impact OKC
vol 2. issue 1
WES LANE SALLT
Building a city through faith
c
SANTA’S CAUSE
Sharing the Reason for the Season
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Thriving YFC programs Impact souls for Christ throughout the Metro
contents
SANTA’S CAUSE: Changing Lives of At-Risk-Youth..... 5 WES LANE/SALLT: Building a City Through Faith. . ....... 7 Ignition to Impact . . ..................................................... 12 The Fatherless Generation......................................... 13 Impact Parenting........................................................ 14 Saved from Suicide.................................................... 16 Coach’s Corner: The Most Important Play................... 18 Hope in the Darkness................................................. 19 YFC: Bethany. . ............................................................ 20 YFC: Northwest.......................................................... 21 YFC: East. . .................................................................. 22 YFC: South................................................................. 23 Entrepreneur Spotlight: Randy Kamp......................... 24 Artist Spotlight: Leah................................................. 25
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Something changed when I put on that Santa suit. Something changed in me when that first child screamed with glee as I walked in. Something shifted in my heart as I read the Santa’s Cause book to the children, sharing with them that the real reason for celebrating Christmas was the birth of Jesus Christ. Something happened as I looked at these kids listening to every word Santa read to them telling them they matter and Jesus loves them. As I shared the gospel with them, as Santa, I became a Santa. I became a carrier of the Hope which Christmas (and Christianity) represents. So now, I’ve not only settled my jealousy issues with Santa, I’m now proud to wear his suit once a year and serve as his helper. I also joined my two children to the cause this past year, allowing them to serve others and connect with the greater meaning of the Season. Even now, they ask me, “Daddy, do you remember when we took those presents to …” or “Daddy, when will we get to help Santa again?” As you can probably imagine, that’s an awesome feeling! It is truly amazing what effect giving of yourself can have not only for you, but also in your family and World. Throughout 2013, I encourage you to look for opportunities to serve others and include your family. It will challenge you and develop your children. I
hope to see you and yours next Christmas Season! Santa’s Cause is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all volunteer organization providing anonymous last minute response to children’s letters to Santa that would otherwise go unanswered. They receive most of our requests after other organizations offering help at Christmas have completed their season. I like to think of them as the last line of defense to share the Hope of Christmas and the Gospel of Christ with children. For more information and to get involved in 2013, contact Alan & Anita Webb at www.santascause.com.
w e s l a n e of
SALLT Sa lt a n d L i g h t L e a d e r s h i p T r a i n i n g
Jesus Loves
You!
If
by Samuel “Brian” Hill scrolling the top of the SALLT.com website, you might see the quote, ‘Most great moves of God begin in humble rooms with hungry people
who believe they are to steward this movement in history’. This statement became the subject of discussion for a recent interview of Wes Lane, President of SALLT (Salt And Light Leadership Training, Inc.) as he shared the following thoughts
All Makes • All Models • One Location
towards impacting our city and living on our lives on purpose. “I have discovered that (in) men and women out there, there is a thirst or hunger among people … to understand why they are here. I mean, they want to be strategic. They want to finish well. They are careening through life and somebody needs to help them pause the merry-go-round long enough for them to begin to focus on ‘so if I continue on this path at this pace, will it matter’. And so, what we
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want people to recognize (is) that as leaders, they are often living less than the authority and the space that they have been given.” “And a good example of that would be William
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Wilberforce. Wilberforce at least understood that he was called to accomplish … He said as a guy in
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“Most great moves of God begin in humble rooms with hungry people who believe they are to steward this movement in history.”
8
ing to save that one slave’, will you have lived in the
and women to be having conversations like that and
Training, which we call SALLT. And it begins a pro-
fullness of all that God was willing to do if you had
where that’s okay.”
cess by which we’re just putting together folks that
simply believed that He was the Omnipotent God
“We don’t need to go hide in an increasingly hos-
the Lord leads us to. We don’t do arm twisting. We
who was ready to help you in far greater ways than
tile atmosphere. At the SALLT Conference, we had
don’t do anything like that. We just merely toss out,
you were prepared to believe for?”
people on both sides of the political aisle. In fact I
‘are you walking out everything?’ We specifically fo-
“So, when we had our SALLT conference (Sep-
started off today by saying some of you all are look-
cus on either people who currently wield significant
tember 2012), we brought together over 200 lead-
ing across the room and you’re seeing people that
influence in the city or those that we think will. It’s
his late twenties that God had given him two great
ers from business, government and abroad, a broad
you don’t necessarily like here, that represent a dif-
harder to know that later bunch in all honesty, but it
charges; the abolition of the slave trade and the ref-
range, and we were asking questions. We were start-
ferent point of view. You’re both Christians but you
just kind of flows that way.”
ormation of manners (morals). And so, he had a pas-
ing a discussion and the discussion is ‘does God have
don’t like one another. And some of you all, some of
sion for slaves and their plight. He’s a guy, as a mem-
a vision for cities?’ The premise, ‘Does He actually
you Republicans, have noticed that Mike Turpin is
ber of parliament, who God has put where he is and
have a vision for Oklahoma City?’ Does He have a
in the room. (Laughing) And I said ‘this is the con-
he could have, let’s say, gone and bought a slave,
place, are there things that he actually has a heart for
versation going on, ‘Is Mike Turpin lost?’ ‘Well, he
freed him, taught him how to read, come along side
and is willing to address? Are there things that might
sure is!’ And yet, Mike Turpin loves Jesus. I know
him and helped him mainstream into society and that
not show up at a Chamber of Commerce promotional
that, because I know Mike Turpin.’ So rather than fo-
SALLT’s focus stated on the website is ‘Rela-
would have been a wonderful loving, God thing. Or
video, but that matter (to God)? And so then, second-
cusing on what are our differences, I’ll bet you there
tionship, Calling, Biblical World View and Being
he could have started a non-profit to raise money
ly, if you find yourself as a leader here in this moment
are things as Christians that we can come together
Strategic’. I was interested that you started that
and free slaves. Or he could have decided to free
in history, then that is not a coincidence.”
in agreement on and solve that our Father wants
off with relationship. Why is that a key focus for SALLT?
