a small gift at the end of the week.  Laura had memorized the verse but missed the last day and also missed out on the gift, BUT she had still remembered the verse.  A year later, and God’s word was still imprinted on her mind.  It’s one of those stories that sticks with you, that gives you hope for Laura; hope that God’s working in her heart, that no matter what happens to her and what we see, God has put His word in her heart and it will have an impact.  Maybe not right away, but soon, and we hope and we pray Laura will remain in Church and keep growing in faith. 

It’s a great story, like many we’ve held onto and maybe told supporters.  It’s the kernel of faith we hold out for the lost and desperate child.  It’s also a story that happened six years ago when I was a summer Intern.  Since then, Laura remained part of youth group and a discipleship group for two or three years.  For the past three years, she’s been nearly completely absent from Youth Group or Church.  And over the past four years, Laura has lived a rough life.  She used to be regularly involved in Church and Youth Group, but over the past four years, she has been partying with a bad crowd, was in several major car wrecks, has been involved in several fights, and last year was in a fight that left her brain damaged.  To hear her family story and her story from those that know her is neither encouraging nor hopeful. 

So anyway, this past Tuesday, Laura came to Youth Group! It’s an exceedingly small thing, but it gave me great joy to see her and great hope for her.  You see, I had kind of forgotten about her, thinking things like: “We tried and it didn’t work,” “She’s just too far gone,” or “We have enough regular kids to worry about.” But when I saw her Tuesday, I was reminded: “There’s still hope for her!” “God has not forgotten her.” “God might be working still.” All things that are obvious and basics of the faith, but things we must be reminded of and things that are crucial to working out here.

Over a typical year, we interact with hundreds of children and teenagers.  Some come every Sunday.  Some strike us in a certain way and we remember them and their signs of faith.  But many, in fact very many of the kids we have, disappear: they move (often abruptly and with little notice), become less interested, start running with gangsters, start drinking and drugging, and “fall away.” But maybe after a year, or five, we bump into them again, and I think the question is: Will we see them as God sees them: a beloved child with a mountain of baggage and trouble, someone crowned with glory and honor, broken by the fall and in need of eyes that communicate love and hope and not judgment and disappointment.  Will our eyes show the welcoming love of God?

We do not know the final story or where “our” kids will land.  Some will come to faith now and be leaders in the Church.  Others will come to faith now but fall away for a time.  Others will come to faith in twenty or forty years, after a lifetime of heartache.  And there will be some who will never come to faith.  We do not know how it ends, but we do know how we are called to act! Jesus calls us to “stop doubting and believe!” He calls us to step out in faith, hoping God’s promises are true for this one in front of us.  This one who comes, again wearing the same dirty clothes and a dirty face.  This one who is ashamed of how she’s been living.  This one who is a wanna be gangster.  And this one, who’s had everyone in their life say: “You’re less than nothing and there’s no hope and it’s too late for you, so just throw in the towel.” If His blood can make the foulest clean. His blood availed for me, then there’s hope for Laura and dozens like her.  Pray that God gives us the eyes to see those in need and the faith to believe in His promises for the lost.  And thanks be to God who give us little moments that remind us what faith looks like in the midst of a broken situation.  

Art Day

For me, the highlight of the month was the art day.  We had about 35 children and 10 teenagers.  We also had all our staff and 11 Volunteers which helped make the day go very smoothly.  I noticed early on that ALL the kids we had were calm.  Everyone was going with the program, there were ZERO meltdowns, and everyone was having fun, and just enjoying themselves. It was great!  We had 45 kids from White Swan doing art for 4 hours without any incident.  As an aside, pretty much every Sunday, there’s a kid or several who has trouble going with the program, but on Art Day, everything went smoothly.  

Some of us spoke afterwards, that we may have given a false impression to the volunteers.  The kids struggle to regulate their emotions, with following directions, with interacting with adults, with completing tasks, in feeling successful, and are often emotionally “fragile.”  But for four hours, they had fun, successfully completed projects, and were able to just be kids having fun making art.  Maybe next time the volunteers come, they’ll see a different side to the kids, but that’s ok.  Empowering the kids, building relationships, deepening trust, and giving them little moments of success go a long way towards helping them heal and pointing them to Christ.

 Woodworking:

Drawing Cartoons:

Painting:

Dancing: 

Carlisle Indian Industrial School

Wendell Lee and I went to Carlilse Indian Industrial School. Here are some pictures.

