Our website has some new stuff on it. Explore here...YWAM Modesto
And here's a little slide show of our trip to Thailand...have fun!
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| Thailand |
Monday, December 17, 2007
Thailand Pictures
Hey, hey,
Our website has some new stuff on it. Explore here...YWAM Modesto
And here's a little slide show of our trip to Thailand...have fun!
Our website has some new stuff on it. Explore here...YWAM Modesto
And here's a little slide show of our trip to Thailand...have fun!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Official YWAM press release
A lone gunman entered a Youth With A Mission training center in the Denver, Colorado suburb of Arvada early Sunday morning, opening fire and hitting four members of the staff. All were taken to local hospitals and two later died of their injuries.
The two wounded remain in serious condition. The gunman has not yet been apprehended, and police are continuing their search for him.
The deceased have been identified as Tiffany Johnson, 26, from Minnesota, and Philip Crouse, 24, from Alaska. Both served as staff members at the Youth With A Mission Arvada campus. The third victim, Dan Griebenow, 24, has a bullet in his neck and is listed in critical but stable condition. The fourth victim Charlie Blanch, 22, suffered gunshot wounds to his legs.
Peter Warren, the Director of Youth with a Mission Denver says they had just finished a Christmas banquet when the suspect arrived and asked a 22-year-old woman from Minnesota if he could be housed for the evening. When she told him they could not house him, that's when, Warren says, the suspect opened fire with an automatic handgun, hitting four people. Police say they do not know whether the shooting was random or if there was a motive.
Warren says, "The young man - I don't know who he is; I don't think [the victims] knew him - but he must be going through a lot personally in his own life to do something like this. Our belief is that only God is the judge and our place is to forgive and that's a difficult thing to do, but really, I think it's the right thing to do," said Warren.
There are about 80 people living on the Arvada campus and they have been transported to the group's mountain campus near Golden, Colorado where they will stay while the murder investigation is processed at their residence. Warren says they are trying to deal with this situation as best as they can.
"There's no blueprint for this," said Warren. "You know, we're just going to be honest, we're going to pray with one another and cry with one another. These kids were like our kids, you know. It's just such a tragedy, but who knows what's going on in this young man's life."
Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is an international and interdenominational Christian movement with operating locations in 171 nations. Launched in 1960 as a means for young people to get involved in short-term missionary service, it now has over 16 000 staff working in 1180 centers and trains over 25 000 people each year to be involved in the organization's primary goal - to know God and make Him known. YWAM is hugely varied in its approach, operating such ministries as drop-in centers for street children in South America; hospice care for AIDs victims in Africa; literacy and job creation programs throughout Asia; and is well known for its quick response and long-term commitment to global disasters, such as the 2006 tsunami.
YWAM International Chairman Lynn Green released this statement: "We feel a deep sense of loss today and we grieve with the families and those who were very close friends of the victims. Our surviving students and staff are being well cared for and we have total confidence in those who are responsible for the training program in Arvada to care for those who have been subjected to this assault.
"Those who lost their lives had dedicated themselves to serve and we feel the sorrow of their absence. Yet we take comfort from the assurance of everlasting life for those who follow Christ in loving service to others.
"It is a great tragedy that our culture seems to produce so many deeply troubled people who express their frustration in violence. We forgive the assailant and we rededicate ourselves to serving young people in the hope that we might bring healing to other needy youth."
The two wounded remain in serious condition. The gunman has not yet been apprehended, and police are continuing their search for him.
The deceased have been identified as Tiffany Johnson, 26, from Minnesota, and Philip Crouse, 24, from Alaska. Both served as staff members at the Youth With A Mission Arvada campus. The third victim, Dan Griebenow, 24, has a bullet in his neck and is listed in critical but stable condition. The fourth victim Charlie Blanch, 22, suffered gunshot wounds to his legs.