“Unity is the establishment, the proof if you will, that God sent Jesus to earth to redeem the world.”
as many slaves as he could and teach them how to
“It’s no coincidence that you’re a CEO of ‘x’
solved to the betterment of all citizens, Christians
read. He could have started a big slave literacy soci-
company or the superintendent of ‘y’ or a governor.
and otherwise, and to the glory of God. And what
“A fellowship, and this is kind of what this (SALLT)
ety. And any of those would have been lovely things,
You are there because God put you there. And
does Jesus say that does? Jesus said in John 17,
is, requires relationship. As humans, God created us
good things. But instead, he recognized that God
so consequently, the question you’ve got to ask is,
that when we come together in unity, that it is direct
as creatures desirous of community and so what is
had given him authority and he said ‘why don’t we
‘if God has a vision for a city and for us as His
evidence that ‘my Father sent me to earth.’ That’s a
really important to us is that if we’re going to be able
just end slavery’. So he looked at his impact at the
stewards, and if God is a redemptive God that
pretty strong view. Unity is the establishment, the
to speak into one another’s lives, to be an encour-
systemic level we see.”
likes to see the things (addressed) that the en-
proof if you will, that God sent Jesus to earth to
agement to one another and help one another walk
“There’s a common, lovely little story you hear
emy fashioned (the chaos, the discouragement,
redeem the world.”
out our calling; it would be helpful if we actually had
all the time, it’s the story of the starfish on the beach
the poverty, the tragedy); if those things are on
and sure it is a lovely story. The little boy, there are
God’s heart, what might He be willing to pour out
thousands of starfish that washed up on the beach
if you were to step up and to seek that?’
a sense to what that calling was. And being able to
“...if God has a vision for a city and for us as His stewards, and if God is a redemptive God that likes to see the things that the enemy fashioned; if those things are on God’s heart, what might He be willing to pour out if you were to step up and to seek that?”
have that relationship, which we could encourage one another in that, to know we can pick up the phone
and he’s throwing (them back in) and the other guy’s
“Well, William Wilberforce and the Clapham Circle
saying ‘there’s no way you (can help) … What are you
answer that question. So what that speaks to is help-
wasting your time for? You’re not going to be able
ing leaders press the pause button and ask what is
to save all these.’ And he said, ‘well I just saved that
God’s vision for this city and what is it that we Chris-
one.’ And that’s lovely. And so that’s where we limit,
tians do not do. We’re the proverbial thousand points
so that’s where we bring our focus down as people.
of light with no high beam focus. What we do not see
And indeed we should. We should be involved in
is where the princes and the princesses, the kings
the individual, the one person. However, the ques-
and the queens, that God has raised up in a commu-
tion becomes if God has put you as a leader in this
nity that love Him; you do not see them gather around
“So that is how this is all played out. Starting off
tionship is like the water in the aquarium of starting to
place, at this moment in history, what is the full ex-
a big table and ask the question, ‘what would our fa-
as conversations with David Green and Tom Hill and
understand what is God’s calling upon your life. We
tent of the authority that He has given you to accom-
ther have us do in unity and in love that we could not
Kirk Humphreys and expanding to four more individ-
don’t answer that question for you. We don’t tell you,
plish His purposes? And if He’s made you William
do as individuals?’ And there’s the power of it. So
uals, which then becomes meetings and long discus-
‘oh, it’s this.’ What we do is start you on a journey
Wilberforce and put you as a member of parliament
that’s what SALLT is. SALLT is the creation of an at-
sions and thoughtful planning asking ‘what does this
and encourage you to continue that journey as you
(as a leader); if you just limit yourself to ‘I’m just go-
mosphere, if you will, in which it’s permissible for men
look like?’. And it becomes Salt And Light Leadership
pursue God and ask Him those questions.”
yfc | volume 2, issue 1
and talk to somebody. Relationship is really quite important. And it’s also where you see other fellow travelers on God’s path say, ‘you know, it’s actually okay that we’re having this conversation about this stuff. You’re not crazy.” For them to say it is actually appropriate to be asking the questions, ‘what does our Father want us to do? What breaks our Father’s heart about this city?’ So we focus on those things.” Rela-
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“Secondly, we look at a Biblical world view and
Clapham Circle approach where you are from the
the point of that is everybody’s got a world view,
arena of business, I’m from the arena of education,
whether you are the gang-banger who has just twist-
Joe over here is from the arena of government and
ed the muzzle of the 9 mm (gun) into the little old la-
we’re seeking to solve a problem. And we’re each
dies ear at the gas station because you want her car
bringing our influence to the table. It’s the body of
or you are Preacher Bob who has the First Church of
Christ in unity bringing their tools to the table to stra-
Whatever, both of those guys have world views. And
tegically solve a problem.”
your world view directs you, it guides you, ratifies
“I’ll give you as my last big metaphor an example.
your conduct, encourages you, whatever it is. And
Pretend it is May 1944 and the Nazi’s have covered
so the question is, ‘what’s your world view?’ Howev-
Europe. It’s a dark place. But instead of the ‘Allies’,
er, most Christians don’t have a Biblical world view.
what we have is the ‘Opposition’. And so you have
They don’t, and I say that pointing at myself.”
an Army, I’ve got a Navy, Joe’s got an Air Force and
“Just as a good example, we have things that we
we’re all doing our own thing. We’ve got Joe’s AF
may know intuitively, that may be a concern of God,
shooting down some Messerschmitts (planes) and
but what we don’t know is that we don’t necessar-
that’s really awesome. You’ve got an army and you’re
ily employ His methodologies to solve that problem.
winning some good battles. You’re taking out some
So here you’ve got Lyndon Johnson, President of the
tanks and all that sort of stuff. I’ve got a navy and
United States, and he says, ‘I’m concerned about pov-
I’m sinking some submarines and this is all good.
erty and I think I’m going to declare a “war on poverty”.’