Jim Thorpe Went to Carlisle.  Here's a portrait and statue (with an oddly shaped head)

Jim Thorpe Gymnasium (built by Indian children):

Indian teenagers exercising in the Gym:

Old Carlisle Uniform:

The Hessian Powder Magazine (During the Indian School days, it was the jail for "unruly" children; think about that.  A Jail.  For children):

Sample jail cell: 

Students in front of Captain Pratt's house:

 The Pratt house today:

The cemetery:

Herding Cats

We have D Groups (Discipleship Groups) every Thursday and it often feels like herding cats when I have all 6 of my guys.  As soon as we arrive and the van doors roll open, they scatter and I can sometimes get frustrated tracking them down and trying to keep them on task.  So, when we thought up the idea to have the D Groups build "fair-style" games for our Open House, I was understandably worried that my D Group guys would crash and burn in royal style.

But I was pleasantly surprised over the past four weeks as we planned a game, built it, and painted it.  They worked hard, stayed on task, and did a great job creating our game, and did an even better job leading the game and making it fun for the kids.  We had our open house last night and it was a huge success.  For every game played, the kids would receive tickets and then turn those tickets in to spin the Prize Wheel and win either: candy, t-shirts, toy cars, kids jewelry, art supplies, stuffed animals, or a small toys.  Not only did everyone have lots of fun and it was safe, but we were all REALLY proud of the youth! They led all the games (with smiles and fun) and were eager to help and lead. It makes it easier for us as a staff to pull off a big event like this, but it also is a good sign of future leadership and ownership.  It's also the result of emphasizing for so many years that at Church, we serve and help each other. And the Open House night was nothing like herding cats!

The Prize Wheel:

 Eating an Apple on a String (I won! And it's very hard)

The Fishin Hole:

Smiles:

Cotton Candy!!!

Pumpkin Chucking (Basically A Pumpkin Catapult)

(Note - the pictures are from Felicia Tillequots and Heather German - thanks!)

2013/2014

“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.” 1 Corinthians 1:27

January is a time to look forward and back, and here are some of the highlights from the last year:

• Some of our teenagers are growing older and leading small groups with the children on Sunday and doing superb!  They do an infinitely better job than I and truly love the children like family. 
• We added an additional Kid’s Club this last summer and had combined record turnout at our four locations!
• The Church building is almost done and hundreds of people volunteered to get it finished! It was amazing to see so many people from so many different Churches contribute to a Church for White Swan.
• We had some great special events for the kids last year: A Sledding Day and two Art Days, all of which were hugely successful and beloved by the children.
• We’ve had forty-one people sign up to sponsor our children.  Not all have come through with their pledge yet, but many have and are committed to and praying for children here in White Swan!
• The eighth and ninth graders stepped up in a huge way this summer! They did a great job working at the Church building and I was so proud of them at Kid’s Club.  These guys who grew up coming to Kid’s Club are now playing with the little ones and loving them like Christ.
• The Lord continues to use small things build His kingdom!  It’s mind boggling to see how God uses sidewalk chalk, jump rope, bubbles, food, hanging out, playing games, broken and fearful leaders, and simple Bible stories to build faith and followers of Christ.  I don’t’ understand how we have so many people eager to be part of the Church, but it’s all due to Christ and His mercy.

 Things I’m looking forward to in 2014:

• We’re going to actually be in our own Church building (hopefully in March)! It’s really exciting to think of all the new ministry opportunities and chances to share Christ.  Here are few:
• We’ll have more time with the kids on Sunday.
• We won’t have to cancel Church because facilities are double booked.
• More special events at the building.
• A larger after school program (and an after school program for the youth)
• And a summer day camp (it’s coming, if not this year, then next)
• I’m wrapping up the licensure process.  I’m taking the second test next week, and shooting for the third and final written test by the end of February.  My goal is to go to the next Presbytery meeting in May and be approved. 
• I’m excited to see what God’s going to do with the Youth Discipleship Groups as we have 10-15 youth ready to add into new Groups!
• More children coming on Sunday as Jesse Dempsen gets his CDL and drives a bus, expanding our outreach! 

There’s a lot of great things happening right now and it’s due in large part to your faithful giving and prayers.  Thanks from the bottom of my heart and may God richly reward you this year!