Merry Christmas!!!

Three Hundred Faithful Friends

by Connie Sadler, Executive Director

Recently we’ve been talking about “Faithful Friends” of Youth for Christ/Western Illinois. These are friends who regularly give at least $25 per month to the ministry of YFC.

To operate within our budget, it takes 300 faithful friends giving $25 or more each month. During the typical month an average of 236 Faithful Friends give to the ministry of Youth for Christ/Western Illinois.  That means each month we experience a shortfall.

During our recent fundraising banquet we saw the equivalent of ten more Faithful Friends step forward with pledges of monthly support (a pledge of $50 per month is the equivalent of two “Faithful Friends”). Of course, the one-time gifts helped tremendously, as well. Still, we need 54 more Faithful Friends to meet our budget goals.

This is a time of great potential for our ministry. We’re working with increased numbers of students who are hungry for God.  We have leaders passionate for Christ, willing to do the work; but without faithful monthly support, our plans are limited. In good stewardship we can only plan with money that has been pledged.

Can you join our Three Hundred Faithful Friends? We need just 54 more Friends at $25 per month, or 27 more Faithful Friends at $50 per month. That would meet the needs of our current budget, and enable us to operate responsibly as we in turn meet the needs of our teens. Why not take a moment to ask God if you would be one of our Three Hundred Faithful Friends? Then let us know you’ve pledged to stand with the teens of Youth for Christ/Western Illinois.

If you’ve pledged, send us an email at yfc@macomb.com . Or you can download our printable pledge card:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/34602697/300%20Faithful%20Friends%20Pledge%20Card.pdf

Feel free to print the pledge card, fill it out, and mail to:

Youth for Christ/Western Illinois

P.O. Box 126

Macomb IL 61455

Connie Sadler

Bushnell Beat, Christmas Edition

By Todd Rodeffer, Bushnell Ministry Director

 We’ve had a pretty good go at it in the last month.  Another two teens have accepted Christ for the first time in their lives: one junior high boy and a senior high girl.  Pray for them as they start their journey. Pray for them to read the Bible and let it affect their lives.  Continue to pray for our ministry leaders as they engage teens about their need for a Savior.  Pray for them as they reach out to help them, showing Christ's love.  Thanks!

Earlier this year we had a contest to see which teen could invite and get the most teens to Campus Life.  Well, Hannah won. For her efforts she got to toss a pie in the face of any leader of her choice.  Sorry, Kelly. Sure glad she didn't choose me!!

A few times a year we get to have 5th Qtr. events following home football and basketball games when there is no school the next day.  At one of these events, Bill, a CL leader, shared his testimony in front of about 50 teens.  God has already used this night for His glory.

 Family update:                       

Andrew and Abby are actively involved in basketball and cheer leading, respectively. Abby and Katy will soon be getting their show calves for next summer. The kids all help on the farm. Michelle is still teaching 4th grade  at BPC Elementary. She has been working on her Master’s to become a Reading Specialist and plans to finish up next semester.

Thank you for your generous and Spirit-led gifts to the ministry of YFC in Bushnell. Many teens get to hear the gospel because of your gifts. Merry Christmas to you all!    

  

Praise and Prayers:  

· Conversations with jr high boys – thanks for praying! Still working with them.

· Praise! God is drawing a high school student close to Himself in her time of need

· High school teen’s relationship with a parent.

· Our leaders.

Todd Rodeffer

Macomb Happenings, Christmas Edition

By David Keck, Macomb Ministry Director

As we gear up for the Christmas season, we are preparing for our final food events and we’re getting really excited for the start of the New Year! Our core group of Campus Life students has come a long way together in the few weeks we’ve had so far and we will be celebrating by having a joint Christmas party with the Campus Life group from Bushnell. I know both Todd and I are excited to join our groups together for some fun!

Thanks to our Pancake Partners! Individuals, businesses and churches have partnered with us to provide free breakfast to students who come out on MHS Late Start Wednesdays. 

Our Pancake Partners include:

· Barsi Tax and Business Center, Macomb

· Lavon & Larry Keck

· Gisele Hamm

· Wesley United Methodist Church, Macomb

· Macomb Assembly of God Church

There’s another kind of Pancake Partner! We have a team of volunteers who come out and help serve, keep supplies running, and clean up. These pancake partners include: 

Tammy Carson

Stacy Foxall
Claire Ascone

David Keck

Upcoming Events at Youth for Christ/Western Illinois

Dates

To

Remember

¨ Open House/Reception

         

                Meet David Keck at the YFC         House in Macomb, 1218

             Maple Ave, Tuesday,

            September 9th, 7:30-8:30 p.m.