But you and I don’t talk. None of us talk. We’re just
Well that’s a great God goal. God talks about poverty
doing our own thing. And does anybody really be-
a lot in the Bible. He’s concerned about the poor. This
lieve we would have taken the beaches at Normandy
is a no-brainer. So then President Johnson says I’m
with that kind of non-philosophy? And yet, that is the
going to solve this as a problem, creating “welfare”.
Christian way. Everybody’s got their piece of the pie,
And everybody applauded and ‘isn’t that wonderful’
but nobody puts the whole pie together and says ‘so
and the truth was it was devastating. And it was not a
if God’s heart is broken concerning these children,
methodology, you know, passing out cash in return for
what could we do if we actually united and focused?’
not being married and for not working. Well, my gosh,
Well slavery got ended in the British Empire (due to
we’ve certainly rewarded all the wrong behaviors and
the Clapham Circle and William Wilberforce) and so
we’ve seen how that works. That does not work.”
I wonder what would happen in our city if we were
“And so that’s why we want Christians to start examining ‘what’s my world view?’ Typically what we
Wes Lane is the President of SALLT (Salt And
have is what I heard one fellow call ‘a whirled view’. We
Light Leadership Training, Inc.), Author of Amaz-
are a mix of things. You see Christians tossing trash
ingly Graced, Chairman of Department of Human
out of their cars as they’re driving along the highway
Services Commission and the Former Oklaho-
on the way home from church. So that is not a biblical
ma County District Attorney. Oklahoma Gover-
world view on stewardship of the earth. What is it? It’s
nor Mary Fallin recently said of Mr. Lane, “Wes
a Darwinian view of or what we call Secular Human-
has truly been a man with a Vision and a Faith.
ist view, where there is no God. It’s all about me. It’s
In whatever endeavor, when you assign him to a
all ‘my playground’. I do whatever I want. And so you
task, you know that he is going to give all of his
have these Christians and the trash is just a simple ex-
heart to that (and) he is going to prayerfully con-
planation of how they are not paying attention to life.”
sider what it is he is doing.” The Governor went
“So and then thirdly is the strategic piece, which
on to thank Wes Lane for his “service to the peo-
would be the wielding of influence in unity. It’s the
10
about unity. So anyway, that’s the theory behind it.”
ple of Oklahoma.”
yfc | volume 2, issue 1
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IGNITION
TO IMPACT! TA K E H O PE
by Samuel “Brian” Hill HOPE… It’s a simple word. A simple word that we see written a lot of places, yet not displayed through daily actions. During the Holidays, the word is printed on cards and hung as ornaments from trees. At the hospital, it is synonymous with the baby viewing window on the Maternity floor. It is loosely used at the end of a year in reference to the “hopes” that the New Year will be a good one, or at least a better one than the last. But what do we really know of HOPE?? Is Hope merely a wish or a dream? Is it nothing more than a grab into the darkness of life for a magical fairytale solution to our mundane existence? Or is Hope something much more tangible? I submit to you that it is air of optimism which fills the lungs of the broken. It is vision for those who choose to believe there will be light after the darkness of the doctors report. Hope is the strength that fills the bones of the body that has been attacked by disease. It is the little glimmer of joy that still exist in the soul of the mother who’s world has fallen apart and she moves forward through the pain. Hope is no small thing. Nor does hope come often in peaceful places. During times of tranquility or ease, little thought goes to hope because we are at rest and likely content. However, when the storm comes, when the water rises, when the report is frightening, when the notice comes in the mail; that is when we NEED hope. It is in those times of despair that the still small voice of the Ages whispers over so 12
gently in our ears I am with you and Hope arises. I believe the reason the World often seems hopeless is because they are Godless, for He is the giver of Hope! Without Him, there is no path to follow nor no spark to start our fire. The very Creator of all things, not only knows you by name, but He also knows what you are going through… and He cares. The greatest comfort I know, the very source of Hope in my darkest hours, has come from the knowledge that I am not alone. He is with me, even to the end of this life, but also beyond this moment into eternity. I am never alone. In that, I take great comfort. In that, I am filled with Hope. You are not alone. He knows… and He cares. Be filled with God’s love for you today. Take Hope in knowing He Cares.
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Take Hope in knowing He Cares
The Fatherless Generation by Woody Burpo
I was raised in a divorced family. My parents divorced when I was one year old. When I was a boy I spent every other weekend with my dad. Some days were good and others not so good. Holidays were always interesting trying not to offend either of my parents, and making sure they knew I loved them both very much. When I was 23 my biological father committed suicide. He left a note stating that nobody loved him. I was a wreck and did not know what to do. My dad was my best friend, my hunting partner, my fishing buddy, but above all, he was my father. I was left with a huge hole in my life. I tried to fill that hole with many things. I tried pornography but was never satisfied. I tried alcohol but it never soothed. I was just left with a void and a major anger problem. I have been a Christian since I was a little boy, but it was not until this time in my life that I really started to understand what it meant to have a Heavenly Father. Until then it was always just a saying but this time it became a reality. I began to truly let God become my Heavenly Father, and the void was filled. I was satisfied and my wound began to heal. As I have been letting God heal me throughout the last six years, He has been speaking to me about our current fatherless generation and its impact on society. Dr. James Dobson says, “Our very survival as a people will depend on the presence or absence of masculine leadership in millions of homes.” It is not only the christian community that sees this need. In the New York Times Magazine an article said, “The Youth Board realized that it had penetrated into a world where there is no father. The welfare world of New York is a fatherless world.”
