Evansville Young Life Westside Ministry Update

WHAT A SEMESTER!

Spring 2014

Salutations!

This was supposed to be sent after Memorial Day, I am so sorry for the delay.

This spring semester was filled with surprises, challenges, and excitement. Things are slowing down as I complete my first semester on full-time.Our CLUB on the west side this semester fluctuated in numbers (15-45) but that's okay because we aren't focused on quantity but quality in relationships. Quality in the relationships is evident when the same students show up consistently, students and leaders hanging out outside of young life events, and most of the students come to campaigners. There are times it seems everything at CLUB doesn't go according to plan and to the leaders it's a disaster. However students would say to us the next day, "That Club was the best last night!" Baffled and confused in the moment but then it hits us reminding us the students don't come for the music, the games, or the food...they come to hang out with the leaders. I am excited to announce we added 2 new male leaders on the Westside (Peter Taylor and Drew Richardson) in addition to our team of four. They are already doing amazing with seeking out and building relationships with students! As we are adding more leaders my focus will turn more towards them. Developing leaders and setting them up for success in the ministry is key. Five leaders can reach more students than I can alone. At the same time I am still maintaining relationships with students and making new ones. Three guys I have recently began to get to know are Gavin Hosack, Brandon Brown, and Jonathan Gibson. They all come from impoverished broken homes where Christ is not glorified. They are going to camp with us this summer which I am really excited for.   We also many different summer events planned:West Side guys camping trip to Red River Gorge, Crud Wars (a very messy crazy cruddy club), Yard Sale fundraiser for Camp, Golf Outing fundraiser, YL Sharptop Cove Camp (June 29th-July 5th), and Camp follow up the week after.Camp is right around the corner and we have 33 students total going so far! 13 of those are from the West Side, 3 girls from Mater Dei and 10 from Reitz. We will not stop there! We will scratch claw and grag kids onto the camp bus until it's full. Okay okay maybe not scratch and claw at them but we will drag them.Personally I am in a season of trial.  As many of you know I was recently engaged and now I am not. This has definitely been a rough time for me and especially doing ministry at the same time. Please pray that I continue to cling to Him who is the true comforter and sustainer. Also that I stay focused on the calling at hand. 

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Our Westside Leaders! (Front Left to right) Peter Taylor, Paige Austin, Kelsey Stickler.       (Back left to right) Todd Born, Drew Richardson, Craig Austin.

• For leader student relationships to continue to grow through the summer.

• For the 33 students and 7 leaders from Evansville going to camp.

• For workers (Matthew 9:37-38)

(right to left) Brock Bell, Myself, Camden Hahn, and Ross Geiser at two of our west side leaders wedding Paige and Craig Austin.