Reaching Fewer Teens is Frustrating

Doesn't our YFC Staff team look friendly and approachable in our masks? … No? …. I didn’t think so.

Ministry to lost teens got harder when the world shut down. When “mask-free and face-to-face” with teens, our 100+ Ministry Leaders and staff are good at sharing Jesus with teens who aren’t following Him.

But isolation and social-distancing makes initiating new relationships of trust quite difficult. And if we only reach 1 or 2 lost teens, that can be discouraging.

This morning on our YFC/USA prayer call, President Dan Wolgemuth described a car ride to the airport decades ago, with his mom and sister, to pick up his dad. Sam Wolgemuth was returning from India where he had preached about Jesus. He arrived home discouraged that only one young person followed Jesus.

Sam had prepared well. He had travelled thousands of miles. He had sacrificed much, including family time and safety. But somehow in all his faithful efforts, God had only drawn one teen into the Kingdom. Sometimes we wonder if our efforts are worth it.

Only later did Sam learn that the person who came forward that night was a teen named Ravi. You may have heard of Ravi Zacharias. As I type, Ravi is very close to death and a promotion into God’s presence.

Ravi impacted many, through serving Jesus, declaring God’s greatness, and moving hearts toward God.

Only “one” came forward that night in India. And Jesus loves EACH one. And some of those “ones” end up multiplying dramatically.

Please continue praying for lost teens. With creativity, energy, love and faithfulness, we will keep telling the Greatest Story Ever Told!

Ministry changes. God doesn’t.

Campus Life has looked a little different the last couple of months! Our Club meetings every Thursday morning at the CEC Library have been replaced with an IVC Middle School Campus Life Zoom Call every Thursday at 5 p.m.! Conversations with CEC Administration are now over email or phone. Things look and feel very different, but the good news?

Ministry changes. God doesn’t. 

Ministry has taken on a new mantra. “Replace, not cancel.” That spoke hope and excitement into the dreary reality of the day-to-day. But then YFC Camp was canceled. Now we are faced with the challenge of ACTUALLY replacing camp with something engaging and awesome, while also using wisdom to navigate the difficulties this season has caused.

Ministry changes. God doesn’t. 

Building a strong and independent leader team has been one of my favorite parts of this role. Pouring into people who have an honest desire to pour into students. Seeking them out for a cup of coffee, spending time talking about their lives, their faith, their ministry …  getting to brainstorm together about new ways to reach lost teens, is the most exciting part of my week! Now, it’s a conversation over text message, via FaceTime or Zoom, on the other end of a phone. 

Ministry changes. God doesn’t. 

Our YFC staff used to meet Wednesday at 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. We’d study God’s Word, enjoy joyful camaraderie, and learn. Being able to spend time with incredible leaders in youth ministry was a highlight of my week. Now, we meet via Zoom, at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Friday. It’s different, but we’re still studying the Word, and enjoying the time we are lucky enough to spend together! 

Ministry changes. God doesn’t.

If I’ve learned anything in the last couple of months, it’s that nothing is certain, and things are ever-changing, but the peace I have knowing that God is constant and unmoving really shifts how I look at those transitions. Things can be crazy and unpredictable, but God is good. 

Please join us in prayer for our ministry as it changes and adjusts, and help us know that God doesn’t.

Indigenous

When’s the last time you heard someone use that word? If it’s not what you say after a sneeze, what is it?

indigenous - originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.

So why do I think you should care about the word indigenous? It’s the word I use many times as I describe our Campus Life leader team. Did you know that 7 of the 11 leaders are former Campus Life students? They are leaders who started in Campus Life as students, went to college, and then returned to be leaders. Why? They want to love teens toward Jesus like they were back in the day. This takes into account the “originating…” part of the definition. Indigenous leadership is a sign of a healthy ministry ….. disciples who made disciples who come back to make more disciples! 

But, something really cool happened in 2019. We’ve tweaked the term of indigenous leaders a bit this last semester. Instead of it referring to students who come back to lead, we now have a team of leaders who are still IVC students, the “…occurring naturally….” part of the definition.

