What a Year!

Our Mr. Christmas Tree Contestants:  Seth, Patrick, Brady

We wrapped up 2015 with our epic Mr. Christmas Tree Club.  What a night!  I was reminded how great our students are, how willing they are to welcome others, have fun, be crazy, and seek truth.  Three of our senior guys put themselves on stage competing from Mr. Christmas Tree.  Each performing a "talent," formal wear, and then decking themselves as Christmas tree.  We laughed until we cried.  I love how humor breaks down walls and barriers allows us to be who we really are and be open to truth.  Landon then shared a message of truth of Emanuel, God is with us, and what that truly means.  That he is with us all year not just now and how incredible that is.

This semester I have seen kids fall in love with Jesus.  I have seen leaders give hours upon hours meeting with kids, sharing truth, and earning the right to be heard.  I have seen students who have never attended church walk through church doors and sit with their YL leader and YL friends week after week.  I have seen students who are on the outside of life feel on the inside with YL.  I have heard kid story after kid story of how they found Christ and real life through this ministry.  I have seen churches welcome us, support us, and encourage us.  I have seen kids want prayer and ask for help.  I have seen God at work and He is good.

I have seen community members, churches, and parents give time, prayer, and financial support to this ministry.  Thank you for making 2015 one for the books!  We invite you to join us as we move into another great year!

Giving to LS YL

Stop the Chatter

Last night was one of those YL Clubs we dream about.  A club where kids felt welcome, had fun, and heard truth.  A club that got me charged up and excited, passionate, and pulled.  A club that wouldn't let me sleep because I love my job and this ministry so much and the energy wouldn't stop pumping through my veins.  Jon Torgeson, one of our volunteer leaders, spoke such a relevant message to our students.  His main point was the voice we listen to determines the future you have.  That we have so much chatter around us.  People not believing in us, nay sayers, put downs, and our own voice we often hear saying, "I'm not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough..."  We stop the chatter by putting on the headphones.  Listening to the one who speaks truth   We listen to God through his word.  

We hear:  "I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."  Psalm 139:14

We hear Jesus saying:  "You did not choose me, but I chose you."  John 15:16

I can't think of anyone who needs to hear truth more than our students.  To put on headphones and hear the God of the universe say they are wonderfully made, they are chosen, they are known and loved.  It gets me chocked up just writing this.  My heart and my team's heart is to share this with students, to be there in the midst of their highs and lows, and point them to the source of life- Jesus Christ.  

 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,and have it to the full." John 10:10

Be a Tree

What a start we have had in LS YL.  Our first club we had around 180 students show up to have a party with a purpose.  I had the privilege of speaking.  I spoke from Luke 19:1-10 the story of Zacchaeus.  If you get a second read that passage YL is about this passage.  The story is of Zacchaeus an outcast, unloveable, and full of regret wanting to catch a glimpse of Jesus.  Jesus the one he has heard changes life and gives real life.  He gets shut out from the crowd and decides to climb a tree to see Jesus.  

I’m here to say we have YL so you can have fun, feel welcomed, and hear truth.  We are for everyone.  We wanna be a tree… a tree kids can climb to see Jesus.   We are not here only for good kids.  WE are here for everyone.  Those that party or those that don’t, those with secrets, those with pasts, those that are following Jesus, those that are curious and hiding in a tree.  Those who feel unloveable.  Those who lost who they are. 

Can I challenge you to be a tree with us?  Help others who feel unloveable catch a glimpse of the one who gives real life.  Not to judge and think they don’t deserve to be here or time or attn w God.  

First Club

We are also excited to announce that we are starting LS WyldLife.  For more info http://lswl.weebly.com/

Letting Kids Be Kids

Muckfest 2015

We had a blast at our annual kick-off event for LS Young Life- Muckfest.  Muckfest is really just an excuse to have a giant food fight.  This year we also donated canned goods to LS Social Services to help families in need.  Around 100 students came armed with whipped cream and their messy clothes to have a chance to be a kid again.  Over and over I find joy in providing a safe environment loaded with fun to allow kids to act their age.  Students are stressed and often forced to grow up too quickly.  I loved watching them run free, throw whipped cream, ramen, flour, and dance.  What a night!

