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ConnectionC H R I S T I N Y O U T H
T H I R D Q U A R T E R 2 0 0 6 • W W W . C I Y . C O M
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ConnectionConnection
2 Approaching Middle Age3 Jack Martin Retires After 38 Years of Service4 2006: The Year of Summer Snow
No Sweat? No, Know Sweat!
This newsletter printed by Pittcraft Printing, a proud supporter of Christ In Youth!www.pittcraft.com
“I like working, because we are doing this for God,” is the way sixteen year-old Kelina Tucker put it. She went on to say, “I enjoy knowing our actions help show the love of God to other people.”
Kelina is one of 2,060 Jr. and Sr. High students and their sponsors who spent part of their summer at a CIY Know Sweat Service Project. Because of the particularly warm weather at most locations, they did indeed KNOW SWEAT!
But they also came to know the joy and satisfaction of working for someone who has
no ability to repay them for their work. In fact, most recipients of their labor are either elderly or handicapped who might not be able to get the work done at all if not for these willing young servants.
At one job site in southern Missouri, students helped paint the home of a couple who raised a family and lived more than 40 years on a monthly disability check. Th e grateful recipients described their work crew as, “great kids and hard, hard workers.” As they sat under a shade tree and watched the progress, their gratitude was obvious. Students did minor repairs, painted the entire house, and built a porch dur-
ing their three days on site.
David Rowlen, a sponsor with a group from Indiana, said he was happy to be involved in his third summer of Know Sweat. He laughed as he recounted the look on his student’s faces when they learned that rather than “being paid to bring them...I was paying to come along as a sponsor.” Th anks, Dave, for your heart for the Lord and the students!
If you would like to learn more about how your Jr. and Sr. High students can participate in Know Sweat for 2007, go to www.ciy.com/knowsweat.
Top Left: Carmel, IN Group—fi rst time at Know Sweat—Great Job Gang!; Top Right: Mountain View Baptist provided lunch for workers--Delicious!; Bottom Left: Anderson, IN Group including Dave Rowlen and family served; Bottom Right: Anderson, IN Group with Joe Wisely and mother of man served
CIY APPROACHING “MIDDLE AGE”BY ANDY HANSEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Christ In Youth is approaching 40 years of helping the church reach students with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Over those years there have been more than 100 staff mem-bers and hundreds of thousands of program participants, and we are trying to make connection with as many of those as possible.
If you are (or know) a former staff member, we want to make sure we have current contact information. In the next couple of years we will be conducting some special “40 years of service” events, and we want to keep former staff informed and involved.
In addition, we are working to identify as many multi-generational participant families as possible. We are already aware of several families where parents and children have both attended student events. We also believe it is likely there are even some three-generation participants, and we would really like to identify them as well.
If you know of multi-generational participant families, former staff , or if you are in one of these categories, please contact us at your fi rst opportunity. Th ere are three convenient ways to reach us:
Th e fi rst is to call the CIY Development offi ce and ask for Lueda Phillips. Th e num-ber is 417-781-2273 extension 104. Th e second is to e-mail us at [email protected] and provide your name, address, telephone and brief history of your participa-tion with CIY. Finally, you can log on to www.ciy.com/Home/ciyfamily.htm and complete the information form.
For nearly four decades, God has blessed CIY with many dedicated and hard-working staff members. As a result, thousands of churches have benefi ted from programs, events, youth worker training and mission trips. Hundreds of thousands of students have been challenged to accept the truth of the Gospel and follow Jesus as Savior and Lord.
And the best is still to ahead of us! Th ank you for helping us make contact with former staff and multi-generational participants. And thank you for helping Change Youth...Change the World!
Decisions for Jesus and Thoughts from ParentsWe love to hear from you when you have been blessed by a CIY program, event or mission trip. To leave your testimony online, go to www.ciy.com/giving/testimony.htm.
