A Bus Ministry

A fleet of 34 buses?  An average of 600 riders each Sunday?  A history of 50 years of offering bus transportation?  This Dallas-area church seems to take bus ministry seriously!

And...then they bus in children and families for a Carnival Sunday every year.

Kids Club Rally

 

"Ro the Ref" led an exciting Rally for Kids Club yesterday evening.

 

 

The evening had a contest theme, with boys competing against the girls.  In preparation for the Super Bowl (you know...just in case the teams need some last minute players), Ro organized a throw-the-football-through-the-hula-hoop game.

 

 

Then there was a Kool-Aid chugging contest. 

 

 

And intense Bible trivia to review some of the past lessons!

 

 

The girls finally pulled ahead to beat the boys -- by one point. 

 

Finally, here is a video of some energetic Kids Club singing.  Towards the end, you can see one of the older boys go up to the front to try to "straighten out" one of the younger boys.  This older boy has taken it upon himself to be the Get-Up-and-Sing ambassador for the boys' side, and he's usually successful in encouraging the sluggish ones to get up and sing.

Teen Night 1.23.15

"What is your view of your father?  And how does that affect how you view God as a Father?"

 

That was part of Caleb's message to teens on Friday evening, as he shared with them about God wanting to be their Father.  Like a good earthly father, God gives us good gifts when we ask Him (Matthew 7:9).  He also welcomes the lost child home (Luke 15).

 

 

Earlier in the day, at my job at a nursing home, there was a man next door actively dying (an interesting way to describe it medically, isn't it?), and his daughter was at his bedside.  A few visitors went in and out; someone from a church came to comfort and say the 23rd Psalm.

 

I couldn't help but remember when I lost my dad, although it was in quite different circumstances.  I needed the reminder about the care and presence of my Heavenly Father on Friday evening, and I'm thankful that God worked through Caleb to speak it.

 

It's sad that a lot of youth we interact with don't really seem to have a concept -- good or bad -- of what a father is like because a lot are being raised with an absent (sometimes even unknown) father.  Some families are quite large, with children sharing the same mother, but having 3 or 4 different fathers.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

One of the Teen Night activities involved painting.  Here are some creative masks, canvases, and photo frames in the works!

Make it an....auction weekend!

A BBQ meal?
Toe-tappin' bluegrass music by the Hudson Family?

If your first thought is "Sign me up..." then make plans now to join us for Auction Weekend festivities that will kick off on Friday evening, March 6.  The meal and entertainment will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., all on a donation basis.  Select auction items will also be available for a "Buy It Now" price.

 

Now on to Saturday, March 7...

 

Something brand-new is this:

 

Vendor space for local artists and crafters is still available (more information here).  You can browse booths between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

 

Saturday's events also include the main feature -- a Live Auction (beginning at 9 a.m.) -- Silent Auction, Bake Sale, Lunch Concessions, Garden Shoppe, and Book Sale.  The auction is truly a "something for everyone" type of sale, with offerings ranging from furniture and home décor to specialty meats and cheeses, gift certificates, and quilts and comforters.

 

As we prepare for Auction Weekend 2015, may I ask for your help in some specific ways?

 

1.  PRAY

- For good weather, as this is an outdoor event.

- For adequate volunteers, great auction weekend attendance, and generous bidders.

- For auction details to come together smoothly.

- For God to be glorified through this event.

 

2. SPREAD THE WORD

- Invite a friend --or five! -- to the auction.

- Encourage someone to participate in our Arts and Crafts Fair (if they register early enough, the registration fee may be waived!).

 

3. DONATE ITEMS OR SERVICES

- Suggestions include quality furniture, antiques, glassware, home or yard décor, gift certificates, or gift baskets.

- Valley-wide pick up is available by calling 602-462-1987.

 

4. VOLUNTEER

- Friday evening or Saturday volunteers are needed, with various shifts and positions available.

- Make cookies, breads, pies, or some other delight for our Bake Sale.

Spare Parts

I'll begin with a disclaimer.  This is not a "Christian" film, nor have I seen the film.

However, Focus on the Family's Plugged In has given it a favorable review.  The movie Spare Parts is based on a true story that happened right here in Phoenix, about 5-ish miles west of Aim Right at Carl Hayden High School.

It's about inner-city Latino kids who take on MIT and other schools of that caliber in an underwater robotics competition.  And they apparently do well enough that a movie was made about their efforts.



Despite the "largeness" of Phoenix, I've met a fair number of kids who are living in a small world.  Even a ride in your car is a treat for them; they can spend 4 minutes just talking about the numbers changing on the speedometer.

There's a 3-mile radius that they know quite well -- school, the corner store, and a few other places.  The Grand Canyon?  It might as well be in Japan or some far-off place, because they've never been there, nor do their families have any plans to visit there.

Someone donated a grocery gift card at Christmastime for a specific family, and when I went to deliver the card, the Mom was shocked and overjoyed, but also confused.  In Spanish, she asked, "But how do I use it?"  It was apparent that this gift card was likely the first she'd ever received.

Being a part of an esteemed robotics team must have been pretty special for those kids from Carl Hayden.  It certainly expanded their world and provided unique opportunities for them.

