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There was a moment in the movie Soul Surfer that made me laugh that probably wasn't noticed by 99.9% of the audience. The movie portrayed Bethany Hamilton making a last minute decision to join her youth group on a mission trip to Thailand. She showed up at the airport as they boarded the plane and asked if she could come (and did)! Unfortunately the truth is, a lot of youth group short term missions are actually done in a similar fashion. Many churches operate with a sign-up/show-up mentality. Students sign-up in April, participate in a few car-wash and bake sale fundraisers that are done predominantly by the parents and then the Youth Leader hosts a couple meeting where favorite scriptures are shared and packing lists are distributed. Come June a few have dropped out due to funds, family vacation or a break-up. And on the flip side a few have added because funds, family vacations were changed and a new relationship sprouted and "the Lord wants us to serve together." Sadly... very little prayer support has been generated, many congregants just know you're going on a trip (camp? retreat? vacation?), students view the mission through the eyes of a consumer (what will I get out of this) and too many youth pastors are hoping to produce a spiritual high. Though a sending team WILL get a ton out of the trip; spiritual, emotional and practical preparation must be done before, during and after the trip. Focus and attention must be given to the people and organizations you're going to serve and a sustainable change after the mission can and should be the goal! I am proud of what we've been able to do with hundreds of ministry partners over the last few years at Youthmark. But leading short-term missions has never been our primary goal. Our goal is MISSION51! We want to see participants equipped for the 51 weeks of life outside the mission. We believe the mission trip is simply a catalytic and/or culminating event in the midst of the other 51 week mission to our own Jerusalem! Whether you're signed up with another great organization, planning a mission to support one of your overseas missionaries or up in the air on what you're going to do this summer, Youthmark would like to help augment your overall mission experience (and transform it to MISSION51!). Check out our newest "Strategy Pack" that can be used by a group who especially already knows what they're doing for their trip! In addition, those of you in the Southern California, Houston, Colorado and the Northwest, Youthmark offers a Mission51 Retreat (24 hour evangelism equipping retreat). For a limited time we're offering this retreat for only $51 per person (normally $79) when you purchase the Strategy Pack. Please call us 800.455.1450 to inquire.
Please check out more information about all our packages here and don't hesitate to call me at our 800 number!
Grace,
Brian
With just a few teams left to go out this summer (and 6 out currently), I'd like to take this opportunity to plug the BIG mission that is about to begin! Students (and leaders) will be heading back to our REAL mission, Mission51, the 51 weeks beyond the mission.
Before we start, we'd like to rally the troops. If you're within a couple hours of south Seattle, we'd love to see you at LIFT! Here's a little preview.
Can you make it on the 17th? Sure hope so! Mission51 is coming!
Click here for more details about LIFT.
Grace,
Brian
Hey everyone! I'm sitting in an auto-shop getting my oil changed, which got me thinking... I need my oil changed every 3000 to 5000 miles, or so they say (I think we ALWAYS push it beyond the 5k). We do this to keep the engine running smoothly, to get the junk out and to get a new filter.
This week, I believe God is going to do some needed changes in many hearts! Not just in the hearts of the lost (though I pray many people come to trust in Christ), but God is going to be doing some major changes in the lives of our team members out this week. Some of our students and staff need this week to get rid of the junk. A week away from bad relationships, temptations and sometimes just the apathy that the "norm" provides. This week will provide a new-flow of challenges and opportunities that will ultimately equip our teams for Mission51, the 51 weeks after the mission trip back home!
Maybe, just maybe, this week can be about life-change for us, the people back home praying as well. As we pray about life-change for others, I believe God will show Himself in MIGHTY ways to us. We'll get the maintenance on our hearts that is so needed as well!
Would you pray for one, two or possibly multiple teams this week? Even when the "red-dot" doesn't show up, read and re-read previous posts and continue to pray for the listed requests. Here are the teams we have out right now:
Calvary Chapel Silverdale to Petersburg, AK
Cascade Community to Ocean Park, WA
Faith Church to Pincher Creek, Alberta
Faith Church to Fort MacLeod, Alberta
Grace Church to Shasta, CA
Lake Sawyer Christian to Nicoya and San Jose, Costa Rica
Lake Sawyer Christian to Cascade, ID
Lake Sawyer Christian to Cambridge, ID
In addition, I am aware of at least one team who used Youthmark Curriculum to train students who are out this week as well. Boulevard Park Church is serving in Lincoln, MT.
I'm appreciate your faithfulness to these teams. Your prayers are being heard and answered!