I began to look around and see the number of young people that had a dad but not a father. I believe there is a huge difference between a dad and a father. A dad is simply the male parent, but a father is a step above being a dad. It is accepting the role that God has placed on the father to be the head of the household and to raise children in a godly way. I continued to look and see another group that did not have a dad much less a father. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 24 million American children (one out of every three) are raised in families without a biological father. These children are struggling in the classroom, in the home, and with life. They do not realize it, but they are desperately looking for a father. The real problem is that they, like me, are looking for that affection, that love, that support, that affirmation in all the wrong places. They do not know that God is their Heavenly Father and will fulfill all their needs if they just let Him. I began to look back on my life and I am thankful that I had many men in my life that were father figures to me. They picked me up and encouraged me, and pushed me to be better than I was. Because they were in my life, when my biological father died, I had these men to remind me of my Heavenly Father’s love and comfort. In today’s society and the busy schedules we have, there is no time for dads to be fathers to their own kids, much less to others. This fatherless generation is desperately searching for a father. Maybe they would find the Heavenly Father if men would rise up and be a father to not only their children, but also to a fatherless child. We, as men, have to see that God chooses to work through us to father the fatherless. Will you?
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IMPACT PARENTING BEING INTENTIONAL AS WE PARENT
In Luke 8
Jesus tells a story to a crowd that had gathered around him about a Palestinian farmer who was sowing seed. The way I understand the layout of the fields was that there was a path through the fields where travelers passed. The sower carried a bag of grain over his shoulder, with the bag in the front (Could have been the original fanny pack). From this bag he would toss the seed up and down the rows. But, depending on where the seed landed was the difference on whether it grew healthy or not. Luke 8:4, And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the
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b y T o d d L o v elace
cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. OK, so we get the idea that the soil is critical. Right? The soil is what determines how you and I will receive the ”word.” So, let me ask you a few questions from what we’ve just read. How would you describe the soil in your family? Is it shallow where it looks good on the outside but nothing is really happening on the inside? Are there weeds around where work, sports, money, busyness, and bad influences are choking it out? Or, maybe things are good, and the root system is developing nicely. These are tough questions I know. I ask them to myself all the time! But, it’s necessary to ask for us to stay on track. When I read this parable a few thoughts jumped out at me that I believe can help us both personally, and as parents ensure that the soil in our families is being cultivated and is ready for the “seed.” One of my favorite things is to work in the yard. Occasionally, I have had to replace dead shrubs with new ones. I remember when we built a new house years ago. The guy who planted the shrubs and
yfc | volume 2, issue 1
“tree” that came with the house, did a terrible job! He used the existing soil that was in the lot before the house was built. It was made of a mixture of clay and sand and then he added the smallest amount of top soil to try to fool us that he really did a good job. Surprisingly, most of the original shrubs didn’t make it past the winter. As we just learned from the parable, plants need great soil to survive and grow and reach their potential. The same is true of you and me! When I got ready to do some landscaping around the house that next Spring to replace those dead shrubs, I ordered a dump truck load of a soil called Rich Mix. It had manure, top soil, and peat all mixed together to make a great soil. I did this because I wanted the plants to have the best possible environment for growth they could have. Now, when you think about it, that’s not much different from you and I in how we parent is it? We want to create the best possible environment for growth for our children. Unfortunately, what happens too often is we create environments based on how it will make our kids happy, or busy, or both, and we’re not always thinking about the best possible environment for their growth. So what does the environment look like for you and your family? How would someone describe your family environment it if they watched you for a week? Would they say it’s an environment of respect? Would they say it’s a loving and accepting environment? A disciplined environment? A graceful environment? A learning environment? A fun environment? How would they describe the environment (the Soil) of your family? Is it conducive to spiritual growth? Is your environment helping your family grow more in love with Jesus and others? Again, these are questions we have to ask ourselves all the time. The good news is you can always change the soil. Take out the old soil and get a big dump truck of Rich Mix and pour it in there! The Second thing I learn from this parable is that we need consistent watering. Once you’ve prepared your soil, there must be intentional watering of the plants. This is where we’re constantly looking for daily opportunities to teach real life spiritual lessons. Sometimes I think we’re afraid of being the spiritual leader because we feel unprepared or we think
it’s all about leading bible lessons or doing family devotions everyday, and although that’s good if that works for you, We sometimes miss the most obvious everyday life lessons. We have opportunities everyday, throughout our day, that we can use to teach our children the Bible, character, Jesus, wise choices, etc… You and I are faced with these opportunities everyday and why not use them to teach our children. I love this verse in Deuteronomy 6. It really paints a clear picture of our role as spiritual leaders. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, these commandments are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you get up. That pretty much covers it all, doesn’t it! Water consistently! The third lesson I think we get from the parable is that we need to consistently be De-Weeding! We have good soil, we’re intentionally watering daily, now we have to think about what could keep us from growing healthy plants? Weeds! So, as we look at the environments of our family or children, (or us personally) are there weeds that need to be taken out? What is it that could keep us, or our children, from reaching our God potential, from living out God’s story for our lives? Weeds will forever be a part of our lives. We need to help our children learn to identify them and then navigate through them in order to eventually eliminate them! We have to de-weed often! Look for the weeds that are creeping into our lives, or the lives of your children and take them out fast. Finally, what every plant needs to grow…Sunshine. I know this wasn’t in the parable but I like the idea of positive sunlight is freely available. Giving sunlight to me means, staying positive! It means creating a safe place where we can find laughter, fun and joy regularly. I pray that you will allow God to continue to teach us and use us as we create an environment where the soil is very rich, the nourishment of water is plentiful, the weeds are pruned back constantly, and where the sun shines brightly every day! Follow Todd Lovelace at his blog, toddlovelace. blogspot.com, or on twitter @toddlovelace
