Young Life

Jonny has been a part of Young Life for almost two years now, but just recently God has opened the door for Jonny to be more involved and take on the role called "teacher staff".  Its basically like a part time job that will take the place of his coaching jobs, and will allow him to spend more time discipling young kids.  Young Life is an outreach for unchurched kids.  It is not a youth group, nor is it associated with a church.  It was strange for us to get used to because the Monday night- club night- is so wild and crazy.  Its basically just provides a safe place for high school kids to come hang out- in an organized way.  They play lots of crazy games, sing songs, dance... mostly be LOUD!  The boys and I go usually twice a month and Eli loves it, Siah is somewhat okay, and Noah is velcroed to my side.  Zeke sleeps through most of it.  The kids that know the Lord participate in the events that have some actual scriptural substance to them.  Then, those kids are encouraged to invite their unsaved friends to attend club night where a very warm and fuzzy, watered down "Jesus talk" is given. 

Some of the opportunities Jonny has had with Young Life includes sharing the gospel at weekly Young Life meetings (club), leading bible studies in his classroom and at Wednesday night YL bible studies (campaigners), leading worship and taking kids to spiritual retreats.  I have also been attending the bible studies and am a "leader" for the girls when we break apart for discussion and prayer.  Its been really fun!  

Jonny has had it on his heart for a long time to start an all Cascade youth fellowship meeting- joining all the youth groups (and christian kids who don't attend youth groups) together for one night each month.  We had our first meeting, called One Voice, and it was awesome!  (funny story... our church used to have something similar, called One Voice, and when Jonny was explaining the idea he mentioned the name and the youth pastors loved it!)  75 kids came, and Jonny led loud worship with some students.  We broke apart into groups by grade.  I went with the junior girls... all 25 of 'em!  

We are also going to be inviting groups of kids into our house to join our family for pizza & game night.  Jonny has been meeting with three youth pastors in the Turner/Aumsville area and has a desire to work along side them and help kids get plugged into churches.  He might start taking turns attending their youth groups.  ALSO Jonny has it on his heart to develop a bible/theology/apologetics (Jonny's passions) course or courses that students from the high school can take during the school day at one of the churches for high school credit! The opportunities for reaching the students at Cascade High School are abounding! 

Since this ministry is becoming such a big part of our lives, I may be starting up a blog just for ministry related things... so people will know how to pray for us and be encouraged by all that God is doing in these kids' lives.  Tonight is a bible study night and Jonny is teaching on baptism and some of the kids will be getting baptized!  Then on Friday night we are each taking a car full of students to an awesome purity event, Pure Rebellion, our church is hosting.  The event will be a radical presentation on sex and relationships.  The presenters  will be sharing in a relevant and powerful way as they speak bluntly about porn, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases, addiction, bullying, same-sex relationships, sexting and suicide.  Steve & Tammy, the YL team leaders who we've grown to love, are also bringing cars full of kids!  Pray that these kids will be met by the Lord in a powerful way!

Here is a pic of one of the YL girls watching the boys for us at Steve & Tammy's house during a leader meeting.