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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
Once again, I am blown away by the way the Lord uses prayer to bring about His glory! If you haven't gone there yet, you should read this story from Haines, Alaska.
Stories of new life bring me such joy. Did you know that you played a part? That is, those of you who are faithfully praying for a team, for Youthmark and for your loved ones, you played a special role in carrying these friends to the foot of the cross!
Thank you!
Grace,
Brian
I love reading the answered prayers of our Lord.
It is so fun to read about specific items that students and leaders have asked for prayer about and then come back the next day or two and read about the answers Jesus has already provided.
I was so encouraged to just now, for the first time this summer, I visited the analytics page which reports the number over views for the blog. Yesterday alone we had over 1100 views... Isn't it great to think that we have about 400 out on trips right now and that over double that amount of people are tuning in to read about and pray about these missions.
The Lord chooses to answer the prayers of His people so that He may be glorified all the more. Let's glorify Him all the more!
Do whatever you can do to get more people to read up and pray up these missionaries!
Thanks for doing your part!
Grace,
Brian
I decided against my typical "numbered" picture for this launch. Here's why:
Wednesday morning actually began the series of Launches 3.0 - and following. I was on vacation down in Southern California and drove from Camarillo to Santa Clarita with 230 copies of RoadGrip and Merge for the Converge NW teams traveling to Mexico for SERVE. These churches combine every three years for a mission to Mexico. Youthmark was honored to be a part of the process this year. They are currently doing a three day launch at The Master's College before they hit Mexico tomorrow.
Meanwhile...
I flew home Wednesday afternoon and by Wednesday evening was launching the Pulpit Rock Church of Colorado Springs on their City Serve YMV in Seattle. We launched that team on Wednesday night to Thursday morning.
Meanwhile...
Kirk Petersen flew to Juneau on Wednesday so that he could greet and launch East Boulder Baptist (Colorado) to Petersburg, AK. They did their launch Thursday afternoon to Friday morning.
Meanwhile...
I was driving to Spokane and am currently at the Pine and Sprague Starbucks in Spokane Valley waiting to launch 90 or so for their missions to Idaho and Montana.
Meanwhile...
Kirk is up in Juneau with three other churches doing their launch for three Southeast Alaska locations that most will Ferry to tomorrow morning!
All told... about 400 people are going out this week through Youthmark! Praise God!
Meanwhile...
You are launching us through Prayer! Right?
Grace,
Brian
It is so exciting to read through the blogs from weeks one (last week) and two (those currently out). In a sense, I am on my own mission right now, I have the honor of being the speaker at a youth camp, about 40% of the students are not followers of Jesus. Pray for that.
We had three simultaneous launches this last Friday and Saturday and another team out that could not participate in the Launch.
Jess Champers, a great friend of mine, led the launch in Renton, WA for teams from Mars Hill Church and First Baptist Church, University Place. These two teams are serving together in Rockaway Beach.
Praise God with me, Steve Imhof, Youth Pastor at FBUP texted yesterday to say that the VBS they are leading had the most people in it since 10 years ago. How exciting is this! And, it tickled my soul, 10 years ago I led a team to Rockaway!
Kirk Petersen was returning from Chicago and flew through Seattle on his way to Spokane and ran into First Free Methodist of Seattle who was on their way to Phoenix to see me! After flying to Spokane Kirk led the launch for Lake Sawyer Christian Church and Cornerstone United Methodist Church... LSCC and Cornerstone have combined to take on three towns in Idaho (Cascade, Cambridge and Council). Reading these blogs has been very exciting, God is answering some big prayers! You'll have to read the specifics about the storm in Council as well. Amazing.
Along with LSCC and Cornerstone, First Baptist of Beaverton and Shoestring Valley Community Church (Onalaska, WA) are combined to head to Malta, MT. Sounds like some great ministry is taking place. You can read about this at the Shoestring Blog here at Youthmark.com.
There are three Korean churches which have combined to serve in Sandy Valley, NV. I know the Senior Pastor there in Sandy Valley and he was so excited to see these three churches come to his very white town! You can read about their trip on this site as well (Antioch, New Church and Hansarang).
Last, I was down in Phoenix leading the groups from Pine Valley, CA (serving in Tonto Basin) and from First Free Methodist of Seattle (previously mentioned). We had a great time together and both of their blogs talk about what has taken place so far. The most recent text I received from one of the leaders at Pine, AZ (First Free) was that they have seen some teens, but not a single kid has shown up at the park, please do pray for that!
What a week! Let's pray them all through!
Grace,
Brian
Rob texted again today saying that 9 students from Paonia got to hear testimonies last night in the park! He was very excited because his students presented the Gospel very clearly.
Another praise, the VBS numbers are slowly climbing too!
His last email proclaimed how excited he is about his adult leadership saying, "I think I have the best leaders!"
Continue to pray for the town of Paonia and those serving from Austin Bluffs Evangelical Free Church!
Grace,
Brian
Just received a text message from Rob Zietlow, Youth Pastor from Austin Bluffs E-Free Church in Colorado Springs, CO.
He says that ministry is going very well in Paonia, CO. The VBS numbers are a little lower than they had hoped, but the students are doing great!
Praising God that three of his students had the opportunity to share their testimonies in the park in the evenings.
He asked for specific prayer for a young man with a tough background, his name is Mitch. Seems open to God, pray that he would come to know Jesus!
