I am heading to Arrow Leadership

Hey all,

I just got an email saying that I have been accepted into Arrow Leadership. I am so excited of this upcoming opportunity. It will start in Sept 2009 and I will be participating in the Emerging Leaders Stream. It is one of those things in life that I needed to surrender to God and has granted me this opportunity. It will be a 2 year program with 4 modules in Vancouver and ongoing mentoring throughout it. For more info about the Arrow program, check out www.arrowleadership.org

 

Lives being touched

Hey Everyone, Wanted to post this story of one of our volunteers. Incredible

Busy, busy, race, rush, it is Friday, time to do our bit and help out at the Youth Center. Our turn to give back, thankful for all the lord had done for us. Maybe there is a youth we can help, be a friend to, and share our experiences with in hopes of listening to theirs and maybe helping in some small way. So in they come full of smiles, hope and a never ending wish to be accepted, somewhere. A high five, an awesome game of pool interspersed with a little drawing and chat. We learn things about them we did not know. As time progresses the stories become more personal. We realize the roads they have traveled are not always pretty and wonder how, without faith they have come through. How much easier could the trip be with Jesus Christ? We are very careful not to push, not to prod, knowing there is still hope we leave the door open, hoping that walking the walk they may see a way they would like to emulate. We play and laugh and listen. Yes we are doing our part. Aren’t we proud to at least be trying to help. Yes we are there for them. You leave and carry on your busy life assuring them that, yes; you will see them next Friday. You realize that they actually “want” you to be there. This is awesome.
As you continue your own walk, in your own busy world you pray for them, pray for your own kids. It is Sunday morning. You begin the morning rush, “wake up kids, get showered, get dressed lets go we cannot be late.” You pile in the car, speeding to get there before the church bell rings. Hurry, hurry, shake hands, smile and hugs, take your usual place and then it happens…..3 pews up, a face turns and smiles at you, sitting all alone, your heart warms, you feel the holy spirit working, you jump up to greet them, they are so proud, hug you and make you feel like you are really someone special. They join you in your pew and ask “hey are you going down when they do the Sunday school thing?” You realize they are uncomfortable and pray to God for the right words and actions to make this a pleasurable experience for them. “I sure am if you are” you say. They beam a smile at you and then it hits you………… I feel so lucky, so special, so thankful, so enriched, this is what it is all about, thank you Heavenly Father.
The next Friday comes and there they another high 5 and a smile. You very nonchalantly, being as unobvious as you can say, “hey, it was great to see you at church on Sunday”, then the reply comes you never expected, the youth answers, “I heard you say you went to the United Church so I rode my bike over. It was actually kind of fun. Do you go every Sunday?”
“Yes”, I answer, “I can save you a seat beside me if you want.”
How blessed am I? Did I help this youth or did the youth help me? Thank be to God.

Brenda McKee

 

Interest Made in ‘Open Stage” dream

I had a great chat with one of the students I spent a lot of time with last spring. He has been away for most of the last 2 semesters and today stopped in for a visit. There happened to be a couple of lamps dropped off for the lounge in the arts space so we got to talking as he carried one up the stairs. His jaw dropped when he saw the new arts space. The stage in the corner, couches to chill on… Immediately he say this place as a place to be in and invite friends. He told me of his friends who jam lots together, but would sound a whole lot better in our new space. I shared of some dreams to have open stage stuff, talent shows, coffee house style stuff.

This youth was there when I first started talking about opportunities for youth. He was pumped when we brought in the hockey gear and pool table a year ago. And knows, this is a place where he wants to come. He ended his afternoon boxing and playing baseball on the Wii. And took lots of info cards to give to his friends.

 

Wii is a huge hit

It was an incredible night at The Bridge this past Friday. Nintendo Wii was a huge on the big screen. Super Smash Brothers is an interactive game that allowed 4 youth to play together. This adventure game is incredible and having it on a nearly 8foot by 8foot screen was cool, ’sick’ as you would say today. And of course, my favorite, boxing, now it is actually as if you are boxing someone.