¨ YFC Fall Banquet

            Friday, November 14th, doors     open at 6pm. Location in

            Macomb, tba.

Bushnell's Fall Schedule

Campus Life M

Mondays 6-8pm

Breakfast Club

Wednesdays 7-8am

Rosy’s Pizza Lunch

Thursdays 11-11:30am

Campus Life High School

Thursdays 7-9:30pm

Bushnell Beat

The CIY Move Conference for high school teens lived up to expectations and more. Hanging out with teens for three and a half days was good and Godly. Christ in Youth spurs teens toward God’s ways. They challenge the teens multiple times throughout the week and send them back into the world with purpose.

One of our teens committed to leading a prayer group once a week during the school year and another committed to reading the Bible in a year. I was very proud of these two young men. They did not know each other before the trip, but got along very well and became good friends. Thank you for all of your prayers!

Summer has been a great time to invest in student leaders. I have had the opportunity to spend more time with a number of teens. This group will compose our high school core team of students this coming school year.

Macomb's Fall Schedule

Campus Life Middle School

(6th—8th Grade)

6:00-7:30 Thursdays

Campus Life High School

(9th-12th Grade)

7:30-9:00 Thursdays

Pizza Lunch

Fridays 11:43-12:20

September Late Start Pancakes

Sept. 3rd & 17th, 7:30-9:00

Macomb Happenings

This month has been a great start to the new chapter God has presented me with. My main goal this month has been to meet teens. I have connected with several families, and made a point to seek out teens in the community.

Some of our main goals going into the school year are:

· Kick off Campus Life with a great start!

· Put together a ministry team ready to adequately serve the teens in the community.

YFC Golf Outing 2014 in Review

The weather was perfect!! Well, other than some early morning fog, which burned off and left us with comfortable temperatures throughout the morning. Attendance was low, but that didn’t deter the 30 golfers there to have a great time! Competition was fierce for some, just good fun for others. However you slice it, golfers raised around $1,500. We’re grateful to our golfers, as well as sponsors who helped make this all possible.

Our sponsors included Catch a Star Learning Center, Ludlums Food Mart, Barsi Tax & Business Center, Bushnell Banking Center, Cox Construction, The Computer Source, McDonough District Hospital, Professional Eyecare Center, Alan Thompson State Farm and Joe and Ellen Rodeffer.

12th Annual Youth for Christ/Catch a Star Golf Outing!

Save the date! Saturday, August 2nd, 8:00 a.m.

Join us as teams of four take to the course for 18 holes of golf!  We’re offering 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes, lunch on the grill, hole prizes, AND a $20,000 fifty/fifty split hole-in-one prize!  It all takes place at the WIU Harry Mussatto Golf Course in Macomb.  Sign your team up today!

News from Macomb!

We’re excited to announce the addition of David Keck to our staff.  David will serve as Ministry Director for our Macomb site.

David grew up in Macomb, the oldest of four in a very musical family.  He had always wanted to be a famous singer, but as He often does, God tweaked David’s plans.  He recently received a degree in Church Ministries from Southwestern Assemblies of God University and is a graduate of The Oaks School of Leadership. 

In the church world, David is a “jack of all trades.”  He has served in a handful of churches in many different roles, such as leading worship, kids’ ministry, youth discipleship, and community outreach. 

David’s father is an Assemblies of God pastor in Industry Illinois and his mother works as a psychologist for the McDonough County School District in Macomb.  He is looking forward to marrying his fiancé this coming January and following through with the plans God has for them. 

David brings many strengths and talents to the ministry of Youth for Christ.  Teaching, training, speaking and preaching, team building–David’s enthusiasm for God and ministry is infectious. 

David has a busy summer ahead of him as he plans to launch the Youth for Christ program this fall, with the goal of reaching Macomb area Jr. and Sr. high students for Christ.  Pray for David as he begins to work with teens in the Macomb area. 

Bushnell Beat

Todd Rodeffer brings the good news of God's story to Bushnell area teens!

It seemed like such a long winter.  Spring kind of flew by and finally summer is here.  The last month of our school year ended with a paintball outing, baccalaureate, graduation and year-end Campus Life meetings. 

One of our adult leaders had been taking some teens to her church for a few weeks.  One night, one of them trusted Christ as his Savior.  God is great!  Pray for his growth as a young Christian.  I am very thankful for adult leaders that invest in the lives of teenagers. 

And now we have taken a trip to Starved Rock with several teens.  Pray for the results of this trip, that teens will trust in Christ, go deeper in their faith, and/or be ready to serve the Lord in a greater capacity. 

-Todd Rodeffer

Ministry Director

Youth for Christ/Western Illinois