This week I sat in on an amazing conversation with one of our staff missionaries who was communicating her vocational and spiritual journey to a 14 year old girl and her father. I was so encouraged by her story and her passion. It was one of how God in His grace had protected her relationship with Christ as she journeyed through her turbulent teenage years and through college and how she ended up in full time missionary service where she gets to live out her passion vocationally and her passion for God.

It was an amazing “discipleship moment” where God used this staff member’s testimony to shed significant light on some of the challenges this teenager would be facing as she travelled down the road of her vocational journey while staying fully committed to Jesus Christ. This teenager left even better equipped to be a life-long follower of Jesus.

That afternoon I got to taste some of what happens every day in the lives of teenagers who are involved in our many programs. For most of them, the conversations are helping teenagers understand for the very first time, the incredible love of God and how He wants to be a part of their lives.

I received a letter from someone who attended the banquet, expressing how thrilled they were to discover that at the heart of YFC and the many recreational and needs based programs, was a passion for these teenagers to find faith in Christ. I’m glad they made that connection, because that is central to why we do what we do. YFC is making a difference in the lives of thousands of teenagers. Correction – God is making a difference in the lives of teenagers. We get to be part of it – and so do you – our partners – where together we introduce youth to the greatest message they could ever hear – “a Saviour is born – Christ the Lord”.

Hundreds of teenagers celebrated their very first Christmas as a Christian because you, along with others, have joined with us in taking them the good news. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas season.

Faith is sometimes expressed in word, in prayer and in song. Sometimes, it is found in a well-timed pass to a sprinting halfback.

A growing number of Christians understand that sports can be a powerful tool for character development and it can also be a gateway to a deeper exploration of faith.

YFC runs a variety of sports and recreation programs for youth across the city. You can open up a spiritual conversation on a hike much easier than you can get an unchurched teenager to walk into a Bible study or a worship service. It’s not threatening.

For many teenagers, YFC’s recreational programs are as close as they have been to a church. We like the idea of somebody who is unchurched getting involved on a YFC sports team, having a good experience and thinking ‘maybe Christians aren’t all that bad.’

Tempers can fly. Young people can get really competitive and aggressive. But the competition fosters relationships between players and provides opportunities for a caring adult to mentor the teenager. One of the best ways we develop relationships with young people is by doing things together like playing football. It is this type of emotional support that can lead to faith formation.

Sports and spirituality are natural partners. There are parallels everywhere between faith and sports. Commitment, training, teamwork - there are a million ways you can take sports and make the connection to spiritual fitness.

At YFC, we build in a faith component — often as simple as a short devotional or opening prayer. We don’t want to be just another rec league. We have a higher purpose, sometimes it leads to an opportunity to share the Gospel. Sometimes it leads to an opportunity to invite them to open their lives to Jesus Christ.

We had a wonderful successful banquet with 1100 in attendance. We raised $90,000 in total, $45,000 for staff support and $45,000 for general operations. We had budgeted $50,000 for operations. While a little short on that end, we are thrilled to see God taking care of us.

We celebrated the gift of a new trailer that was donated. It was a great gift as we are constantly transporting camp luggage, program equipment and materials for our many programs. This is going save a lot of wear and tear on staff vehicles and mini-vans that were never meant to be trucks. Thank you Mr. Donor!!

We also received a gift of gym equipment that met a very specific need.

We have had a number of very encouraging surprise gifts from individuals who felt spiritually prompted to send in a gift. Our greatest challenge financially is our year-end appeal where we traditionally need to receive adequate funds to help through the most difficult months of January to March. Pray for God’s provision to our year-end appeal.

Our next event is scheduled for June 2008 - check back here closer to the time for more details.

 

Youth for Christ Winnipeg has several projects currently undergo.

More information to follow soon