Phoenix Talent Campus Life

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to give you a quick update on the good things that are happening at Phoenix Campus Life. There is always plenty going on but here are a couple of the highlights:

YFC Staff Retreat

Every year we take off for a few days as a staff to do things like team building and vision-casting. All the good stuff that makes for a healthy organization. This year’s retreat was an exceptional one. Last year we saw a lot of changes from within our chapter of Youth For Christ so the need for a fresh vision and the path to achieve that vision was important. Without wasting your time on all the gory details, I will say that I am very excited about the years ahead and the direction in which Rogue Valley Youth For Christ is headed. God used that time to speak to me both individually and through the group. You may not see the changes in the way we run a club or day-to-day operations but our foundation continues to solidify and the results will show. Good things are afoot!

Jr. High Club

Last Thursday saw the largest club of the year so far. We had 31 kids in our little youth center! The place was bouncing! God continues to draw new kids to Phoenix Campus Life and they bring their friends. We went to the park and played on the merry-go-round. We played Capture the Flag. We had a great discussion time about our purpose in life. The kids engaged and were full of great questions. We talked about summer plans for Campus Life. There is a lot of excitement about movie night and camp. We played everyone’s favorite game, the “trash can game” where we all join hands around the trashcan and then try to get someone else to touch the trash can by pulling them into it. The kids had a great time. I can’t wait for next week!

High School Club

High School club was the most unique experience that I have had at a Campus Life Club ever! We played games and that was fine, but discussion time…that was awesome! God showed up! He always does, but not always in this way. I had guest speakers come and talk to the group. The speakers talked about their experiences of God’s power and His love. You could see in the kids’ eyes that their attention had been captured and that God was speaking directly to their hearts. We started to pray for the kids individually and as we did awesome things happened! Three kids got healed right there on the spot. One kid’s mom got healed when he asked us to pray for her. Afterwards we all went out for coffee and I asked the kids about what God had done. Many of them saw visions. A couple (ones who I would have thought were the most in need) experienced a peace that they had never experienced before! WOW! Most of these kids are not born again, but Friday night opened a few eyes and planted seeds for God’s kingdom that won’t soon be forgotten.

Thanks for reading. God bless you and have a great evening

Isaiah

Hello,

It’s been a fun week. I get to see work in all the little things and the big things. I am happy to report good news about Phoenix/Talent Campus Life.:

Last night’s Jr. High Club.

What a great time! Rambunctious kids who play every game hard, then stop to listen and discuss God’s Word, then play harder make as leader’s job easy. It hailed buckets of hail during club. The kids loved it! We went out side and swished around getting soaking wet. Then came back in and tug-of-war with an inner tube (you’d have to be there). There was 25 people in a little room, soaking wet, having a great time.

Then we celebrated a birthday. There was shouting the birthday song and moon pie cakes, noise makers and presents. Everything a birthday should be.

After the party, we circled up for discussion time. One of the volunteers at club, Jeremy, gave a heartfelt reflection on last weeks talk. Last weeks talk was on leadership, being a good leader and a responsible follower. Jeremy explained how Jesus was who he wanted to be his leader. The authenticity was real. The kids could feel it. I know that last night they saw an example of an honest student/follower of Jesus. Again, God is at work!

We closed out the night with clean up and capture the flag…in the hail.

Road Clean-up

This Saturday the Jr. High club will be joining forces with the Rotary Club of Quail Point to Clean up a stretch of Fern Valley Road in Phoenix. The Clean up lasts from 9am-11am. It is great for us to get out into the community. I talk in bunches about how happiness isn’t something that is achieved by chasing it for yourself, but is instead found when you live a life built on the well-being of others. This is one small way that we can begin to live that sort of life. In that way, I am convinced that These community service projects are a major building block in achieving the four goals of Campus Life. Those goals are growth mentally, physically, socially and spiritually. A big thank you to Rotary of Quail Point for letting have a part in their service project.