These are high school student leaders who not only lead by example with their peers, but who are actively leading our middle school CEC Campus Life students! We now have disciples making disciples who are making disciples in real time!

1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Pray right now for this indigenous AND growing team of incredible teenagers!

Rick & Meg

What’s Good? What’s Bad?

When a year ends and a new one begins, I reflect.  And more so with a new decade. In the past few weeks, I’ve considered reasons to celebrate … and hardships that knocked us off balance.

Some Good …

Carol and I attended City Life’s formal. The servers are above. They are young people who met Jesus and are being discipled for God’s Glory!

More Good …

• YFC donors provided a strong December, so that instead of a growing deficit, we are back on track.

• Metamora Campus Life Center lead by Chris Genders opened! More opportunities to point teens to Jesus.

• Andrew Held completed an assignment of Interim Director of Western Avenue Community Center. We love collaborating with WACC.

• 3 of us attended YFC Institute in Denver. Caiti, Meg & Bryan returned with full hearts and trained hands.

• New Board member Mike Citchens, owns Smo-king Pit in Northwoods Mall. Try GREAT brisket and thank Mike!

• Karen Snyder retired and Stephanie Gareau is our new bookkeeper! Well done Karen! Welcome Stephanie.

Some Bad …

• One of our City Life teens was arrested for a significant crime a few days ago. We are heart broken.

• Ryan & Lauren Anderson’s little guy, Jet, landed in the hospital with RSV and bacterial infection. Ouch. Sad.

• My mom is struggling greatly. We appreciate prayer.

• Computers glitch. Conflict happens. We sin. Teens walk away. We get discouraged. I Peter 5:8 is true.

More Good …

• We are committed to meeting far more new teens this semester. I pray for 100’s. Pray for success. Acts 26:18.

• We are also committed to finding more Ministry Leaders through creative and intentional asking. Maybe you’d like to invest in teens and have a ton-of-fun along the way. Let me know! Matthew 9:38.

• YOU. I’m thankful YOU read our letters. I’m thankful for EACH ONE who invests financially. I’m thankful for the prayers of MANY, that teens would hear, consider, understand, and follow Jesus Christ. Phillipians 1:3

Look up the verses noted. We are striving to obey the words of Jesus Christ!

Can we talk?

“Mr. Genders…I heard you are a Youth Pastor. Is that true? Can we talk?”  I was recently substitute teaching at MTHS when a student I didn’t know asked me these questions. I was in the school to teach Geometry & Algebra for a few weeks, but it seems like God had additional plans for my time. I had chosen to “dwell among” students for a brief period of time, and God chose to use my presence for his purpose. Imagine if Metamora YFC had a plethora of leaders on-mission in places where students already gather - classrooms, sports teams, extracurricular activities, special events, etc.?

Jesus tells us that “the harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” (Matthew 9:37-38) Metamora Youth for Christ is seeing more people join our team as Ministry Leaders. These are men and women who work on the frontline with students sharing the love of God through Authentic Christ-Sharing Relationships. They are staffing the Center after school. They are running Campus Life and leading Bible studies. They are coordinating service projects. They are attending games, concerts and special events with students. 

We are seeing an increase in the number of leaders, but we are also seeing a greater harvest field than ever before. Students are desperately seeking purpose and community. We need more leaders who will “dwell among” students and be available when students have tough questions. 

Would you join me in praying for more workers for the harvest? Or maybe you don’t need to pray; maybe you are that worker. If the ministry of YFC intrigues you, send me a message at  (309) 573-5175 or cgenders@yfcpa.org to discuss your next-steps!

Chris Genders

Breathe

Over the week of New Years, we had a scare.  Our three year old, Jet, wasn’t feeling well. A day later, we noticed he was struggling to breathe and was clearly in rough shape. A doctor’s office visit sent us straight to the hospital. Jet was immediately put on oxygen and an IV, then hooked up to all sorts of monitors. A bad case of RSV and bacterial pneumonia put us in the hospital for the next six days. 