Peter Warren, the Director of Youth with a Mission Denver says they had just finished a Christmas banquet when the suspect arrived and asked a 22-year-old woman from Minnesota if he could be housed for the evening. When she told him they could not house him, that's when, Warren says, the suspect opened fire with an automatic handgun, hitting four people. Police say they do not know whether the shooting was random or if there was a motive.
Warren says, "The young man - I don't know who he is; I don't think [the victims] knew him - but he must be going through a lot personally in his own life to do something like this. Our belief is that only God is the judge and our place is to forgive and that's a difficult thing to do, but really, I think it's the right thing to do," said Warren.
There are about 80 people living on the Arvada campus and they have been transported to the group's mountain campus near Golden, Colorado where they will stay while the murder investigation is processed at their residence. Warren says they are trying to deal with this situation as best as they can.
"There's no blueprint for this," said Warren. "You know, we're just going to be honest, we're going to pray with one another and cry with one another. These kids were like our kids, you know. It's just such a tragedy, but who knows what's going on in this young man's life."
Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is an international and interdenominational Christian movement with operating locations in 171 nations. Launched in 1960 as a means for young people to get involved in short-term missionary service, it now has over 16 000 staff working in 1180 centers and trains over 25 000 people each year to be involved in the organization's primary goal - to know God and make Him known. YWAM is hugely varied in its approach, operating such ministries as drop-in centers for street children in South America; hospice care for AIDs victims in Africa; literacy and job creation programs throughout Asia; and is well known for its quick response and long-term commitment to global disasters, such as the 2006 tsunami.
YWAM International Chairman Lynn Green released this statement: "We feel a deep sense of loss today and we grieve with the families and those who were very close friends of the victims. Our surviving students and staff are being well cared for and we have total confidence in those who are responsible for the training program in Arvada to care for those who have been subjected to this assault.
"Those who lost their lives had dedicated themselves to serve and we feel the sorrow of their absence. Yet we take comfort from the assurance of everlasting life for those who follow Christ in loving service to others.
"It is a great tragedy that our culture seems to produce so many deeply troubled people who express their frustration in violence. We forgive the assailant and we rededicate ourselves to serving young people in the hope that we might bring healing to other needy youth."
Friday, September 21, 2007
BEEF!
It's what's for lunch this Sunday, Sunday, Sunday at New Hope Church (at the corner of Dale and Pelandale).
Every year our team... uh... teams up with our church here to host a day of food and music for our friends from our community and our community of friends downtown.
It should be jolly fun (I'm just taking everyone's word for it because this will be my first BBQ since I've been around and in town). So come on out, have some food, hang out with us, meet our friends and get away from it all for an afternoon (whatever your personal "it all" might be)!
Hope to see you here.
Every year our team... uh... teams up with our church here to host a day of food and music for our friends from our community and our community of friends downtown.
It should be jolly fun (I'm just taking everyone's word for it because this will be my first BBQ since I've been around and in town). So come on out, have some food, hang out with us, meet our friends and get away from it all for an afternoon (whatever your personal "it all" might be)!
Hope to see you here.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
True D-O-G!
Once a week, we spend time with some kids we met on S. 9th St. This is one our way to the park this week...
Saturday, September 1, 2007
New news!
Hey, hey!
Not a lot of time to post lately as I've been working on the YWAM Modesto Fall Newsletter. It turned out pretty good. Download the PDF here...
Fall Newsletter
Not a lot of time to post lately as I've been working on the YWAM Modesto Fall Newsletter. It turned out pretty good. Download the PDF here...
Fall Newsletter
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Not For Sale
David Batstone's "Not For Sale" is an important book. In it, he presents the realities of the global slave trade in an accessible, story driven style. I'm so thankful that I found out about it. Mr. Batstone has travelled all over the world and interviewed many of what he calls the "new abolitionists". They are missionaries, social workers, activists and just plain ole people that could not turn a blind eye to the hidden oppressed. The book details stories of slavery and freedom happening right now starting in Thailand, Cambodia, India, Peru, Asia and finally, yes, actual slavery here in the United States. Just because it's against the law doesn't mean that it doesn't happen here.