Tuesday Night Basketball Club

Basketball Club went well this week. Travis was working this week so I got to run his club. The kids ran me to death (That’s a good thing). They play very hard and still manage to be good sportsmen most of the time. Every week someone will bring a new person. Bball Club is quickly becoming a part of the Talent Middle School culture (that is a very good thing). Kids know about it, love it and invite their friends. They get basketball and a short discussion from the Bible every week. We get to be an active participant in their transition from adolescence to adulthood. It’s a win-win for everyone.

We talked briefly about a summer road trip to play in a big 3-on-3 tournament. The kids sounded excited so I will work to make that happen.

That’s it for now. Remember there is a group of people who pray for Phoenix/Talent Campus Life every week. If you would like to make that same commitment, please email me at isaiah@roguevalleyyfc.org and I will add you to my weekly email list. It has been really amazing to watch God move as people have begun to pray. Please be encouraged to be a part of it.

Thanks

Isaiah

Hi Everybody,

It has been a while since I have written and so much has happened. Thank you to those of you who read these blog posts and bring them up in your conversations with God. Let’s get started:

Cassie’s House

I told you a while back about a young girl whose house burnt down. No one in her family was hurt (but her dog died) in the fire. They lost everything. I asked you to pray for her and her family as they dealt with the aftermath of this tragedy. Well…God has really come through for them. Red Cross helped them out initially, making sure that they had a place to stay and food. The community has stepped in since then and blessed them with clothes, furniture, a trailer until they can get a house built, kitchen supplies and much more. More, in fact, than they needed and they are giving the extras to other needy families! Thank you for your prayers and for those who sacrificed something to show God’s love to this family.

The Book of John

We have just started going through the book of John in our High School club. We will finish Chapter 1 this Friday. John’s description of Jesus is eye-opening every time I read it. So much is packed into that first half of chapter 1. I hope and pray that kids are getting as much out of it as I am. I know that it challenges any notion of Jesus being merely a good guy which is what many of the kids had thought of Him before. Please ask God to make the stuff we talk about become real and alive for the kids who come every week.

Summer Schedule

I am currently working on our Phoenix Campus Life summer schedule. There are a lot of good things in the works here. We will have a guitar lessons club, a parent/kid relationship club, babysitting certification club and a couple of others are in the works. I will post the schedule online as soon as it becomes final. That will hopefully happen by the end of April. It is going to be a great summer!!

Quail Point Rotary’s Mother’s Day Drawing

My Rotary club has been very supportive of the youth center and many other projects that benefit Phoenix-area youth. We do fundraisers all year in order to support the various community activities. One such fundraiser is the Mother’s Day Raffle. There are many great prizes and the tickets are only $10/ Ticket. If you would like more information or would like to buy a ticket, please call me.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading and for caring about the kids of our community. God Bless

Isaiah

To my partners in prayer,

Thank you very much for committing with me to pray for Campus Life in Phoenix and Talent. God is continually answering our prayers and blessing this community.

I had a great vacation last week and I am excited to be back doing what God has called me to do. If you would like to know more about that, I will have a post up on the website (www.roguevalleyyfc.org/phoenix) about my vacation and Campus Life in my absence (which was great!).

There is a lot to pray about so let’s get to it:

• Pray for me. I want you to know that God has been especially obvious in answering this prayer of yours. I have seen God’s guidance and direction more so lately than ever in my life. We’ve prayed that God would give me wisdom with the kids’ situations and God has given me words to say right when I needed them. Please continue to pray for wisdom in every circumstance. Also pray for discernment to know what God is doing with each life and the proper response from me. Lastly, continue to pray that I will be open and moldable Before God, my wife, my accountability partners and myself.
  