Our team of leaders and myself are so excited for this school year.  We can't wait for students to come to club (a party with a purpose) and be a kid and hear truth.  Hear and begin to process that they are known and loved by the creator of the universe!

If you know any high school kids in LS area please invite them to join us.  And also look for our leaders in the midst of student sections going to where kids are.

YOU ARE INVITED TO YOUNG LIFE CLUB!  

We are inviting YOU (high school student) to join us on Tuesday nights @ 7:47pm this semester! We will be having Young Life Club @ Lee's Summit Community Church (LSCC). 
1440 SW Jefferson Street Lee's Summit, MO.  

If you have been to every Young Life or this will be your first time, we still want to see YOU on Tuesdays 7:47pm! So pack your cars with all your high school friends because it is guaranteed to be the best night of your week. Guaranteed. 

FALL 2015:  

Tuesday, Sept. 15th- FIRST YL CLUB OF THE YEAR!!
Tuesday, Sept. 22- CLUB
Tuesday, Sept. 29- DISNEY CLUB
Tuesday, Oct. 6- CLUB 
Tuesday, Oct. 13- CLUB 
WED, OCT. 21- YL LATE NIGHT @ FAULKNER'S RANCH-HALLOWEEN COSTUME CLUB
Tuesday, Oct. 27- YL HANG OUT @ Custard's Last Stand 7:47pm
Tuesday, Nov. 3- CLUB @
Tuesday, Nov. 10- BREAKFAST CLUB (wear your pjs)
Tuesday, Nov. 17- CLUB 
Tuesday, Nov. 24- TURKEY BOWL @ SUMMIT LANES- Entrance is $5 or to bring a Toy to donate to Toys for Tots
Tuesday, Dec. 1- Mr. Christmas Tree Club @ LSCC 7:47pm- UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER

HOME

Wow. We are home. What a great trip! It was full of life, adventure, truth, and relationships. The last club of the week students had a say so. A time to stand up and say if they began a relationship with Jesus. Hundreds of campers made a commitment to follow Jesus. 22 LS YL students were welcomed in to the family of Christ. It blew me away. I love how God moves, and stirs hearts, calls us by name, promises to never leave, and offers us real life. I love that I can see He is real by looking at the lives of these students. It was a bittersweet moment, a beautiful collision. At the exact moment students were announcing their new life, my 98 year old grandpa passed from this life. I was overwhelmed with peace. He is now with his maker for eternity. From beginning the trip finding out new life was growing inside me to ending the trip with my grandpa's life ending colliding with 22 new lives beginning...what a full week. God is good and He is faithful.


 YL doesn't just take kids to camp and send them home. We come home with them and do life with them. We walk beside them and point them to Jesus they best way we know how. We had 21 meals together around a table at camp as a family. We want to continue to remind students they are not alone. That Christ is with them and so are we.


 See our calendar for all high school students to stay a part of the YL Family. Parents, campers, students- please join us to hear more about LS YL and camp at our annual pool party Aug. 11th. See link for more info.
http://lsyl.weebly.com/

  See the pictures below of life, adventure, truth, and relationships. And a special treat a few students took the say so to social media... because the good news is too hard to keep in. God is good!

Karleena's social media- say so

Pool party in the mountains

The climb

Melissa's social media- say so.

Day 7

Today each student met one on one with their leader to talk about truth, share from their heart and pray. Many students said YES to beginning a relationship with Jesus! What a joy to see and watch students receive the good news. We will have one more club, one more family dinner and load the buses to head home. The best news is students go home with their friends and YL leaders. They will have an opportunity to stay connected and continue to share life.

Day 6

One more day!!!  What a great one.  Last night each student spent 15 minutes outside under the full moon and stars being still and knowing God is real.  What a gift to be still to not be distracted and be in His creation.  

