Graduations and Weddings!!

...we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head...(Ephesians 4:15)

 

Friends,

 

It's the season for GRADUATIONS AND WEDDINGS, our Young Life family, included!  

 

In the picture on the left--our very first YoungLives girl, Emely, and her daughter, Martiza, at Emely's high school graduation! Emely beat the odds as Christina, Sarah Ann, and Lee kept loving on her and pointing her to relationship with the God who loves her like crazy.

 

On the right--Emily and Tyler, Young Life/YLCollege leaders, dancing at their wedding on Saturday. They are just one of FIVE NWA Young Life leader couples getting married this year. What's more--most of these 10 young men and women actually met Jesus through Young Life when they were in high school!

 

We are also excited about our college graduates moving into the business world, recognizing that as the place God wants to use them. And we are thrilled that 3 graduates are going on full-time Young Life staff--Megan as camp staff at Young Life's Southwind property in Florida, Christine as our full-time administrator, and Amy as Young Life College International staff in Germany.

 

Please pray...

 

...that Emely and our other high school graduates will continue in their journey with Jesus. Many will stay involved with us through Young Life College, some to become volunteer leaders while others are still trying to figure out what relationship wtih Jesus means.

 

...for our newlyweds, that they would represent the love Christ has for the church to a watching world and would continue to be mission-minded Christ-followers.

 

...for all our college graduates to "grow up in all aspects into him who is the head," wherever God calls them to be.

 

Thank you for being part of this beautiful journey!

God's Peace,

 

Robyn Stutts, Area Director 

Big Week Ahead!

This is a significant week! There are two important events for which we would ask you to join us in prayer.

 

First of all, on Sunday, April 27, we will place 15-20 new Young Life volunteer leaders! Please pray for us as we spend almost every night this week interviewing the 20 candidates who have been in YL New Leader Traning class all semester. We interview them to assure both them and us as staff of their calling to Young Life leadership, as well as to determine on which of our now NINE ministry teams to place them.

 

And secondly, Tuesday, April 22, is the official Groundbreaking for the premier Young Life camp about to be built on Table Rock Lake. Having a Young Life camp in our part of the world is a gamechanger for our ministry, with more opportunities to take kids to camp, while providing better use of our finances and resources. $10 million has already been raised--please pray for the additional $5million needed to complete the project. I hope you have a few minutes to check out the link to the video below--Northwest Arkansas is one of the featured Young Life areas!

http://vimeo.com/89748979 

Mid-Semester Encouragements

The last two weekends, we've had the privilege of attending both Leader Weekend and Campaigner Weekend. Both were incredible opportunities to fellowship in rich community, encourage, cast vision, and get away and rejuvenate!

We took about 60 leaders from Northwest Arkansas down to Little Rock to meet the rest of the leaders from around the state of Arkansas for Leader Weekend. It was a time to meet, share ideas and struggles, and learn from leaders in other areas doing the same things we are. It was such an encouragement to know we're not alone!

We also had the honor of hearing from our regional director and a guest speaker. Both encouraged us to be "congruent," being self-aware and understanding our deepest hurts, so that we can move forward.

This past weekend, we took 53 leaders and high schoolers to Campaigner Weekend! We had the opportunity to pour into our campaigner kids and give them a vision for what Young Life can do in their schools. It was a chance to encourage them to be a part of something bigger than themselves!

These two encouraging weekends came at a great time. As we approach the middle of the semester, it's easy for our students to get burnt out and stressed with school. Both Leader Weekend and Campaigner Weekend were good encouragements!