• Pray for a young girl named Cassie whose house burned down last week. The community has come together and been very supportive but when you lose everything, much is lost that simply cannot be replaced. The family of three are living in a small hotel room for at least three more weeks which can add to the already high emotional stress. Pray that God would make something good of this tragedy. Pray that they would find God to be their “ever-present help in time of need”.
• A month ago we started praying for one of the club kids who had been sent to juvenile detention. He is being released today! He has a drug addiction that he has been working through well in detention. Freedom usually puts all that work to the test. Pray that he will be able to withstand the temptation. Pray that God would rescue him from the addictions that the world has to offer.
• Continue to pray for financial blessing. Campus life has a unique niche in serving the church and the community. Along with that niche comes a unique financial challenge. The Campus Life Building and my salary might normally be covered by the tithes and offerings of a particular church body, we are here for the whole community and need to build a coalition from the larger church community in Phoenix and Talent. Please pray that God would work out in front of me as I present our vision and need to the local churches and people of the community.
• Pray for each other. I have been struck by the value of prayer and being prayed for. As each of you prays for the needs of Campus Life please pray for the others on the prayer team as well. Pray that God would direct their prayers. Pray for deep and meaningful conversations with God about Campus Life. Pray that God would bless them for their time investment into prayer.

   
   

  Thanks again and may God richly bless you
  

  Isaiah
  

Last night I got a call from one of my high school kids. Her house had burned to the ground. No one was hurt, but she lost her dog and everything she owned. In times of tragedy like this, the Red cross made sure they had a place to stay and there are people stepping up to provide food but the real turmoil comes from the inside. Only God can speak into and restore that part of this family. Please pray for Cassie and her family. Pray that she would see God as her only answer in the middle of the emotional chaos and unrest. Pray that their physical needs would be provided for. God is our ever present help in time of trouble. Now is that time!
Thank you for your concern and prayers. I will keep you updated as I hear more

Isaiah

Hi Everybody,

A few quick notes before I head off to Jr High Club tonight:

A young man who God loves

The other day when I was running some errands around town I ran into a young man who we will call Tim but that’s not his real name. He was walking home from school so I asked him if he would like a ride. Tim said sure. He wanted to know what I was doing and if he could come along. That was great for me. We talked about everything. In the course of conversation, I could see that God was really at work in Tim’s heart. We didn’t get around to the transforming power of Christ in his own life (although I did get to talk about that as part of my life) but I know we will soon. We decided that we will do coffee and homework together after school on Tuesdays. That means that not only will I have the opportunity to help him in a practical way that he can see (homework), but I get to be a part of a relationship that helps him respond to God’s call on his life. It’s great to see God at work. It’s even better to be a part of that work. Pray that Tim will continue to respond to God as he is called.

I’m sick again!?!

I seem to have caught every bug and virus that has come around over the last couple of years. It didn’t used to be like that. In the past I only got sick on occasion now it feels like every other week. Please pray that God would protect me from the common cold and help me to find what it is that has changed to make me this way. Thanks

Daddies

I love being a Dad! Last night my 1-year-old Trevor got out of bed, looked me in the eye and said something very close to good night. He loves me!! He is working hard to learn new skills that he uses to show me his love. It melts the heart. This morning I was contemplating God as my Daddy like I am Trevor’s daddy (except for God doesn’t accidentally drop me or super glue my fingers together) (Oops). I thought I wonder how overjoyed God must be when I learn a new skill or grow spiritually specifically to show Him that I love Him. I am not sure if theologically that is a proper motivation, but it sure motivates me! Just a little thought.

Thanks

Isaiah

In the frivolous but fun department, I know some of you were dying to know who I picked to win the NCAA Tourney. I guess I’m a homer because of the Singler/Duke Connection.

Hi everyone,

Spring Break is almost here! What happened to winter? A little snow on the valley floor would have been nice. What can you do? I’ll be taking a week off to go with my wife, Cassie, to visit her sister in Arizona. That will be fun. Our son, Trevor, has never been on a plane before. He is so inquisitive and alert that I think a new experience that is so different from every day will be very intriguing for him. But this week will be an intense week of meetings with my volunteer staff for prayer and strategy for Campus Life. I am praying for a very productive week. So let’s get into it:

Summer Planning

As part of this week, I want to really nail down some specifics about what our summer ministry should look like. We have summer camps lined up. After-school clubs work less well when there is no school so I’d like to do something a little different. We’ve talked about guitar lessons, movie nights, family nights, Community Service days and individual mentoring. Now all that’s left is to mold that into one consistent summer program.