Here are a couple of examples of things we have heard lately:
By far, the coolest thing at Pennsylvania CIY (Summer Conference) was that I got to baptize (at church yes-terday) a guy who will be a junior from my group who has been resisting becoming a Christian for years. He was at Conference and fi nally on the last night in “His Time” (youth group time), he said he wanted to talk to me about becoming a Christian.
Two years ago at Conference, we received glow sticks, and were told to reach one person and then light the stick when they accepted Christ. He was the one I was praying for. So I told him when I prayed alone with him on Friday night that I still had that glow stick at my house by my bed and that I had been praying for him ever since. On Sunday morning after I baptized him (see photo below), I lit the stick and gave it to him. Really, really neat day!
—Paul in Virginia
We just had the privilege to attend the last two days of Summer Conference, and we have to say that after attending fi ve Conferences in the last fi ve years (all fi ve of our children, ages 16-21 have attended), we were impressed. The overall attitude of staff and interns; the technical work; the video, audio, graphic and bookstore production ideas and implementation; the music content and production; the use of induc-tive Bible study for the week’s them from Ephesians; the tireless efforts and talents of the speakers and teachers to convey the messages of repentance and surrender; and the freedom the Holy Spirit has to move in and through this organization is incredible.
Thank you for your continued humble reliance on and surrender to the working of the Holy Spirit!
—David and Ariane in Florida
“Thank you for your continued humble reliance on and surrender to the working of the Holy Spirit!”
—Dave & Ariane in Florida
Church in Gays, Illinois sent two sets of three generations to Summer Conference – The two men on the ends are both in their 70’s and love to attend with their “kids”.
Nancy Carlson and children Andrew, Jordan and Cassie
Jack Martin was there when it all began and has faithfully served on the Christ In Youth Board of Trustees through thick and thin. And at times, that meant very thin. Jack remem-bers early on when, “we asked an accountant to look at the books and tell us where we were fi nancially. I will never forget the report, ‘CIY IS BANKRUPT!’” Th ough he would play it down, Jack was one of the Trustees who placed a second mortgage on his home to keep the ministry moving forward.
Jack and his wife, Zemeta, have been in Chris-tian ministry for over fi fty years. While he has retired from the CIY Board, he is anything but retired from local church work. In fact, he is now leading Community Christian Church in Apache Junction, Arizona in a major building campaign to serve their growing membership.
Jack’s motto is “Go With Th e Gospel!” which is his continual challenge to his congregation and was his focus at CIY. He said, “I have been asked why I stayed with CIY for 38 years, and it is because I believe in this ministry and the need it is meeting. Until Jesus comes, we cannot and must not lower the standards or
neglect the commission given His church, ‘Go, tell, baptize, teach until I come.’”
Th ough he is no longer active on CIY’s Board, Jack has great confi dence in those who carry on the work. “Th e Trustees are men and women of integrity and faith. It was an honor to work alongside them. Th ey are deserving of your prayers and concern as they prayerfully stay
connected to the Head of CIY, Jesus!” Andy Hansen, Jayson French, Steve Sigler, Brenda Hawkins and a tre-mendous team of dedicated
workers are determined to ‘Change Youth’ in order to ‘Change the World!’”
Jack went on to off er this challenge. “Gypsy Smith once said, ‘Save an adult and you save a unit: save a youth and you save the whole multiplication table.’ To change our world to-day, it is imperative that we reach the younger generation. Th ey are not only the leaders of tomorrow; they are yielding a strong infl uence on today.”
Th ank you, Jack. Th ank you for 38 years of service and for helping keep CIY strong and true to the teachings of Christ. May God continue to bless you and Zemeta as you work for His Kingdom!
CONGRESS OPENS WINDOW FOR INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT GIFTS
It is awfully easy to complain about what happens in the “hallowed halls” of the U.S. Congress. But, just recently something really good came through those halls and it deals with individual retirement accounts or IRA’s.