Thanks for you prayers. I see that First Baptist Black Forest has a couple new posts, go there if you'd like to pray for them this week as well!
In addition, pray for the teams preparing this week for their missions next week! More on them later.
Grace,
Brian
As is my tradition, a stop at a coffee shop to snap a photo during the Mission Launch events! This is taken from a Starbucks in Glenwood Springs, CO, the site of our Mission Launch for two teams from Colorado.
The Launch was a giant success from my perspective. The drive over from Denver to Glenwood Springs was absolutely spectacular. There were so many wonderful views as I made my way over I-70. I stopped off in Idaho Springs to experience a little coffee and internet, then drove past the gorgeous ski areas of Copper Mountain, Vail and a couple others.
With the help of the Coe family (Jared and Andrea served in Seattle years ago, he is now Youth Pastor at Mountain View Church, host for the YMV Launch) and Peter Jovanovich (interning for Jared) we were able to get everything set for the 9:00 PM Launch.
First Baptist Black Forest was first to arrive a few minutes early and then Austin Bluffs E-Free church arrived just a couple minutes after nine. The two churches quickly bonded through a couple games we had everyone participate in before Jared and Andrea led us in worship. I give a brief message and then we're off to bed. The Saturday morning of the launch is the highlight to me. We do a game that really sets the tone for the entire week. One Austin Bluffs leader told me was we left, "the morning game was worth the price of admission!"
Please pray for these two teams. Black Forest is serving in Page, AZ. Their blog is up and running here on this site. I believe that Rob from Austin Bluffs plans to blog as well, however, as of Sunday morning they haven't started it yet.
I will update this blog with specific requests for these teams as well. Please stop by often.
I have posted some additional pictures from this launch on my personal blog here.
Grace,
Brian
It is hard to believe, but the Mission Venture season is about to begin. This coming Friday marks the launch of our first mission trips of the season. At this point, Austin Bluffs Evangelical Free Church and First Baptist Church of Black Forest have not started a team blog through Youthmark.com, but that doesn't mean that we won't be praying for them!
It is obviously my desire/hope that all teams will do a team blog, but there will be some that choose not to do so, or will not have access to the internet while on a trip. Don't let that stop you from coming by our staff blog to get the occasional updates, we'll do our best to keep you posted with any details for prayer and praise.
On Friday, the teams will be meeting in Glenwood Springs, CO for the first YMV "Launch" of the season. While in Glenwood they will take place in this 15 hour experience, somewhat like a pep and prayer rally! Our launches are full of energy, prayer, last minute training/inspiration, time in the Word and more prayer (oh, and a good night of sleep... well, sort of).
Please be in prayer for these teams and the communities they will be serving.
Austin Bluffs E-Free Church (Colorado Springs) will be going to Paonia, CO and working with Paonia Christian Fellowship. Pray for Pastor Rob Zietlow and his team serving in Paonia. This team of 20 is a strong group, well equipped!
First Baptist Black Forest, also of Colorado Springs, a team of 22, will be headed to Page, AZ. Lift up Pastor Matt Crowe and his team. Matt is a Georgia-boy who relocated to Colorado about a year-and-a-half ago and I believe this is his first mission trip with FB Black Forest.
Pray for the Launch (and other launches) as well. The unique experience serves as a great precursor for what is to come!
Grace,
Brian
In one week we launch our 2010 YMV "trip" season. The hundreds of students and staff doing a YMV this summer are in desperate need of our prayers, will you join in?
Prayer is such a mystery to me. I love that.
I love that we have a God whom we cannot possibly know everything about, however, I can rest in his promises and commands. He calls me to pray.
I am reading, I am listening to Francis Chan's Forgotten God right now. This book has been so inspiring to me. It is about the Holy Spirit. Knowing that Francis has a more conservative background, similar to mine, I was intrigued to read/listen to what he would say about the Holy Spirit. It has motivated me even more about prayer! If you'd like a FREE copy of the audio book, click here.
A word of encouragement, we have only about 1/3 of our teams going out on the mission trips this summer actually utilizing the blog right now. If you know of a team going on a trip, encourage the Youth Leader to get his/her team's blog up and running. I'd love ALL of us to tap into this mystery of prayer; it is so exciting to see the Lord bring about His glory through the answers He provides!
Please pray for this last week of preparation specifically for Austin Bluffs Evangelical Free Church of Colorado Springs--headed to Paonia, CO; and pray for First Baptist Church of Black Forest, CO--they are headed to Page, AZ.
Let's step it up but stooping down on our knees on behalf of the nearly 700 participants this summer!
Grace,
Brian
Hello friends of Youthmark! This is the Youthmark Staff Blog. We are a unique team with nearly 50 years combined Youth Ministry experience (but can you guess which one is the oldest?).
Brian Aaby (center) is the Founder and President of Youthmark. He will blog about all things Youthmark.
Kirk Petersen (right) is a Regional Director over Oregon and SW Washington. Kirk will be leading several of the Launches and will blog about some of the "coaching" he gets to do in preparing leaders for these trips and living out mission at home.
Aaron Bauer (left) is a Youthmark Mission Consultant and a live-in-the-flesh Youth Pastor. Aaron gives us a strong "on the ground" presence and can blog about how missionship is lived out before, during and after a trip.