The multi-player games are great for interaction with the youth. As they are playing, dialogue actually happens. Each week, youth leave saying they need to tell others about this place. It has become a regular hang out for many.

 

The Bridge Work Day

Great things are happening at The Bridge. Several people came by last Saturday to help out around The Bridge and we accomplished lots. Build a stage/riser for the arts space and painted it. Picked up a ping-pong table and moved tables around. Installed the new projector and sound system and ran lots of speaker wire for both rooms. Then on Monday, I was able to get a student to help me finish setting up the arts space. He had a good incentive as he it counts for his community hours.

It is a such a blessing to have others involved and so much more can be accomplished. As the word gets out there, people are responding. Just received two more couches for the lounge in the arts space.

 

Being Part of Culture

I had an interesting invitation a few week ago and what an opportunity it was. I was invited to participate in a Trade Show during ‘Partying the Right Spirit’ workshop for graduating students for prom parties and celebrations. At first, I thought, what a message to convey and workshops designed around drinking, drug use, and sexual choices. And then, it hit me, I have the opportunity to promote The Bridge in the middle of this. So often, I think ‘church people’ oppose something like this, and feel it is condoning a message. Where is the voice that says, you can party without these influencers.

The way I see it, you have to be involved in the community you want to influence. It is easy to sit back and point fingers at all the problems facing youth. Our words either bless or curse. Yet, until you are right in the middle of that culture, hearing the stories, building relationships, then the message of Hope begins. Christians were never called to stray away from culture, we are sent into the culture that surrounds us and it is there that we are called to serve and share Hope that we know.

So I chatted with 12-15 youth about The Bridge and what is offered. Talked about it being a safe place to be and interact with caring adults. A place where they won’t be preached at. One girl asked about this. I shared that if she initiated a conversation about faith, we would engage that with her. Also, got to meet some of the social agencies and support systems for youth. Great interaction.

 

Response from the Community

We continue to see incredible support for The Bridge. People continue to be interested in volunteering during drop-ins and other program nights. It is our volunteer staff that are the heart and soul of The Bridge. The relationships forming are great. I had one volunteer this week engage two youth in conversation for the good part of an hour.

Partnerships continue to form with community organizations. I had the opportunity to speak with the Haliburton Rotary Club last week. It was great to create awareness of The Bridge. They presented me with a donation. After I spoke, a local businessman invited me to come by His store and pick out some lamps. The lamps will be used in our new arts space and lounge. Yesterday I spoke with a women from the Eagle Lake Women’s Society and they have a basketball post and net to give us. And it continues.

It is great to have a presence in the community and begin to see lives impacted.

 

Dinner with a Great Team

This past Friday was a wonderful evening to get to know one another. All of The Bridge volunteers gathered for dinner and hang out time. Lots of laughter and friendships were growing. People got to interact and meet one another. In having two programs at different times and 4 training nights, many people had not yet met.

It was a night off so to speak in terms of hanging with the youth, but a key time to grow as a team. We spent much of the evening telling stories of our encounters with a youth. We ended the evening with a summer dream plan we are putting together.

I appreciate this team so much and know that they are making a difference. The stories are the proof of it. Lives are being changed as we live out our philosophy.

 

Delivered a Chair to a Pregant Gal

Awhile back, we had a baby shower for one of the youth who is 18. Today, the glider and ottoman came in from Sears. We were able to purchase it from the money given at the shower and the day after the shower it was on clearance. God provides in remarkable ways.

She was so appreciative and we got to chatting about getting ready for the baby coming in a few days.

 

Discussion about Marriage

Today at The Bridge Youth Centre I had a good conversation about marriage. I find it interesting what the view of marriage is nowadays. Marriages are under so much strain. So it all began today when one youth (19) showed off her engagement ring. The other youth sitting at the bar shared that she is not interested in marriage, but simply common law. Got to share about the commitment of marriage and my own marriage. It was a great conversation that I was able to engage while chatting over a game of pool. Now it should be great as the dialogue may continue next time at The Bridge.