With this new law, you can now contribute up to $100,000 directly from your IRA and avoid paying income tax on the amount you contribute. Of course, there are some “rules”: you must be at least 70.5 years-old; the contribution must be to a qualifi ed public charity (CIY qualifi es); your gift must be made by the end of 2007.
If you have an IRA and would like to learn more or would consider making a contribu-tion to CIY to help reach youth with the Gos-pel of Christ, please contact the Development Team. You can call 417-781-2273 extension 104 or e-mail at [email protected].
SPECIAL CHURCH GIFTS NEEDED
Churches have always been the lifeblood of support for Christ In Youth. They have sent students, sponsors, prayers and gifts to help keep the ministry strong and reaching this generation for Jesus—and for this, we are truly grateful!
As we move into the third quarter of 2006, we once again need to ask for the special help of church friends. This year’s church funding goal is $302,000. Thus far, we an-ticipate about $250,000 from regular church partners leaving a need of $52,000 by the end of the year.
Would you be willing to present this special need to your congregation’s decision-mak-ers? Or, would you pave the way for our Development Team to make the contact? If so, please contact Lueda Phillips at 417-781-2273, extension 104 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Thanks for help-ing us reach this goal and keep the ministry strong!
JACK MARTIN RETIRES AFTER 38 YEARS OF SERVICE
“Th ank you, Jack”
Jim Gingrich (Board Chair), Jack Martin and Andy Hansen, Executive Director
Christ In YouthPO Box BJoplin, MO 64802
Contact the Offi ce: Phone: (417) 781-2273 Fax: (417) 781-5958 Email: [email protected]
Non-Profi t Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Kansas City, MO
Permit #6654
Change Service Requested
2006: THE YEAR OF “SUMMER SNOW” It snowed in some very hot places this summer, and as one might expect, it was a refreshing break from temperatures hovering near 100 degrees. In actuality, the snow was not “real” and it was very limited in scope, just on the stage. But it was a very crucial part of the 2006 Summer Conference “Mystery” theme.
Mystery was drawn from a study of one of the key words in the New Testament book of Ephe-sians. Over the course of the week, students and sponsors were led through a comprehensive study of nearly the entire book. Each student was given “Th e Key,” a workbook to guide them through each day’s text.
On the third day, the text was Ephesians 4:7-5:14 and the topic “Mysterious Calling”. A particular focus was how God has planned the church to be a vital and pure example to the world. During the evening session, a story was read telling how snow can cover even the ugli-
est thing and make it seem pure and beautiful.
Th en it happened, SNOW! And the students and sponsors, who were all wearing white shirts in preparation for this symbolic cleansing, sang and worshipped in awe and wonder of God’s amazing grace.
To further the symbolism, students were invited to wash their hands or as Ephesians 4:22-23 says, “to put off your old self...to be made new in the attitude of your minds.” It was inspiring to see hundreds of young men and women lining up to make this commitment to purity of faith and life.
All totaled, nearly 21,000 students and spon-sors studied Ephesians and discovered God’s Mystery—the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For more information about how you can participate in Summer Conference, log on to www.ciy.com/summerconference or call Jennifer at summerconference or call Jennifer at summerconference 417-781-2273 ext. 107.
BELIEVE JR. HIGH ONLY DATES
October 13-14 Nashville, TNOctober 27-28 Dallas, TXNovember 10-11 Portland, OR
Elevate (Winter Ski Conference)December 27–30
September 29-30 Atlanta, GAOctober 6-7 Jacksonville, FLOctober 20-21 Wichita, KSNovember 3-4 Indianapolis, INNovember 17-18 St. Louis, MONovember 17-18 St. Louis, MONovember 17-18 St. Louis, MO
Top Left: Student using “The Key” study guide; Top Right: Students worship at Purity Celebration; Bottom Left: Students cleanse their hands and hearts; Bottom Right: Students fan out for “Encounter” time.
