permit
Summer 2014
news
P.O. Box 573024 Houston, TX 77257
New E.D. at HFY!...............1 Jesus ‘N the ‘Hood.............1 Financial Update.............. 2
Hope For Youth builds and maintains long-term Christian mentoring relationships with urban youth to challenge and enable them to reach their full potential spiritually, academically, and socially.
Schedule of Events
Congratulations Grads! 3 Small Group impacts....... 3 Upcoming Events............ 4
Jesus ‘N the ‘Hood 2014 is Here!
Summer is one of our busiest seasons, but it is also the most fun! We have several large events, such as Jesus ‘N the Hood and KAA camp. If you would like to volunteer for any of our summer events, please email Sharene at sharene@hopeforyouth.org. Hope for Youth staff would like to thank you for all of your dedication and support. We could not do any of this without any of you!
upstairs,” “He’s cold and distant,” “He is intent on punishment,” etc.) and learn that God is real, He is just, and
JUNE: 1-13 High School Graduations 8-13 Middle School Beach Retreat A Second Baptist sponsored program in Mississippi for our middle school students 14 Jesus ‘N the Hood Volunteers 15-20 High School Beach Retreat Week-long Florida trip, sponsored by Second Baptist 17 Jesus in the Hood Volunteers 23-27 Jesus in the Hood A week-long intensive outreach program hosting 200 youth. See page 1 of this newsletter for more information. 30 6th Grade Small Group - SOH Small group with 6th graders living at the Star of Hope Shelters. JULY: 5 Student Leadership Meeting 7-10 Houston 1:8 (Pines of Westbury) A week-long First Baptist church sponsored program 8 6th Grade Small Group - SOH Small group with 6th graders living at the Star of Hope Shelters.
12 15 19 22 29
A chance for volunteers to come together and disciple with one another. 6th Grade Small Group - SOH Small group with 6th graders living at SOH. Ignite Kickball Tournament
Come out and hang with your mentees for a fun, competitive afternoon. 6th Grade Bible Study - SOH Small group with 6th graders living at the Star of Hope Shelters 6th Grade Bible Study - SOH Small group with 6th graders living at the Star of Hope Shelters
20-23 Stoney Creek Ranch Camp New Ulm, Texas, middle schoolers AUGUST: 2 2-9
Ignite - Faith Center on Longpoint
15
G3
23
He loves us so much that He sent His
Volunteer Cookout
Kids Across America Camp
(High School) Golden, MO
Annual back-to-school pool party.
Kids Across America camp
*We still need 3-4 volunteers to come with us! For more questions or to volunteer visit www.hopeforyouth.org.
Hope for
Son to die for us.
Youth is
The week’s schedule will include
announce
excited to
topics such as:
Located in New Ulm, Texas, this camp for middle-schoolers serves as a great gateway for spiritual and social growth at a crucial time in the life of a young teenager.
For many, KAA is among the highlights of their year. Located in Golden, Missouri, KAA is a camp created for urban students who find themselves in at-risk situations. Going to this camp is a privilege, not a right, so students earn their spots on the trip. Many students report this week-long program to be a huge part of their faith journey.
Our Guys, Girls, and God program in which we will have two separate events! More to come on this! However, we need female and male volunteers to help out! The Gathering (Pool Party)
Stoney Creek Ranch
Hope For Youth welcomes new Executive Director, Jerry Reeves
Monday:
Jerry Reeves, “Just One Among Many”
Tuesday: “The Big Guy Upstairs” Wednesday: “Almighty Smiter” Beginning June 23, nearly 200 youth
Thursday: “Mr. Fix-It”
will join us for our 22nd annual
Friday:
Jerry is well prepared to
‘Hood (JNTH). Open to junior and
Please be in prayer with us, and if you
senior high school-aged youth, JNTH
can, come be a part of this incredible,
meets nightly for five nights from 7-9
life-changing week! Whether through
p.m. at the City of Refuge Church.
donations of time, resources, or simply passing along the event to
This year, our theme for the week is
area youth who would benefit, we’d
“flipped flopped.” Through engaging
greatly appreciate your support! information
nature of God vs. the secular view of
volunteer,
God. We will dispel commonly held
program director,
myths about God (e.g. “He’s the man
emily@hopeforyouth.org.
please
or
contact
lead Hope for Youth into the future. His past ministry work is as a pastor in the Clear Lake area, investing in city-wide prayer gatherings and nights of worship. He is particularly well suited in that he has always had
activities and insightful teaching, For
Director.