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Saved from “Can you help me?” “Sure, man. What’s up?” “Greg is talking about suicide.” When Rod, an area youth pastor, received the first text from Brian, a student he disciples on campus, he thought the kid might need help with homework or with a girl. But Brian was burdened down with a problem he had no idea how to handle on his own. The problem stemmed from a football game two days earlier. Brian was a team leader and starting linebacker for his high school football team. His team had a big lead in the game, up 28-0. It was time to clear the benches and play the kids that don’t get much playing time but practice just as hard. Late in the 4th quarter, the losing team scored a touchdown. No big deal right? Well, some of the starters were upset their shutout had been lost. At the end of the game, these players, aka “bullies”, decided to harass one player named Greg by telling him it was his fault they did not get their shutout. They progressed into making fun of Greg and his playing ability, and they began to dig on old wounds from years of bullying him. Greg was accustomed to this type of treatment. Brian saw what was happening to him and reached out to him. Brian assured Greg it was not his fault that the team scored and not to listen to 16
those guys. Greg went home only to hear those critical voices inside his head screaming back at him. For days Greg was depressed. He was not happy going to school, he was not happy at home; he was just not seeing any reason to live. Greg reached out to the one person that encouraged him that night: Brian. Brian is a wise and caring high school student, but nothing had prepared him for this type of problem. Brian reached out to his campus mentor for advice. That night Brian convinced Greg that Rod was a safe person to talk to and that he could help him. The days following, parents, school counselors and coaches all got involved to fight for this young man’s life. Greg was given the attention needed to talk through his emotions. It is a beautiful story of how things should happen in these cases, but unfortunately this is not always the case. I wish 13-year-old Cade Poulos of Stillwater, Oklahoma had reached out for help instead of walking into his middle school with a gun and shooting himself. Cade must not have known someone in his school who cared like Brian. Cade must not have believed he could turn to an adult like Rod. Cade cried out for help but just did not want to live through the pain he was feeling at that moment. He made a permanent decision to end a temporary problem. Suburban students are killing themselves at a record pace. I could quote all the statistics and how it is the 3rd leading cause of death in this age of students, but I am not sure that tells the personal tragedy parents and communities
yfc | volume 2, issue 1
Suicide experience when one young person decides to end his life unnecessarily. The problem is complex, but the solution seems to be relatively simple. Students need people to talk with. Students who have someone to share their feelings with have a much lower tendency of committing suicide. Students also need to hear they have hope! Hope is a powerful spiritual presence in all of our lives. When hope is present in a young person’s life so is the ability to endure the problems and burdens they carry.
Jeremiah in the Bible started hearing God’s voice and
Brian inspires me to bring more hope and encouragement to this generation. Those that choose to give of their time to invest in students need to take note of his heroic courage. Brian could have looked the other way when his teammates were belittling Greg. Worse, he could have joined in. Instead, he risked his own reputation with the “cool guys” to stick up for someone who needed a corner man. We know to save a life we must be willing to lay down our own. What can you do to lay down your life for a kid like Greg? This story actually happened in a suburban school in Oklahoma City. Only names have been changed to protect the reputations of the youth.
hope when he was just a teenager.
b y R u ssell M I G L
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12
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Hope in the Darkness
by Courtney Amos
Driven by passion, dedicated to The Truth and enamored by the rhythm and rhyme of the now generation.
The Most Important Play
by Coach Kevin “KT” Thornton
“What’s the most important play in baseball?”
OK. I don’t say it just like that, but I use this verse
Often, I ask my players that question. Their first
as a basis for what I tell him next. My life is about
attempt to answer will bring about normal responses
grace, the grace that comes through knowing Jesus.
such as, “the double play” or “a game-winning hit.”
God has been faithful to me, more than I could ever
As a coach, people often ask me “What’s the
expect Him to be. He has been my closest friend and
most important thing you teach your players?” I tell
never condemns me. He cheers me on and He often
them the answer to the question above.
corrects me. I mess up a whole lot, but He never stops
Most of the players I coach will never put on a
loving me. That is where I draw my strength from. I
major league uniform and few will play baseball be-
depend on His grace to see me through and I do not
yond the high school level. It is a joy to watch the
have to be perfect. I just keep trusting Him and I get
light bulb come on when it comes to a player learn-
stronger each day.
ing the essence of hitting or when he improves de-
It’s not your typical platform. No alter benches.
fensively. Or, when a pitcher begins understanding
No instruments and no one singing, “Just As I Am.”
how to really pitch. That’s a great day for a coach.
You can hear the crack of a bat, the sound of a ball
However, that’s not the most important thing I can
hitting the mitt and a coach cheering on his players.
teach a young man. Coaching baseball is great plat-
Sometimes, the audience is one, and at other times,
form for sharing Christ, but it’s not your normal plat-
the whole team is watching and listening. I have had
form. I teach mostly by showing up, by my attitude, by
the honor of filling many platforms over the years,
the way I treat people. One moment I am encouraging
but none greater
and the next moment I am correcting. Then, I teach,
than the one I am
give direction and hold players accountable.
on now at Putnam
And don’t forget the high fives and the pats on the back. Every boy, no matter how old he gets,
City West. By
the
way,
longs to hear, “Atta kid!” Build his confidence, teach
the answer to the
him to compete and to face the odds with courage.
question above is,
And every once in a while, a boy will ask me to
“The next one.”
help him with his swing. A relationship is formed and
Just like the grace
the bond sets in. It’s just a matter of time that he be-
of God, we just
gins to question me about my outlook on life. I tell him
keep moving for-
the same thing Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1,
ward, whether we
“You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
err or not. And we grow stronger in Christ each day.