Prayer Team

There are 12 people who are committed to praying for Phoenix Campus Life consistently. That is a great start. I know that God is going to use them to do great things here in our community. Thanks to all of you who have committed to pray. On a personal level I have recently been struck by value of prayer in a Christian’s (read “my”) life. Prayer not only changes those things that I pray for, it changes me. As I verbalize the desperate need for God in the world around me (and consequently see God step in and redeem those things that I’ve been praying for) my faith grows and my doubts quiet. I need that.

Duct taping kids to the walls

You don’t get to do that at many jobs! We had our beach party on a rainy day in mid-March and it was sweet! 7 hours with the high school kids. Lots of games. Lots of food. Lots of fun highlighted by duct tape. A big thank you to Cassie Shaw’s dad for providing all the food. That was an incredible blessing.

Prayer Needs

• Pray that God would provide for Youth Center needs. We need things like five or six guitars for guitar lessons. We need a 12 passenger van. We need more volunteers. God can provide and I know he will.
  
• Pray that my meetings with volunteers this week would be productive. Especially that this would deepen our sense of community as we work together to see God’s Word come alive for the kids who come to club.
• Pray for the prayers. I heard a message a while ago that talked about the value of praying for those who are praying for you. Prayer is literally fighting a spiritual battle and we all need someone to have our back when we are at war (even if the war has already been won). So I am going to pray for those who pray for me and encourage others to do the same.

   
   

  Thanks and God Bless You
  

  Isaiah
  

Thank you for being a part of this prayer team. It means a lot to me and to the people who are being ministered to. I won’t use real names for the sake of the kids involved, so when I do use a name it will be an assumed name. Let’s get to it:

• Pray for me. Pray that I would maintain a strong relationship with Jesus. Pray that I would be quick to respond to his will. We have all seen ministry leaders crash and burn. Please pray that God would use those that I hold myself accountable to to keep on track.
  
• Pray for the community of Phoenix/Talent. The more I get involved in my kids’ lives the more I see broken homes and hurt people. Pray that God would break into their lives and heal them from the inside. Pray that pain that comes from economic and relational poverty would be relieved. Pray that God would remove the blinders and they would be able to see Him for who He is.
• Pray for a young man who got sent to juvenile detention last week. He is a soft-spoken, warm-hearted kid who needs to recover from drug addiction. I believe that he is serious about breaking his addiction, but it’s a hard thing to do. He is a Christian. Pray that he would find Jesus to be his real and present help through this.
• Pray for a young man who I kicked out of club for cussing one week. He hasn’t come back in a couple of weeks but pray that God would give me the right words to say when we go out for smoothies next week.
• Pray for a young girl whose boyfriend cheated on her. She is taking it really hard. She needs Jesus!
• Pray for the right volunteers at Campus Life Clubs. I know that God has people out there who need to be a part of Campus Life Clubs. Please pray that God would send them my way. God has sent a lot of kids to the clubs and they all need individual attention from a caring, Christian adult.
• Pray for financial support for Phoenix/Talent Campus Life. In our Faithful 2500 campaign we are thinking of support in terms of $25 blocks. In order for the Phoenix area to be fully supported I need 200 of these blocks. I currently have 60 filled. So I have my work cut out for me. Pray for boldness to approach the subject (that’s usually the hardest part for me). Pray for willing hearts from within the community.

   
   

  Thanks again and God bless you
  

  Isaiah
  

Once every couple of months I do a radio spot for “The Dove”. They are short and usually relay a quick story with a point. I wanted to post the text of these spots for all of you who are interested so here we go:

     Hi this is Isaiah From Rogue Valley Youth For Christ. Life can be hard! Sometimes we need help that comes from beyond ourselves. Recently, I was discussing with a young couple from the high school club about their home lives and I was shocked to discover that one of them lives with only a mom who he says is always drinking. The other one’s mom died. This broke my heart. I asked them how they deal with the sort of pain this brings and one of the first things that they brought up was that Campus Life has become a refuge for them. A place of peace and re-energizing. The leaders and friends who come every week have become a community that they can trust. This conversation reminded me of the value that Campus Life Clubs and volunteers bring to the areas that they reach. If God is calling you to serve in this way, please contact us at 779-3275.