 Tuesday,
July 9, 2002
Summer Prayer Letter # 8
KIDS CLUB June
24-July 5
thank
you for praying so faithfully for these two weeks ...
We experienced God's unconditional love this Kids
Club. If you have a minute today, read Ezekiel 34. It is a
favorite passage of ours, describing our Lord who shepherds his
people with devotion and persevering love. It
is a passage that describes the God who goes out to find the lost,
broken, wounded, and weak and bring them to a safe place. When you
prayed for us, you prayed that we might be like this, so that the
children and youth in this community might know the love of
God. The battle was great ... I suppose our enemy had other
intentions than seeing many of these rescued. Yet, many were
brought to a safe place...
About
490 kids
showed up at The Neighborhood Center. Many fell in
love with Jesus for the first time ... many remembered how to walk
in their new life, and practiced it.
You prayed
for these 490 kids -- for their salvation, for
spiritual breakthroughs, for healing, hope and empowerment. God
heard you and many received these precious gifts. One second
grader, who asked Jesus into her heart, went home to her
neighborhood, gathered the children together all around her and
explained what she had learned at Kids Club. One fifth grader can
be seen in our neighborhood, leading many, a little like a pied
piper, leading by his convictions. At Kids Club he was outstanding,
standing as protector to a handicapped youth, making it known to all
in the class that he had his back. This fifth grader is already
practicing so much of what is being taught here.
70 urban and suburban young adults and teens
gave their lives away serving the Lord and kids. You
prayed
for unity on the team and daily strength. God heard you. One
leader remarked when Kids Club was over that in this world, racial
reconciliation is so hard to find. Yet, on this team, a group of
young women formed, one from South Central L.A., one from the wealth
of Orange County, one from South Central Phoenix and one from
Paradise Valley ... these four laughed, prayed, played and suffered
together. They come from such opposite life experiences, you could
say they were from different planets. Yet, on this work crew,
African American, Latino, Native American, and anglo-suburban young
people all lived and worked together, finding unity and joy in
serving Christ as one body. Kids Club is worth doing, if only for
these young people to find that it is possible to live the Christ
life like this.
-
I heard of one young leader who said that they finally understand
what GRACE means
-
I watched one young home grown leader realize why so much has been
invested in her, as she gave and gave and gave to the children she
was now investing in
-
I listened to developing leaders convicted of weaknesses,
understanding the power of prayer, witnessing God working in their
families, humble, weary and finding strength
-
I marveled at these leaders stepping up, doing the impossible,
standing underneath the weight, being responsible for adult sized
tasks, and really and truly loving others
-
I cried when I heard truth and conviction coming out of young
people who understood things they had never grasped before
For me,
there is nothing like watching the growth taking place in these
leaders. I think, sometimes, it is the reason we do this.
The lives that have been changed are many.
Your diligence and kindness that leads you to pray on our behalf is
bearing fruit.
Pray for some rest as we are gearing up for a few more summer
events.
Your intercession is bringing us
through it.
Upcoming
Ministry
I
Can Do It Trips
-- July 11-15 (camping in Arizona), July 14-19 (Denver), July 25-30
(Chicago)
Senior High
trip to Kino Bay, Mexico --
July 15-20
Kids Camp,
Mountain Meadows --
July 21-26
While we rest a
bit this week, will you pray with us for the energy and vision we
need to finish this summer with joy.
Remember those summer staff and interns who are trying to figure out
pacing as they realize we are still looking ahead to some great
moments.
God Bless you,
Kit |