I was so relieved when they put my little buddy on oxygen. His struggle to breathe was brutal and I figured as soon as he was on oxygen, he’d breathe easier. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case - he continued to struggle. 

Our walk with God is similar.  The teens we work with are similar. When we say yes to following Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters us… the breath of life enters us. Just like I thought there would be an immediate change when Jet put on that oxygen mask, we expect an immediate change in the students we work with (or in ourselves). We think the struggle will end when the breath of life enters us. Typically that just isn’t the case. 

I’ve seen countless students say yes to following Jesus only to continue to struggle. The sin continues, the pain lingers, and the mess remains.  BUT, there is progress.

With each day that passed, Jet was able to breath easier. The nurses periodically turned down his oxygen until he was breathing “room air.” Progress! As students follow Jesus, we see progress. We see things that once consumed them begin to fade. We see them breathe in the love of Jesus until it starts to seem like second nature. They move forward, nearer to The Father.

May we never take a breath without being fully aware of the One who gives us that breath in the first place. Thanks for partnering with us to help teens breathe in new life. Your prayers and funds are life-giving!

THANKFUL

Revelation 3:20 reads, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” 

When I was young it was normal to have neighbors at our dinner table. Everyone tried their best to look after everyone else because that is what we were taught to do. Even the old ladies who sat on their porch all day, and told your family the bad things you did before you got home, were only looking out for the neighborhood. I am so thankful for all the people who cared about my family growing up because I know what a strong neighborhood can do to nurture a young person.

Today people have lost the meaning of the environment and how important those relationships are. Most have separated NEIGHBOR and HOOD, which has confused the young people, where all they know is “The Hood.” Where I’m the only one that matters , and being from the HOOD means I make my own rules. Most people won’t answer a knock at the door if they don’t know you. Getting into the house to eat at their table is really out of the question.  

Thank God that most of the leaders on the City Life team know what a healthy neighborhood looks like and the love and peace that comes with answering the knock at the door. We get the opportunity to share with the teens how good the food is when Jesus comes to visit. Not because how good we cook but because the presence of God makes everything sweeter. We thank God for allowing us to build Christ-centered relationships with the teens in these environments. 

City Life is building with trips, meals, and new experiences, and most importantly daily life in the streets of the Hood, modeling what neighbors look and sound like. Hopefully our voice is the voice of Jesus, and not only their doors but their hearts open to invite Him in. Thank you so much for the love and support that makes this possible! As we try to put NEIGHBOR and HOOD back together, be sure the meal on the table is the Bread of Life.  

Guess Who’s coming to Dinner?

Revelation 3:20 reads, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” 

When I was young it was normal to have neighbors at our dinner table. Everyone tried their best to look after everyone else because that is what we were taught to do. Even the old ladies who sat on their porch all day, and told your family the bad things you did before you got home, were only looking out for the neighborhood. I am so thankful for all the people who cared about my family growing up because I know what a strong neighborhood can do to nurture a young person.

Today people have lost the meaning of the environment and how important those relationships are. Most have separated NEIGHBOR and HOOD, which has confused the young people, where all they know is “The Hood.” Where I’m the only one that matters , and being from the HOOD means I make my own rules. Most people won’t answer a knock at the door if they don’t know you. Getting into the house to eat at their table is really out of the question.  

Thank God that most of the leaders on the City Life team know what a healthy neighborhood looks like and the love and peace that comes with answering the knock at the door. We get the opportunity to share with the teens how good the food is when Jesus comes to visit. Not because how good we cook but because the presence of God makes everything sweeter. We thank God for allowing us to build Christ-centered relationships with the teens in these environments. 

City Life is building with trips, meals, and new experiences, and most importantly daily life in the streets of the Hood, modeling what neighbors look and sound like. Hopefully our voice is the voice of Jesus, and not only their doors but their hearts open to invite Him in. Thank you so much for the love and support that makes this possible! As we try to put NEIGHBOR and HOOD back together, be sure the meal on the table is the Bread of Life.