I highly recommend it as it not only show the problem, it shows real people and how they have responded with compassion and zealously have given their lives to help free slaves. The book ends with an entire chapter about what we can do to join the new abolitionist movement. If you are near me and want to borrow it, you are more than welcome. Here is the books website for you to order your own...notforsalecampaign.org
by Chris
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Leon
Leon is a 79 year old veteran who we've known for quite some time. He would come around the bread truck a few years ago, try to cut line, say something crotchety and take off with a pie or something. We would laugh when he'd show up...a guy you can't help but like but he also can leave you a little taken aback at some of the audacious things he chooses to say. Let's just say, it's an adventure to have a conversation with him.
About a year or so ago, he stopped coming to get his sweet from our Thursday bread share at Chavez park. Then we noticed his car not parked at his house anymore. One month ago, as we're preparing to give out the bread at the park, suddenly, there's Leon! Jimmy quickly learned the story. Leon's wife had died and his son had him move in. For one reason or another, Leon's son finally asked his father to leave his house. He, a 79 year old man, had been sleeping in his car around the park for several weeks, showering at the truck stop and making his way as best he knew how.
Last week, while visiting another friend, Dean, at his lower rent apartment we noticed a vacancy sign. We talked to the managers and they were willing to help Leon. Now, it can be frustrating to find homeless people as they don't usually have a way to get a hold of them but finally, we found Leon again. He was willing to check it out. He applied for the place coming empty.
Last Thursday we got the call, he's accepted into an apartment that won't deplete his small pension check and can move in on the first! Leon wasn't at the park on Thursday...it can be really frustrating. Friday, we spent the day downtown and on south 9th st. We decided to have lunch with another friend in the park and wait to see if Leon would show up...no Leon. So, we said a prayer and decided to play a game and see if he'd show. Right when we finished our game, there was Leon. We got him into the van, over to meet the building owner, the papers were signed and he's in!
Sometimes, this work can be frustrating and difficult. People in desperate situations can be scarred, suspicious, afraid of change and stuck in hurtful patterns. Every now and then, God shows us how easily he can break through all that and just move. Pray for Leon, he's worried about furniture and a little fearful of a new place. Pray that what he needs will come to him in every way...physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc.
About a year or so ago, he stopped coming to get his sweet from our Thursday bread share at Chavez park. Then we noticed his car not parked at his house anymore. One month ago, as we're preparing to give out the bread at the park, suddenly, there's Leon! Jimmy quickly learned the story. Leon's wife had died and his son had him move in. For one reason or another, Leon's son finally asked his father to leave his house. He, a 79 year old man, had been sleeping in his car around the park for several weeks, showering at the truck stop and making his way as best he knew how.
Last week, while visiting another friend, Dean, at his lower rent apartment we noticed a vacancy sign. We talked to the managers and they were willing to help Leon. Now, it can be frustrating to find homeless people as they don't usually have a way to get a hold of them but finally, we found Leon again. He was willing to check it out. He applied for the place coming empty.
Last Thursday we got the call, he's accepted into an apartment that won't deplete his small pension check and can move in on the first! Leon wasn't at the park on Thursday...it can be really frustrating. Friday, we spent the day downtown and on south 9th st. We decided to have lunch with another friend in the park and wait to see if Leon would show up...no Leon. So, we said a prayer and decided to play a game and see if he'd show. Right when we finished our game, there was Leon. We got him into the van, over to meet the building owner, the papers were signed and he's in!
Sometimes, this work can be frustrating and difficult. People in desperate situations can be scarred, suspicious, afraid of change and stuck in hurtful patterns. Every now and then, God shows us how easily he can break through all that and just move. Pray for Leon, he's worried about furniture and a little fearful of a new place. Pray that what he needs will come to him in every way...physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Well, here we go...
Welcome to the new YWAM Modesto blog! This will be a community effort among our staff to try to better communicate our work and life. Have fun and let us know what you think!
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