Christmas in July

Ropes course

Bike Ride

Day 5

At camp kids experience many I nevers.  Today all of our students did one of those.  Each student hiked a mountain.  We have many mountains in our life that seem too big to summit.  We often give up and let the I never win,  But today the accomplished something that was hard, that took determination, and commitment. 

 

Day 4

Our days are filled of adventure and our nights of truth and connection.  Throughout the week our camp speaker, Nick, will share the best story ever.  The Gospel.  The story of Christ and His love and invitation.  What a joy to be with students as they continue to hear truth about God and share truth about their own life.  

Ridge Runners

Guys won the cabin reward- midnight hot tub with milkshakes

Day 3- Crooked Creek

What a day filled with fun, sun, mountain views, great food, bike rides, and adventure.  We are having a blast.  Tonight we will have club and a lot more surprises.  I love that we get to surprise kids each day with crazy treats and activities.  We have lost the art of surprise back home.  In our instant info culture we are connected and in the know.  Surprises back home are often not good ones.  So bringing back good surprises... what a treat to let kids be kids.  

Water Olympics

Mountain Bike Ride

Day 2

Day 2- Crooked Creek Ranch

We are having a blast.  Cannot believe that we have only been in the magical place for 24 hours.  Kids have laughed, played, ate incredible food family style, and my favorite been a kid.  It's such a joy to watch students be who they are and be kids.  

Volleyball Tourney

Rodeo fun

Hike

LS students at Volleyball Tourney

We Are Here!!

LS YL leader team

Bus Ride

Winter Park 

 We made it to Crooked Creek Ranch.  After a long bus ride and a few naps and movies we have arrived.  Crooked Creek is beautiful and kids right now are exploring camp.  Most of our girls hit the YL store in the first 30 minutes.  Now they are swimming, blobbing, rock climbing, playing frisbee and hanging out.  Tonight we will have our first epic club, share our first meal around a table together, and participate in some crazy obstacle course.  Stay tuned for more.

4 Days Away!

In 4 days a charter bus full of students from LSN, LSHS, LSW, and BSS will head to the mountains for a week of adventure and relationships.  Kids will get to be kids.  I know they have been counting down the days for this trip.  Buses will leave at 11:00pm Sat. July 25th from the Lee's Summit North Parking lot by the tennis courts.  The send of party has already been planning a tailgate, which makes me smile.  Each year previous campers, YL alumni, and friends meet to hang out and send off the new group.  This year, I believe, a tailgate is in the works.  Hope to see you there.  Whether you are a camper, parent, or alumni.

Finale

YL Seniors

Wow, what a finale.  Our last club was one of those moments you hope to see.  Moments where you are affirmed that your calling to share Jesus is validated.

Senior after senior got up on stage to take the mic.  To say what a difference YL has made in their life.  That camp truly is the best week of their life.  That their leader has been a huge influence and how good it has felt to be known and loved.  And how much they love the YL family.  But you know what was the best? Not the compliments to leaders, or myself, or the talk of YL family, or camp.  It was that seniors stood up front and proclaimed that they know Jesus.  That because of YL, camp, and the YL family they know Jesus and that relationship rescued them and continues to do so.  

Kids literally had to be asked to leave at the end of club.  They wouldn't go home.  They didn't want this to end.  They hugged, cried, and took pictures.  At 11pm I was still in the parking lot of club hanging with students who sat in the parking lot remembering their favorite moments refusing to close this chapter.  God is good!  Thank you for supporting this ministry and making a difference in the lives of kids.

Although, Club is over for the school year, YL is not over.  Our big YL Camp trip will be July 25- Aug 2.  We have a few spots left.   http://lsylcamp.weebly.com/  YL leaders will still pursue kids, have hang outs, and some small groups.  We will also be fundraising to sustain LS YL this summer with our annual Golf Tourney.  Please consider being a sponsor or a golfer.  http://lsylgolf.weebly.com/

I would like to especially thank our supporters.  YL is a nonprofit and needs financial support of the community. Those that donate their finances, time, prayers, and support we could not do this without you!  To my team of volunteer leaders:  I'm so proud of you living out the Gospel day in and day out and pointing kids to Jesus.  Thank you for being an incredible team!