as a pastor and educator,
“My Homey”
students will learn about the true
new Executive
With 26 years experience
summer bible camp, Jesus ‘N the
more
the arrival of
to
a passion for working with
our
Emily Morris, at Read more, page 3
Small groups yield big impact
HFY is proud to announce 14 new graduates! Congratulations to:
This past year was a pivotal year for
the progress she’s seeing as a direct
a student closed down his
our ministry’s strategic direction.
result of deepening the youth-
Facebook account because of
Starting last September, we made
mentor relationships:
the temptations to look at young
n
Shedrick Alexander | The Art Institute
women disrespectfully.”
n
Thaddeus Brewster | Army
n
Damani Buffalo | Georgia State
a conscious decision to focus on “going deeper” with our existing
“With the encouragement and
youth vs. focusing on increasing
assistance of her small group
These are just a few of the many
n
Delario Bullard | TBD
the number of youth we simply
leader, one HFY student was able
stories we have of lives being
n
Yvanne Farve | Prairie View A&M
“touch.” To achieve this, we tripled
to apply for and, ultimately, win a
changed for the better as a result
n
Andrew Ieans | TBD
the number of small groups we
$20,000 Dell scholarship to attend
of the love of Christ being shared
n
Kiannah Moten | HCC - Downtown
offered and increased the frequency
Prairie View A&M University.”
through a mentor. We currently
n
Annie Palmer | Lamar University
of small group meetings from
•••
have
youth
n
Roshounda Ross | Prairie View A&M
monthly to weekly. This allowed
“With the help and committed
engaged in 11 small groups. We look
n
Karmoh Sherrif | TBD
mentors to form the deeper, longer-
attention of their mentor, two
forward to increasing the number
n
Qua’Tiana Thompson | Beauty School
lasting relationships that lead to
South Central students who
of groups and engaging more
n
Redric Trimmer | Prairie View A&M
meaningful, lasting change in the
had previously been in trouble
students as we add more volunteers.
n
Treavon Tryon | Texas A&M
at school on a regular basis
As always, we thank our current
n
Pricilla Vivian | TBD
have improved their attitudes,
volunteers for their contributions
Looking back nearly a year later to
abstained from fighting, and
of time, resources, and energy to
evaluate our progress, we’re blessed
have improved their grades.”
make this progress possible. Please
to see real change in the youth.
•••
Emily Morris, Hope For Youth’s
“Influenced by a lesson and
program director, describes some of
discussion in his small group,
youths’ lives.
approximately
consider
joining
80
them
in
Among this year’s graduates are (left to right): Treavon, Redrick, Kiannah, Yvanne, Thaddeus, and Andrew are among this year’s graduates.
this
important ministry!
Pastor Reeves, continued from page 1
Volunteer Spotlight: who can love and demonstrate
Sul Ross
what it means to live in Christ, I
Sul Ross has been
believe this next generation will
a volunteer since
not only survive, but thrive. It is
Jesus ‘N the ‘Hood
an honor and a privilege to work
2012. He
with such an outstanding board
is currently
and staff who have already set
participating
the bar high in the effort to reach
in Hope For Life
out and bless the homeless in our
and Friday Night
community. I’m looking forward
Live events. Sul
to contributing!”
is very supportive
for Youth providing mentors
Like us on Facebook! Please visit the Hope For Youth ministry page at
http://www.
facebook.com/hopeforyouth for all the news and information about Hope for Youth, including upcoming events and recaps/photos of previous events.
youth gatherings.
He’s also
taught and coached in city leagues and both private and
Financial Update: Your Support Makes a Difference As of May 31, Hope For Youth has
on the final $24,000. This bless-
received $151,000 in donations
ing of donations has enabled
this fiscal year (beginning Sep-
us to continue to support the
tember 1, 2012). Our goal for the
ministry’s services, including:
year is $175,000, so we continue to seek support as we close in
n
Gender and age-specific
public schools. Jerry was particularly drawn to HFY’s mentoring emphasis:
programming n
Bibles and curriculum for every youth
n
Food for the youth at all events
“I am excited about the youth of today. The challenges they face are formidable. However, with
organizations like Hope
of all programming and staff and is Jerry has a degree in Education
always willing to lend a hand. He
as well as an advanced degree
always brings joy to a room and
in religion. He is married to the
is a friendly face at our Hope for
love of his life, Kristine. They will
Youth events. He attends City of
celebrate 30 years together this
Refuge Church and has been a great
summer. They have three boys,
Hope for Youth advocate in the
Jordan, Jonathan and Joel.
congregation. We want to thank Sul for his support and all of his help.