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GIVE LIFETO YOURSTORY

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Winter 2015

MeTro MAryLAnD

GivinG Life To My SToryby Chip Pierce

Over 35 years ago, my story connected withYFC’s. I was captivated as I sat on the stepsof my family room and listened to one of theCampus Life leaders talk about Jesus to aroom full of high school students. Even at 11years of age, I was drawn to the conversationsand to God by what I heard. By the time I wasa senior in high school, I sensed God wascalling me to be a part of the YFC movement.

This calling was confirmed during college as I interned for two summers inBaltimore with YFC and spent my first year after college with YFC in thePhilippines. In the early 90’s, I had the privilege of helping YFC develop theirmiddle school outreach in the Baltimore area.

In the mid nineties, I decided to attend graduate school, but continued tovolunteer with and support YFC. Then in 2001, I returned to YFC as aMinistry Director, as MMYFC was experiencing tremendous growth inministry and wanted to make sure it was done in a healthy and balancedmanner.

Over the past five years, I’ve had the opportunity to also be a part of YFC atthe National level. I serve on the National Campus Life Team and as aRegional Campus Life Coordinator. Both of these positions focus on helpingministry teams develop and maintain healthy and thriving ministry sites.

It has been a tremendous blessing to be a partof the YFC movement all these years. Godcontinues to use YFC to challenge and stretch myrelationship with Him and increase mydependence on His grace. YFC has indeed givenlife to my story.

“Chip makes Campus Life ministry around thecountry better. He invests weekly into the healthand growth of the Southern and Eastern Regiionsthrough empowering those Regional Teams. Weare all grateful for the time and energy that Chipinvests, but more than that – we are grateful forhis heart for the Father and for lost kids.” AllisonJohnson, National Campus Life Middle SchoolDirector

Chip Pierce and Family

ConTACT MMyfC8900 Belair Road

Baltimore, MD 21236410-529-4434

www.mmyfc.org

HeArT of GrACeFor the past 15 years, Ann Crandall hasbeen volunteering with MMYFC by help-ing to stuff and mail thousands of lettersand publications. Ann raised her own tenchildren, helped raise grandchildren andran a daycare in her home for 25 years.She was referred to Youth for Christ by herpastor, when her one teenage grandsonRay was hav-ing problems.Mark Miller,on staff withYFC, workedwith Ray forthe next sixyears and inthe process,Ann became a dear friend, wanting to giveback in some way. She loves kids and val-ues the relationship she has had withMMYFC over the years. Ann claims thatas she gets older, mailings are somethingshe can do to help make a difference inkids’ lives. Thank you Ann for your count-less hours and heart full of grace and love!

“Everyone can be great because anyonecan serve. You don’t have to have a col-lege degree to serve. You don’t evenhave to make your subject and your verbagree to serve…You only need a heart fullof grace. A soul generated by love.” Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr.

GAMe onAlive 2014Middle School ConferenceFor 25 years now, every November, MMYFC has hostedour ALIVE Middle School Conference in Ocean City, MD.Our recent conference was GAME ON time for over 2,000students, leaders, staff and volunteers.“Runks” (a big6’2”kid himself), shared hilarious stories, all the whilecommunicating God’s truth with clarity and depth. Kidswere drawn to both Runks and Tyra Lokey, as she sharedher incredibly powerful story and performed a song insign language with over 100 of them on Sunday morning.Add to that great worship, workshops, small groups andfree time, and it was definitely a weekend to remember!

YFC reaches young people everywhere,working together with the local church

and other likeminded partners to raise up lifelong followersof Jesus who lead by their Godliness in lifestyle, devotionto the Word of God and prayer, passion for sharing the loveof Christ and commitment to social involvement.FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MMYFC GO TOWWW.MMYFC.ORG

oUr MiSSion

The Staff of Metro MarylandYouth for Christ wisheseveryone a Blessed 2015

JAKE HELMS

CoMe AS yoU AreOver 150 high school studentsand leaders spent the firstweekend of the new year inGettysburg, PA for our annualAvalanche retreat. Due toweather conditions, outdoorsnow sports were cancelled,but that didn’t damper thespirits of those in attendance!The hotel hallways were filledwith laughter and commotion,the conference room filled with great energy andmeeting times, being challenged to “come asyou are”, and free time was spent at local indoorfacilities.

Messages given by YFC staff encouragedstudents to consider a relationship with God,understanding that He made them, doesn’t makemistakes and created them with a purpose. Theywere challenged to accept what Jesus had donefor them and the hope He offers us.

Small groups gave kids an opportunity to discusswhat was presented with their leaders, andconsider what it meant for them. Some madefirst time decisions to follow Christ, whereasothers decided to take their faith more seriously.

This retreat is a great opportunity to buildrelationships with those young people whoattend weekly Campus Life club meetings. It alsoallows kids a place to get away (from a largelyelectronic world they live in), consider what Godmeans in their lives, and go back to theircommunities refreshed and encouraged – thatGod calls all of us to come as we are!

UnifieDUnDerGroUnDReaching the Subculture Communities

Unified Underground “UU” is Youth forChrist’s national ministry to reach sub-culture youth, including Skateboarders,Punks, Goths, Hardcore, Metal and Hip-Hop among others.

Begun in Louisville, KY in 1998, UUjoined forces with MMYFC in 2006,under the leadership of Loyal Thurman,as an outreach to this ever-growingcommunity of kids. Since then, UU hasblossomed into a national ministry ofYFC, with locations now in Florida,Michigan, New York, New Jersey and In-diana.

Here in Maryland, bi-weekly or monthly“shows” are hosted in Catonsville, An-napolis, White Marsh and Linthicum,with anywhere from 35-300 youth in at-tendance. “These shows are raw andmany local bands get the opportunityto play for an audience of youth who arelooking for community and accept-ance”, according to Loyal Thurman.UU’s staff have opportunities to mingleduring these concerts and listen to whatis going on in the lives of kids. Staffshare Christ’s love and hope by estab-lishing friendships with kids who are of-tentimes hostile to the gospel. If you’reinterested in more information, contactloyal@unifiedunderground.com

MeTro MAryLAnD 8900 Belair Road Baltimore, MD 21236

2015 DATeS To reMeMBerWINTER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Feb 27-28

IMPACT 2015 HIGH SCHOOL CONFERENCE

Ocean City, MD Convention Centerwww.impact.mmyfc.org - March 27-29

ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER

Featuring Kevin Sorbo & Francesca BattistelliMartin’s West - May 12

2015 DATeS To reMeMBerTHE VOICE HIGH SCHOOL RETREATCape Henlopen, DE June 23-28

HEATWAVE HIGH SCHOOL RETREATWildwood, NJJune 28-July 2

YFC HIGH SCHOOL CAMPNorthbay in Northeast, MDJuly 12-18

YFC MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPNorthbay in Northeast, MDJuly 19-23

CROSSROADS MIDDLE SCHOOL RETREATCape Henlopen, DEAugust 14-19

PERFORMANCE BY

FRANCESCABATTISTELLI

YOUTH FOR CHRIST R

METRO MARYLAND

MAY 12, 2015

GUEST SPEAKER

KEVIN SORBO

Join us & other friends of Youth for Christ at our

Annual Fundraising Dinner

SAVE THE DATE

www.mmyfc.org

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