Tracee

A Proud Parent Moment

A LS YL first to crowd surf at our All KC Metro YL Club @UMKC

Students from 8 areas come together as one big YL family.

I had a proud parent moment Monday, not with my adorable son but with the LS YL family.  We loaded 2 school buses to embark on our long lost tradition of a KC wide YL Club.  As we unloaded the buses and led the students into the lobby to wait.  I was beaming.  These are my people.  I love them.  They are full of questions, life, energy, hype, and pursuit of truth.  The doors opened for club to begin and as our tradition LS YL was there waiting at the door to make sure they raced in and go to stand front right of the stage.  That's our place... front right.  At camp our students poach outside the club doors to get our front right spot.  I love that our students always want to be as close as possible to Jesus, to John 10:10 life, to crazy games, to real fun, to the party with a purpose.  I love that our students were the first to crowd surf and turn the KC Metro Club into a party.  I love that when one of our own was on stage for a game she was asked her name and where she was from and LS YL kids cheered so loud that she couldn't even get out the words Lee's Summit and the leader of the game said, "You must be from Lee's Summit."  I love we have a reputation of being crazy, loud, fun, hyped, and also respectful, caring, and encouraging.  I love when a special needs student won a raffle prize LS YL kids went crazy for her.  I literally am crying writing this.  I love these kids and so do my leaders.  They are kids that are trying to live for God in a way that makes sense to them and trying to be a family to those around them.  I am such a proud mom of these kids.  I think of these seniors who will have their last club this next week.  I think of their character and its shaping over the last four years.  I think of their journeys with Jesus and their heartaches and healing.  Oh what a joy it is to know them.  They will go out from this family and meet new families.  Some will serve as Yl leaders in their college town, some will join a Bible study or lead one with kids in their dorm, some will step foot on the mission field this summer, but what I love is that LS YL kids leave a legacy and they always come home.  God is good.  

"How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ." Ephesians 1:4-5

Young Life=Family

Audrey speaking to a packed house at Younger Life Club

Lee’s Summit Young Life leaders and kids have been calling our community “family” for quite some time so we were more than thrilled to invite our “extended family” in on our amazing (not so) little secret the past few weeks.

March 31 – “Brothers and Sisters”
Two weeks ago we split the family up just slightly for a Girls/Guys Night Out at LSCC.  The boys met outside and did very manly things such as playing basketball and Frisbee before listening to an amazing guest speaker named Ruffin Bailey.  I’d love to share more but I wasn’t invited!

As for the girls, we held an “open mic night” as we like to call it it Young Life; this basically means the other leaders and I passed the
microphone to the kids and gave them a chance to share their hearts.  One by one the girls stood in front of their sisters and friends and talked about whatever they wanted to speak about.  These amazing and brave girls offered advice and encouragement, shared stories of what they have overcome and where they see Jesus in their lives; many simply wanted to say “thank you” to a friend, to a leader or to their “Young Life family”.  It was a beautiful night that far exceeded our expectations.  I believe that the over SEVENTY girls that showed up left feeling better apart of this family and encouraged by the many ways Jesus is ever-present in their lives.

April 7 – “Parents”
A week ago we invited our parents to club for “Old Life”.  It was incredible to stand at the front of the room and look out at all of that support (or stand in the middle of the dancing parents mixed in with their kids throughout the night). The night was full of energy and was topped off by a guest appearance from THE KC Wolf, Mr. Dan Meers, who also happens to be a parent of some of our Young Life kids.  Dan shared his wonderful story with us, including how one even becomes professional mascot; but most importantly he shared the perfect love of Jesus Christ.  (If you missed Old Life and don’t know Dan’s story, I encourage you to check out his book Wolves Can’t Fly, it really is an amazing story with an even better message.) Thank you, parents for being a part of that night, please come back anytime. 