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A
shlee is an 18 year-old young adult whose testimony will grip at the heart strings of anyone with a pulse. At a young age Ashlee’s life seemed to be a threshold into her future repetitious heartaches. Before finding residency in Oklahoma City, she, along with her parents, lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She and her family attended church and were dynamically involved with the youth ministry. As a girl, Ashlee was raped by the son of her baby sitter who attended their church. Her innocence was stolen, she was a child who dreamed in lyrics and beats, not a girl who would soon forget her worth because a “boy” took it upon himself to prey on the blamelessness found lingering within the eyes of a child. Little did she realize the ramifications that day would have on the approaching years. From that tragic moment on it seemed as though Ashlee made her home in the confines of her brokenness. She kept her shame a secret, for fear of judgment and fault. As she grew older she began to piece together the moment she fought so desperately to forget; she was haunted by someone else’s evil. Ashlee began to develop, as she entered high school the opposite sex began to notice her more and more-she met a boy. She walked into a relationship with high hopes that this one would not let her down. Again, she was proven wrong. The word love held no luster; his actions only pointed Ashlee in the direction of his lies. She discovered him cheating with multiple girls’ and two babies on the way. The ripping and shredding that had taken place on Ashlee’s heart was wearing thin. In the midst of being physically, emotionally and mentally abused, her grandfather began to pick away at the remains of Ashlee’s fragile heart. He kicked Ashlee and her mother out of his house in the name of mere spite, and sadly their relationship continues to struggle-although they have made much progress. Agonized and consumed by her increasing doubt of humanity, Ashlee grew weary and poured herself into drinking and smoking marijuana as an outlet for all pain. The abuse and abandonment had encompassed her being in such a physical way that all hope was fizzling. She clung to her parents for support, all the while expecting her father to break her, leave her or despise her. However, he never did, he never has. Ashlee’s father restored her faith in men simply by showering her with the unconditional love of a father for his daughter. It was not until her junior year of high school that
things seemed to find a steady rhythm in Ashlee’s world. She finally met a respectable guy, one who saw her battered heart, was aware of all her man-made scars and yet cherished every part of her. Ashlee finally found acceptance. But not due to a mere boy, but rather by discovering her identity in Jesus Christ. He restored what no man could. Ashlee’s brokenness had been her worst sickness, yet music was her pleasing sound; her escape. She always felt as if pitch and sound were the things that cradled her in the midst of her personal hell; music always explained itself, it always brought clarity. In music she found joy, in worship she found restoration. Ashlee is now a high school graduate of Putnam City Original and is currently attending OSU-OKC majoring in Special Needs Education and Therapy. She was always under the assumption that music would be her chosen career but her course changed when she became the nanny of a little special needs boy that transformed her life. Ashlee was able to connect with him on another level and she felt as though this was her new adventure. She recognizes that music will always follow her. She was also recently reconnected with Youth for Christ of Oklahoma City, a ministry that reached her as a student at Cooper Middle School. She now daily has the opportunity through YFC to share her epic testimony on different school campuses while building relationships with the students. By exercising her gift through the music that brought her redemption, Ashlee now shares hope with the young generation of our city, spreading light into darkness and trading pain for joy. Many ears, young and old, have heard of Ashlee’s story because of her singing, yet the most astounding part of it all is that she overcame every heart break and every disappointment to blossom into a leader. She is a conqueror, a young woman who remembered her worth when it was stolen, and a lady warrior who braved the great unknown to uncover her faith again. She is refined, refinished and renewed. “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:25-26 If you or a student you know relates to the tragedy’s of Ashlee’s story and desire assistance walking through the process of healing and restoration, please contact the Youth For Christ team at admin@yfcokc.org. The YFC team of staff and partners will connect you with resource organizations and the support needed to find hope from darkness.
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YFC okc
west
Love that lives skylineokc.com Skyline is a church body comprised of Missional Communities
Integrating God’s mission for the world into our daily lives. We gather every Sunday morning at 10:00 in the Sandridge Auditorium, located at 123 Robert S Kerr.
hrough great team chemistry and a Core of student leaders, we are developing student leaders into disciples that are reaching other students with the Good news of God’s love! Each week we have the privilege of encouraging our students as they develop and take ownership of their Bethany Campus Life IMPACT Club and their community. In order to strategically accomplish this goal, we have developed a group of committed students who have committed to living like Christ and reaching their “World” (Campus, Family, Neighborhood). We call this group of leaders “The Core” and just as the name suggest, all of our other work is built around them. One terrific example of The Core is Cole Miller, an 8th grader who is a living his life on purpose. Here is some of his Campus Life IMPACT club experience. I have lived in a Christian home my entire life yet at my school there was always bullies and other kids who were always looking for a fight. Impact club
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The Core has impacted many kids in school like mine; many of the bullies were Christians who wanted to act cool for their friends but needed some better people in their life. Impact Club has helped me lead one of my friends to Christ he would go to my Church every once in a while. With Impact Club he realized that no one would ridicule him for loving Christ and that he could stand with other Christians. Please continue to pray for the students of the Bethany Campuses, like Cole, as they commit their lives to stand as examples to their Generation! This young generation needs our prayers and support like never before. Thank you for supporting this worthy cause as we daily work to disciple tomorrow’s leaders and connect with the lost hearts! —Calvin Roberson, Bethany Area Coordinator
bethany yfc | volume 2, issue 1
by Glenn Irwin
To know Him (Jesus) and make Him known is the basis of what YFC
with him and Sara, to any place of the couple’s choice to order whatever
Impact club is about. It’s about going beyond the walls of the church,
they wanted on the menu. While having lunch together, the couples got
even beyond comfort and convenience, into inconvenience in our ev-
to know each other by playing a friendly game of “would you rather”. No
eryday life to help others. It is the call to step outside of what the world
one judged the other. No one felt as if they were above or below the oth-
sees as a Christian and to walk in the Biblical picture of a disciple of
er. It was as if the two couples were just friends having lunch together.