I'm excited about getting into my car, knowing that this small maintenance item goes a long distance. My hope is that my small prayers will go a long distance in the lives of many as well!
Grace,
Brian
From time to time we'll highlight a blog posted elsewhere on this site (or in this case, a different site).
Canby Alliance Church (Canby, OR) is serving this week in French Gulch, CA. A VERY small town in NorCal. Canby's Youth Pastor is Kyle, he maintains a blog on Tumblr, so they are forwarding people to that blog... but I just needed to share his Monday post here! Praising God for the work being done in/through this group.
You know when God shows you something amazing and then He shows it up even more right afterward? Well God is doing that.
Today, we helped out a lady named Donna do some yard work. She was not connected at all to the church and we helped Pastor Ted form a relationship with her.
Then we thought we were going to have some time this afternoon to rest, but we had an opportunity to build a dam. We had no clue what that meant and were blown away by what it really meant. I’ll upload some before and after pics when I finish this post. We got to serve alongside some of the youth in the town and it helped bring us more as friends.
Then, we went back and got ready for our evening in the park. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!!! GOD IS LISTENING!!!! Tonight, we had all the kids we had the first night (barring one who had to work), plus 4 kids, who God brought to the park through some kinda amazing circumstances! I think Kati will be telling one of the stories tomorrow.
And the group continued to grow closer to one another. Instead of having 4 kids hang out until about 10 like last night, we had 12 kids plus our 6 hanging out playing games. Then we had a short worship time.
God is working in huge ways. I know I’m supposed to be the stable one who has the experience and nothing surprises me, but God is showing up in such huge ways and I am pumped.
Zach had a great moment today where he sat with some of the local boys while taking a rest and it led to a breakdown of the awkward barriers. Way to go man!
Ok, prayer requests:
Thanks so much for all you guys have done to support and pray for us! It is well worth it!
**************
I love reading our blogs; praising Jesus for what He is doing!
Grace,
Brian
As one church (Faith, Costa Rica) completed their mission trip, 10 other churches were launching theirs (We have 11 places being served this week)!
On Friday, June 24, two churches (Westwood Baptist and Highline Christian) joined Youthmark's Kirk Petersen in Rathdrum, Idaho for a Youthmark "Launch." This 15 hour Pep Rally of sorts provides us the opportunity to do some last minute training (reminders of what we've practiced through the spring) and gives us the chance to rally the troops as they head into a week of service and evangelism in a specific region. Kirk reports that the two churches did very well and that they took advantage of every opportunity to soak in some last minute teaching and practice.
Westwood Baptist will be serving in two communities in Alberta Canada.
Highline Christian is serving in Plains, Montana.
Simultaneously to the Idaho launch, I (Brian) had the privilege of leading a launch down south in Redding, California for four other churches joining us for the launch. We worshipped really well together (thanks Wes, Joshua and Caleb) as we were hosted by Westside Church of Redding (a Youthmark church that is going on a trip late in the summer). This group of approximately 65 had a great time being stretched as they had to get out of their comfort zone right away through the games and activities we provide during the launch.
Pine Valley Community Church (Pine Valley, CA) is headed to Bangor, CA.
Westminster Presbyterian (Escondido) is headed to Fort Jones, CA (Scott Valley).
Joining Westminster Pres in Scott Valley is Warren Baptist (Warren, OR).
Canby Alliance (Canby, OR) is serving in French Gulch, CA.
In addition to these churches who participated in a launch we have three other churches out this week. Because of locations and such, these teams didn't do our launches, but we trust that they are off to a great start.
Elim Evangelical Free (Puyall up, WA) is serving this week in Rockaway Beach, OR.
Bookcliff Baptist (Grand Junction, CO) is serving in an inner-city/suburb hybrid model mission in Burbank and Castaic, CA.
Cornerstone* (Covington, WA) is serving in the eastern part of their state, in Sprangle, WA.
Northwest Bible Church* (Spring, TX) is serving in both Kamiah and Riggins, ID.
One really cool side-note: Northwest Bible of Texas is a third-year Youthmark team, they have adopted Riggins and Kamiah as "their towns" and the after serving in both places last year (and all three years to Riggins) they have sent an intern for the entire summer to Riggins. I invite you to pray for Stephen Curto and follow his blog here. (it's been a great journey for his thus far, this week is going to be such an encouragement to him).
As always, I invite you to go to the individual team blogs and pray through the listed requests. It's so exciting to see what God does through prayer!