April 14 – “YOUNGER Brothers and Sisters”
Finally, this past week we invited out younger brothers and sisters. Our goal was to share the night with our middle school family and I’d say we did. They mixed right in with their big brothers and sisters; in fact it was hard to even tell where most of them were except by their
size! The best part of the night was watching new leader, Audrey Copenhaver share the story of God’s messy, protective, tough, unconditional love through the story of her relationship with her late
father and a room full of 6th through 12th grade students learned that even through sadness, struggle, tough times and loss. #HisloveNEVERfails.

Thank you siblings, parents and students for Lee’s Summit Young Life and for allowing me to be part of the best day of my week, so many amazing lives and this incredible ministry.  I love this family.

Thanks to Jessica Burton for writing this post!

We All Need a Doctor

  I'm so thankful for a team of leaders who love students and love Jesus.  Last night one of our leaders Sam spoke truth from her heart, her story, and from Mark.  Check out some of her words here:  

Mark 2: 15-17

15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were religious leaders saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus is seen here eating with the “tax collectors and sinners” the tax collectors who were dishonest and greedy and the sinners who were people who disobeyed the things Jesus had taught. These were the outsiders. The others. The ones that didn’t follow the rules. Yet, Jesus chose to find friendship with them. Jesus chose to commune, hang out with and eat with those who weren’t what society said they should be. They weren’t the good people. How crazy is that?? Now, many of us are like the religious leaders and ask “but why would Jesus want to eat with the worst people? The people who are dishonest, the people who are outsiders?” and then Jesus tells us the most awesome thing. That he came for those who are sick, those who are the ones least like him.

He says “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” Jesus says, “I am a doctor, let me heal you” I mean, could he get any more clear about what his purpose is? He is here to save those who need him most. Those who are sick.

I don’t know about you, but I needed a doctor. I was sick. I was looking for approval in all the places that weren’t going to give that to me. And I feel like a lot of you are sick too. Are you also looking for approval in other people? Are you going to that party because you know then that boy will like you if you do? Are you turning to alcohol or drugs to fill that hole? Maybe you’re only focusing on the negatives of yourself, constantly finding your flaws, rather than finding positives....Maybe you’re greedy or dishonest like Levi. Maybe you put others down because it makes you feel better? Maybe you’re trying to please everyone by doing things you wouldn’t normally do...I’m not sure why you might be sick, but I have such good news. It doesn’t matter why you’re sick because Jesus is a doctor for all of those things. And he tells us that he’s here for us...those who are sick, outsiders, and alone.

It’s really humbling though to admit that we can’t do things on our own, that we need a doctor.  Many of you know I was in a pretty serious accident last year and it resulted in a broken back and some pretty messed up knees. I was pretty helpless. I couldn’t dress myself, I couldn’t drive, I couldn’t pick things up off the ground. I needed doctors, I needed my parents, and I needed my friends. Yet it was hard to admit that. It’s hard to admit that we aren’t capable of doing everything on our own. It’s hard to admit that we are helpless. And it is even harder, when we feel like others don't understand what we’re going through.

Jesus is our doctor. He is here to save us and to heal us. And he loves us regardless of what our past is. But some people don’t know that about him. So what is almost as important as realizing he loves us regardless, is that he calls us to love each other the same way.  He came to save us, to love us even though we are sick and the outsiders and we have his love regardless of what we’ve done. It’s hard and humbling to admit that we’re sick. I know. But once we get that, we have to know that others are feeling the same way. So we are called to love the outsiders too. To love those that are different, or don’t have what we have, or those who even have done us wrong.  


Parents, teachers, church leaders, middle school students- Please join us for these two special clubs:
April 7th OLD LIFE CLUB @LSCC 7:47pm (Bring your parent to club!)  Guest speaker- Dan Meers- KC Wolf
 
April 14th YOUNGER LIFE CLUB @LSCC 7:47pm (Middle school parents and students invited!) 