Christ. How often does the busyness of life take the majority of our
As they ate, Greg began to share their story and how they ended
thought processes, leaving little to no thought to letting the love of
up homeless. They talked about how drugs, along with a number of bad
Jesus shine through us? We sometimes make the mistake of putting
decisions, led them to where they were that day. Upon finishing their
our schedule higher than God’s agenda, filling every second of the
story, Rebecca mentioned how they were trying to get to her grand-
day with a to-do list, constantly hanging onto the thought that there is
mother’s house in Joplin, Missouri. Immediately Robbie looked at Sara
never enough time in the day. However, the truth is there will never be
and whispered to her, “look and see how much two bus tickets would
enough time to squeeze in all the conveniences we have for ourselves
cost to Joplin.” Sara, already on her phone looking up tickets, answered
and the divine interruptions that God presents before us in order to
quietly, “I’m already on it.” After treating the couple to lunch, the new-
be used by him. I believe life is a process of learning to recognize the
lyweds invited couple back to their place to get cleaned up. They of-
divine interruptions that God creates for his disciples.
fered them some clean clothes along with a shower. Once Greg and
Throughout the Bible, Jesus had multiple divine interruptions
Rebecca had showered and changed into some new clean clothes, they
present themselves to him. When these interruptions came before
sat down with Robbie and Sara, who proceed to tell them they had pur-
Him, He countered them with the intention of love. Everything Jesus
chased two bus tickets to Joplin for them and they would be leaving in
did was from a place of love and only love. Not to gain fame or recogni-
the next hour, if they would like to accept them! Along with the tickets,
tion but for the sole purpose of showing people how God loves them.
Robbie and Sara sent Greg and Rebecca to Joplin with a suitcase full of
1 John 4:19 states, “We love because he first loved us.” God give
clean clothes, toiletries, two bibles and some snacks for the road. Be-
us the privilege and provides opportunities everyday to love others, all
fore heading to the bus station, Robbie told Greg and Rebecca a story;
because He first loved us. Love has been perverted and twisted today
essentially it was a picture of Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross
in our world to something that it was never intended to be. The world’s
for all of us. Robbie told the couple that Jesus loves them and led them
perspective of love is merely words with no power, no action and no
in a prayer for salvation. After getting to the bus station, Greg and Re-
emotion behind it. However God’s love is powerful. He gave us the
becca thanked Robbie and Sara, who told them that God had blessed
best example of love when He gave His son for us. Loving others is not
them and that they were happy to be able to bless someone else. They
only a gift, but a command that God has given us as well. John 13:34-35
all hugged each other and exchanged phone numbers. Robbie and Sara
says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved
told them to keep in touch and that they would continue to pray for their
you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you
recovery and safety. A few days later Robbie got a call from Greg and
are My disciples, if you love one another.” God commanded us, as His
Rebecca saying they had made it to her grandmother’s house and that
disciples, to love everyone, from our boss at work, to the rude cashier at
they were going to church and a recovery program there in Joplin.
the grocery store, or even the homeless couple on the side of the road.
Robbie and Sara did nothing spectacular, said nothing profound,
One chilly day in Oklahoma City a newlywed couple named Robbie
they simply acted as Jesus would. They followed a spirit led impulse,
and Sara were busy running errands. While stopped at a light they hap-
a reflex of living the Christian walk, no thinking twice, no praying
pen to see a young homeless couple standing on the corner asking for
about what to do, they just acted out of the reflex of love, the love
money. Robbie proceeded to give the young couple the $3 he had in his
of Jesus. They responded to the opportunity to Love their world that
wallet before driving past them. The newlyweds continued on with their
was provided to them and Impacted Greg and Rebecca forever! Each
errands, not realizing that they may have just missed a divine interruption.
of us should learn to live sensitive to the God directed opportunities in
As they approach their destination, Robbie turned to Sara and said, “I feel
our daily journey to love our world in such a generous way. Although
like we need to go back and talk to that homeless couple.” Sara agreed
each of our God given moments might look different from Robbie and
and on their way home, they went back to the light where the couple had
Sara’s, we must choose to live open lives to God’s voice and direction
been on the side of the road. Their goal was simply to show them love.
to Impact others so as to not miss opportunities. Simply put, be led by
Robbie and Sara spend some time talking to the homeless couple, whose
the Spirit’s guidance and let your reflexes come from Christ’s Love!
names were Greg and Rebecca. Robbie invited them to come to lunch
“…keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God…”
yfc | volume 2, issue 1
Matt 5:16 (The Message)
21
YFC okc
east
YFC okc
South by joanna johnson
by Marcus Jackson
T
his week at Douglass High School and Middle School we had our Big Club in which the students invite a friend or too and the classroom was full to capacity. Giving us the opportunity
to minister and encourage over 50 teenagers. I spoke about how God is the ultimate architect and has the blueprint for our lives if we look to Him. It was a word based on Jeremiah 29:11. At the end of the talk, we had over 20 students commit their lives and goals to God. One of those kids named Deshawn, made that decision and decided to give up his gang affiliation for new affiliation with Christ. Since then him and I have been texting and speaking throughout the week. He has also plugged nto our student ministry at The Secret Place.