At Aim Right, we have often planned special outings or activities during kids' school breaks; groups of kids may visit a museum, hike a mountain, or tour a chocolate factory.  This is in the context of building relationships with youth and sharing Christ with them as we share life with them.  And, at the same time, their world expands a bit more!

First Teen Night and Kids Club of 2015

The past week has felt a little like the first week of school, when you're a returning student.   Some things are new, some things are the same, and some things are quite different.  At the downtown campus, we're still getting our bearings since we're at that "intern-less" stage.

 

God graciously gave us a good start to this new year of programs, though, and I think the kids have even been extra gracious, knowing that we're still settling into a new routine.

 

Caleb delivered the Word to a crowded room of teens on Friday night.

 

 

Learning about life in Christ.

He's not sucking his thumb, but rather enjoying some finger-lickin'-good nachos and hot dogs!

 

For additional photos of Teen Night, visit our Facebook page.  A special treat was a visit from former intern Andrea Stoltzfus, who now lives in Pennsylvania.

 

And now onto Kids Club...

 

Chalk art is a fun activity to do while you wait for Kids Club to begin.

 

Ro is back!  We are so thankful that Ro and Lourdes are now assisting with Kids Club.

Caleb, Stephanie, and Madison are the new song leaders.

 

I didn't mean to create a funky photo, but a few clicks in Picasa resulted in this, and it seemed fitting that it should stay that way.  This is how Kids Club "jumps into the light."

Celebrating a Life

A person I presume to be the pastor is dressed in army attire.  He opens the "service" with words that I can't understand.  A brief switch to English informs me that "you may not be used to this, but this is what she would want.  She loved to dance."

The pastor dons a guitar, as does another camo-clad man.  A drummer and a vocalist round out the ensemble.  The music begins -- all in Spanish -- and lyrics are briefly on the large screen, until videos and pictures of the girl we've all come to remember begin to roll through instead.

The songs are all unfamiliar to me, and the music is somewhat mariachi band-like, but at some point, I know we are singing about Jesus, and about the resurrection.  Young girls wearing beautiful white gowns with red sashes twirl and wave flags near the front.  Perhaps this is the kind of dancing the one who now lies so still used to do when she worshipped?

I begin to notice other sounds in addition to the singing and the band onstage.  A woman dressed just like the girls, in a flowing white gown and a red sash, waves a tambourine in the front row.  From the far corner, someone blows a shofar occasionally.

A boy a few rows up looks back and catches my eye.  I know him from Kids Club.  All the seats in this tiny house church are full.  Some latecomers arrive with flowers and take them to the front, lovingly placing them near the casket and hugging family members. 

The music continues.  I believe we have been singing a variety of songs, but there has been no break in between them; the guitarist simply keeps strumming, and then they launch into another.  A woman comes down the middle aisle again with a box of tissues, offering them to those who may need a fresh supply.

The girls at the front twirl and dance and sign.  I keep looking at the screen playing pictures and videos.  I see a video of her in a white gown, obviously at church.  Was it her baptism Sunday?  Then I see her at another service, bald-headed, in the front row, swaying and twirling.  It is almost like she is with us at this worship service now, this celebration of her 11-year-old life.  My eyes well up. 

The ravages of chemotherapy and cancer could not stop her from praising Him.  And here, in this moment, we praise Him, too. 

 

Beautiful Natalie will be missed.

Note:  Natalie attended our Kids Club for several years and passed away last week.  The 11-year-old had leukemia.  After an extended period away from Kids Club due to infection precautions, she was able to come to our last Kids Club of 2014.  I remember her friend beaming and excitedly saying, "Look who's here!" 

Thank You, God, for...

• 71 degrees.

Yes, yes, yes.

It's a lemonade and flip-flops kind of day.

Did the President come to give a speech...or to get warm?

 

 

• Lists with names of teens to visit.

With interns coordinating visitation for well over a year,

it's now time for us long-term'ers to resume the task.

 

There are two ways to view visitation:

Is it 20 stops to make?

Or 20 opportunities to take?

 

When viewed as the latter, it's much more rewarding, and your spirit is in a much better place

to pray and praise about what you see and hear.  (from personal experience)

 

• Indigenous leadership.

At a Kids Club staff meeting yesterday evening, I looked around the table and realized this:

 

There are more!  More local, born-and-raised-in-this-neighborhood leaders than those that are not from here.  And one of those leaders prayed, "Help the kids we teach become the next leaders."  Let's keep passing the baton.

 

2 Months from Today...

Aim Right's 20th Annual Benefit Auction will be held on Saturday, March 7.  Donations have already begun to arrive, and we're so thankful for the generosity of individuals, churches, and businesses who have made this long-running fundraiser a success.

The auction might not be exactly like it was twenty years ago, since auction offerings have diversified through the years.  While beautiful quilts and comforters from Mennonite communities across the U.S. are still a central feature, buyers whose closets can't handle any more linens can still support Aim Right by purchasing antiques, furniture, gift baskets, or simply a plant from the Garden Shoppe or a loaf of bread from the Bake Sale.

For more information about the upcoming auction, visit our auction website.  You can preview auction items there, with new items added weekly.

If you have auction items to donate, please call our office at (602) 462-1987, and we will be happy to coordinate a time for you to drop off your items or arrange for someone to pick up your items.