I Don't Understand God Sometimes

Last night students piled into our club room and we had a blast.  Dancing, singing, games, skits, and a message of truth.  This week we wrapped up our talk series- Questions students have about God.
We had a panel of leaders attempt to answer hard questions about God using truth from the Bible and truth from their own stories.  What a night.  What we have learned as leaders through this series is it is okay to say, "I don't know."  To also know that God is big enough for us to question him.  That it's okay to not understand God sometimes but life with him is worth it.  We closed our night with an incredible video that sums up all of this so well. 

Check it out:
I Don't Understand God Sometimes

I also want to personally invite you to attend a club and come and see what we are all about.  Try attending one or both of these dates.  Old Life will be a club where students invite their parents to observe YL Club, Dan Meers (KC Wolf will be giving the talk).  Younger Life will be a night were middle school students are invited to join us as well as any parents who are interested. 

April 7th OLD LIFE CLUB @LSCC 7:47pm (Bring your parent to club!)  Guest speaker- Dan Meers- KC Wolf
 
April 14th YOUNGER LIFE CLUB @LSCC 7:47pm-9:30pm  (Middle school parents and students invited!)

Big Questions

This semester we are in a series at YL Club attempting to answer hard questions students have about God.  Let me say this is difficult.  We are not God.  However, God is providing words, stories, and truth through the scriptures to guide us.  Last night I focused on the question:  Does God answer prayer?  I learn so much about who God is by stories, of my own life and the lives of others.  I shared the story of my back and power prayer being answered in that healing.  Along with the passage in Luke 18 of the persistent widow.  Also shared an incredible story of a former YL kid of mine and graduate of LSHS.  Check out her story here:  http://vimeo.com/64567340 Joanna also answered questions in an interview.   I asked her does God answer prayer?  Read her response below:

"That is a question I have asked myself many many times. Absolutely. Do I believe that it looks the way we want it to? Not usually. Wouldn't that be amazing if everything we asked to be taken away would do just leave? We have become a people of instant gratification. We don't see past the outcome that we have romanticized in our minds. But what we don't see is that the world is full of darkness and disease and sickness is outside of our Father. We wont be able to know why or how it all works bc we are not God."

Joanna's tumor has not grown in 3 years.  She is living for Jesus in a way that I find incredibly inspiring.

There was so much more shared.  I think kids walked away knowing that YES, God answers prayers but not always the way we think or expect.  We know that He listens.  He carries our heavy burdens.  He promises us to never leave.  He is beside us.  There is no wrong way to pray.  We can simply talk to God.  Ask, thank, listen, be still, pray for others, or even say sorry.  Prayer is powerful.

1 John 5:14 

This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he HEARS us. 

Family

I've spent some time praying and asking God what is the word you have for me this new year and this new semester.  Over and over  again I think of the word family.  I think of my life and my family.  I think of my son and husband and how much joy it is to call them my family.  I think of the delight it is to "share" them with others, to have YL alumni or leaders come around our table and eat with us, laugh at Otto throwing food with us, share conversations with us.  I feel God pushing me more to welcome in others into our own family.

If you ask YL students currently in LS what they love about YL they say it's...family.  I love that.  We want to be a place where the outsider feels like an insider.  Where students are welcomed into a family and feel wanted and accepted as they are.  Where they can discover at their own pace who they are and who Jesus is.  The verse that echos in my head daily is:
                                  
Psalm 68:6 God sets the lonely into families. 

I love our LS YL leader team.  I love our family meal before club where we fellowship together, laugh hard, and pray over our time with kids.  It is rich and full of goodness.  Each week there seems to be someone new who has wandered in and wants to be at the meal, who wants to be on the leader team, who wants to be in the family.  I'm thankful for those people.  We will continue to be a family to one another and offer the YL family to students.  We are glad to have kicked of this semester as a family. 

YL Leader Family (plus some YL friends :)