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.