Grace,
Brian
*Churches that trained through Youthmark, but had their mission location lined up already
Letters have been sent, rental vans have been secured, leaders have been praying and students have been preparing.
Yep, stuff has been happening here in Southern California. You probably know we kicked off the spring retreats back in April and since then the groups have been focused on preparations.
I have had the pleasure meeting the three groups from Southern California and it has been amazing to see these students embrace Mission51. To see them initially struggle through learning how to weave their story in with God’s story to completely embrace how fluidly they can share both with everyone they meet.
It’s been great to meet the three guys leading the charge. All of them have such a unique perspective but a common goal….equipping their students to share the love and grace of God to their peers.
I’m excited to see each of these teams experience God as they are away, hear the memories that are made, and learn of the boldness of those on the trip.
Alon
Hola from Costa Rica!
I had the opportunity to spend 4 days with the Faith team and as I left I got some videos from some of the team (sorry parents/friends, some chose not to be recorded!).
Grace,
Brian
What a unique, awesome and extremely hard spring it has been! The word "wow" does not begin to describe my feeling.
As I type I feel overwhelmed, thus the need to stop and pray (and request prayer). There have been so many "what ifs" and "if only" moments this spring, things I wish I would have done differently, things I wish we could have done more efficiently. It's all been a steep, but good, learning curve. Going from a one-person team (me) to a four person team (Kirk, Buzz and Alon) in the three years of Youthmark's existence has been an experience that has proven to be a blessing, but has added curve-balls that I have certainly not learned to hit yet! I love our team, but the distance and added communication streams has been the thing we've needed to learn the most (or at least the thing I have needed to learn the most).
With that said and as my frustration with what "could be" subsides, I look back upon this spring with gratitude (how wonderful our "Together" tour was) and look forward to this summer with great anticipation. I do believe God is going to bring himself great glory! I believe he is going to use our Youthmark team and our Youthmark partners (sending teams and host communities) to show us his great power in reaching the lost and encouraging the saints!
In just a few days our first team (Faith Church of Kent) is sending 13 people to Costa Rica. Toward the end of their trip we have two of our Launches taking place in Redding, CA and Post Falls, ID (Rathdrum to be exact). These launches will play host to several teams we have headed out the week of June 25-July 3.
We NEED your prayers. I NEED your prayers!
My hope is that you're picking a team or two (or more) to pray for and follow. It's quite and exciting journey to go on with a team through prayer! Join them now!
Blessings on your week, comment below with a team you're following and/or your prayer for us/them!
Grace,
Brian
The 2011 YMV trips are only a couple weeks away... Actually, I take that back, we have already completed one trip, Fellowship of the Rockies, Colorado Springs (FORCOS), took a Spring Break trip in March (working in NM and AZ on a Native Reservation).
Our Spring Retreat Tour, "Together" was absolutely amazing. We are so thankful for the opportunity to train students for Mission51 (training for the 51 weeks beyond the mission trip).
As the teams do their final preparation for the mission trips we appreciate your prayers. Pick a team and follow them through the process (or pick more than one). You'll notice the "dot" system we have on the blogs, these indicate the most recent postings, so when you come to the blog homepage you can see which teams have most recently posted simply by looking for the red, orange or yellow dots.
Blessings on your Mission51, thanks for your prayers!
Grace,
Brian
Our last two teams for the YMV season launched this weekend. I cannot believe we are down to our final two.
On Friday evening three churches from the Western Slope of the Rockies gathered in Grand Junction, CO for their Select YMV launch (headed to Utah). Normally our select teams do not have a "Launch" but because Jared Coe helped host the Mountains and Mid America Launch at his church in mid-June he was able to watch us go through all the activities and then go ahead and do that for the teams he was leading.
Meanwhile, Brad Hostak's group from Lacey, WA drove down to Portland, where Youthmark host, Kirk Petersen led the launch for River Ridge (headed to Vale, OR).
Be in prayer for these two missions (and follow both of their blogs). I look forward to giving a "summer-end" report after this week.
Grace,
Brian
Hello friends of Youthmark! This is the Youthmark Staff Blog. Here's a bit about us:
Brian Aaby (center) is the Founder and President of Youthmark. He will blog about all things Youthmark. You can also follow Brian at his personal blog here.
Kirk Petersen is a Regional Director over Oregon and SW Washington. Kirk. If/when he posts it will probably be about the mission launches and/or his work with Youth Pastors in his region.
Alon Banks is our Southern California Regional Director. Alon works with the Youth Pastors in the greater San Diego area. If/when he posts you can expect it to be about the great folk he works with in SoCal.