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yfc | volume 1, issue 4
M
y desire to work with inner city youth started when I was 12, and I was on a trip with my church. We spent some time working with an inner city community center in Louisville, KY. During that trip I knew that God was calling me to do this for the rest of my life. I didn’t know exactly what I would be doing, I just knew that God was going to have me working in inner city ministry. Fast forward to adulthood, and I can see myself living out what God called me to do at 12 years old. Two summers ago, at camp, I met a group of middle school girls who were all headed into their freshman year of high school. Our camp relationship developed into something more when we returned home. The girls started asking me deeper questions about my faith, their home lives, preparing for college and how to deal with difficult situations. Every time we would meet together they would bring friends and ask random questions. I realized after that first summer the reason they were asking me those questions was because they had no one in their life like me. They didn’t necessarily have a role model of what a Godly woman looked like. Four of the five young ladies that I met that summer were all born to teenage parents, a few of their parents were just a few years older than me. The girls witnessed
different types of abuse in their homes, and were making adult decisions at 14 years of age. Over the course of the last two years, our relationship has grown so much. I am seeing some of them living out what they are learning about Christ. When I was their age I had Godly women setting examples for me. They pushed me into pursuing God’s call on my life, and I can only hope that I am doing the same things for my girls. It is such an awesome thing to be living out a call that God gave me at 12 years old. I look forward to seeing where God will lead each of them, and how He will use me in that plan.
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p m a K y d Ran
e n t r e p r e n e u r // kampco foods By Samuel “Brian” Hill
is what
most people would call a success. He has a beautiful wife, Linda, of 27 years and he has three lovely daughters, Lauren, Jessica and Rebecca. He has an Accounting degree and he is a CPA. He has a Law degree from the University Of Oklahoma College Of Law. He is President/CEO of KampCo Foods, a company which owns nine Johnny Carino’s locations throughout Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, plus two locations of the OKC favorite, Kamp’s 1910, the original at 10 NE 10th and the newest location in the Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center. He is a member of CBMC of OKC and is well respected throughout Oklahoma City. All of this success and yet Randy felt like something was missing. In 2003, his health took a turn that would lead him down a difficult path. Over the last 10 years with multiple major medical issues such as cancer, a pulmonary embolism and a bike accident, which resulted in a combined 30 days spent in the hospital; Randy found himself asking what to do with his life. He started processing and inquiring, “My life is changing. My kids are almost all grown up. What am I suppose to do with the rest of my life? What am I going to do with my time? Sure I can get busy doing stuff, but is that what I’m suppose to do? I really don’t think so. What am I suppose to do now?” After sitting with his mentor, Steve Trice, and writing out his life mission statement, Randy realized his purpose in life now is to reach the employees of his company with the Gospel. “What I believe is I have 500 employees and my purpose is to figure out how to minister and witness to those people. That’s my whole deal.” Although he admits that he is not sure how to achieve that goal yet, he is committed to the process of figuring it out. “I don’t
24 24
know how to do it. I’m praying about it. That is why God has given me all this stuff, it’s to figure out how to love on these employees and witness to these people. God has given me this (company) to steward, but it’s not mine.” Randy spoke of the challenges he faces in living out his mission in a practical sense. Obstacles such as the long distances between locations and language barriers which have complicated his purpose, yet he doesn’t believe the difficulties “give him a pass”. He believes that as a man of faith, he has a responsibility to share his values which have guided him in life and business. “God desires for everyone to know him” and Randy has accepted that truth as a standard by which to operate KampCo Foods. Randy attributes this commitment to living on purpose to having a mentor. “I encourage you that if you don’t have one (a mentor), to go out and get one.” His message comes across very clear as a Christian, as a family man and as a business leader. He believes we should all strive to live on purpose and walk such a lifestyle out with someone who is challenging us. If we do, it will improve our walk with God, our marriages, our families and the lives of those we employee or lead. For more information about KampCo Foods, including locations of their Johnny Carino’s Italian Grill’s, go to www.kampcofoods.com or for Kamp’s 1910 to www.kamps1910cafe.net. You can also follow Kamp’s 1910 on Facebook or Twitter at @Kamps1910.
1, issue 14 yfc | volume 2,
Oklahoma City songstress Leah
writes songs about what she knows: love. Her debut album, Greatest Love, comprises eight songs that showcase her relationship with the Lord. Singing in church since she was young and taking piano lessons from the age of nine through college, it was only natural that Leah would become part of the worship team at her church, Eagle Heights in Oklahoma City. With her pure, powerful voice and an impressive range reminiscent of Kelly Clarkson, Leah could certainly find success writing and performing secular music. But Leah can’t deny the source of her talent. “I feel like it’s music God has given me and he wants people to hear it,” Leah said. “I want people to know that you can have relationship with God and that
Le a h By Brianne Webb
yfc | volume 2, issue 1
25
he’s real, he exists, and that should be our number one relationship.” Hence the title of the album: Greatest Love. The title track from Leah’s album recently gained exposure when it was hand-picked to be featured in a commercial for the Oklahoma chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “I don’t even know how that happened,” Leah said. “My label just called me and said they wanted to use ‘Greatest Love’ or another one of my songs called ‘Hero.’ It was an honor, and that’s a great organization so it was really neat to be a part of that.” Leah also acknowledges the importance of faith-based Oklahoma City organizations like Youth For Christ, the Whiz Kids tutoring program, and church youth groups. “As a teenager, you’re always looking for encouragement, advice, and guidance,” she said. “And sharing about God, letting kids know the importance of that being the number one relationship, is so important.”
Leah’s next goal for her music is to perform at women’s conferences and youth events. She has a special passion for reaching out to young women. “It’s hard being a girl these days,” Leah said. “I have a daughter now that’s almost five, so I definitely want to encourage girls. I wrote ‘When You Look At Me’ with women in mind. Because these days it’s how you look, your weight, how you dress, hair, everything. It doesn’t matter to God if you have a few extra pounds on you; God made us all the way he wants us to be.” A signed artist with Tate Music Group in Mustang, Oklahoma, Leah is currently writing songs for a second project that will be more pop-driven. Keeping in mind her two-year-old son and four-year-old daughter, she plans on releasing an album of upbeat love songs that are positive, appropriate, and kid-friendly. To purchase Leah’s album or inquire about booking Leah for an event, visit www.LeahMusicOnline.com.
405.757.4262 www.redstilettophoto.com
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