YFC - Children's Home Ministry

"What Can We Do?"

2007-05-16T11:34:00.001-05:00

Last night I had an interesting conversation with one of the Children's Home residents I'll call Matt. He lives on the Atlantis unit and asked the question I hear most often from the Atlantis boys: "When will we have Youth for Christ on our unit?" My answer was the same as always, "As soon as we have someone volunteer to do that."

Then Matt asked the question I've been dreading, "Why are there volunteers for all the other units but no one will volunteer to be with us?" He followed up with a question I love, "What can we do to get someone to come?" The answer? Pray.

We've been praying for men to teach these boys about Christ. Men who love God and have a heart to tell others about God's love. These young men are asking for it. They're waiting, they're wondering, they're praying. Will you join us in praying for the right men to reach out to an audience that's already ready and willing?

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-14T15:51:00.000-06:00

Last night we celebrated Christmas with the Children's Home kids. It's always such a joy to see their excitement and watch their anticipation. They start talking about the party months in advance, and they don't stop talking about it for months after. They enjoy the food, exclaim over the decorations, shout the Christmas carols, and love the gifts. All of the work that goes into the party shows them God's love. In fact, for that one evening the kids feel lavishly loved.

May we all feel God's lavish love this Christmas season.

Enterprise Club!

2006-09-21T09:54:00.000-05:00

For over three years, we’ve been asking God to send volunteers to start club on Enterprise, the only Children’s Home unit that hasn’t had club. I’m not sure why He waited three years, but He sent us three amazing people to work with these boys who are the lowest functioning residents. Their experience, training and passions all work together to meet the needs of these boys.

Our first Enterprise club was September 5 and I’ve never seen a group of kids as excited as they were to be able to spend an hour with a group of adults. We’ll be meeting with them every Tuesday evening and we’d love it if you would join us in praying for our ministry to these boys.

Watch Them Soar!

2006-08-26T13:34:00.000-05:00

Challenger, Endeavor, Atlantis, Enterprise, Freedom. What do you think of
when you hear those words all together? Space shuttles, right? Unless
you're familiar with the Children's Home. Those are the names of the five
Children's Home units where the kids live.

When I think of what it took to launch those shuttles, I think of many
things but at the top of the list is bravery. That also describes the
Children's Home kids. They've had some really rough knocks in life but
they bravely push on. They work to better themselves and their
situations. I feel privileged to watch our team of volunteers guide them
to the feet of the One who can help them soar like an eagle - or maybe a
space shuttle!

Second Chance

2006-08-03T11:47:00.000-05:00

What's in a name?

There's a lot to be said for name recognition. McDonald's Kleenex,
Band-Aid - we don't need any further definition. Unfortunately, the same
can't be said for the Children's Home Ministry. Too many people think of
small children and don't realize we work with teenagers. In addition, we
now have a ministry to the teens at the Juvenile Detention Center. So we
decided to rename the ministry.

Second Chance Ministry

If there's anything we all need, it's a second chance. But the kids in
these two institutions show that need so clearly. And a second chance is
exactly what Christ offers. So when you hear about Second Chance Ministry,
think of the teens in the Children's Home and Juvenile Detention Center, and
thank God for the second chance He offers to all of us.

Scott's Prairie

2006-07-06T10:28:00.000-05:00

It seems that lately I've been spending a fair amount of time at Scott's
Prairie. What a great place! It's a farm owned by the Children's Home and
they use it for picnics, camp-outs, anything outdoors. YFC has had 3
picnics with the kids there just in the month of June.

It's so great to see the kids enjoy God's creation, whether it's riding
bikes on the bike trails, fishing in the lake, playing volleyball, or
petting the growing assortment of animals. I'm thrilled the Children's Home
kids have Scott's Prairie. This summer, don't forget to take advantage of
some good weather to enjoy God's creation yourself.

Congratulations!

2006-06-14T16:00:00.000-05:00

Graduations are over, but the excitement lives on with the Children's Home
kids. Their graduation is different from most for a few reasons. First,
many of them thought they'd never wear a cap and gown. It's so much fun to
see how excited they are when they receive their Certificate of Completion.
Secondly, it's much smaller - maybe 10 kids or so. Also, the ceremony also
doubles as an awards ceremony where other awards are given. My favorite one
this year was: Constant Effort Day After Day. The Children's Home does a
wonderful job of awarding the kids for each achievement.

But the biggest difference for me is how few family members are there. Some
come, but there are some kids who have no one there for them other than
Children's Home staff and Youth for Christ volunteers. I'm so glad we can
be there to yell and cheer for them, look at their awards, and take pictures
of them in their caps and gowns. So to the kids who made that walk to the
Children's Home stage this year: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Thank You, Elex

2006-06-05T14:26:00.000-05:00

You may have seen articles in the local news about the death of Elex Netterville. Let me move beyond the news reports and tell you about Elex. He loved Ray Charles. He loved gospel music. He wanted to be a role model for his friends. Most of all, Elex loved God with a childlike faith that puts me to shame. When he was upset, he just needed to be reminded to pray, and Gods peace would wash over him. He was constantly trying to learn more about God and grow closer to Him. Its what he lived for.

At Elexs memorial service I heard one person after another talk about how Elex had befriended them and taught them about God. So when I get to heaven, I plan to thank Elex for living his life for God so fully that even in death, we were brought closer to the One who now holds Elex safely in His arms.

The Paradox of Time

2006-05-15T15:27:00.000-05:00

I recently ran across a poem that has me thinking. The first 2 of 9 verses says:

The paradox of time in history is that we:

Have taller buildings, but shorter tempers

Wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints

We spend more, but have less

We buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families

Bigger churches and smaller congregations

A multitude of prayers, but very little faith

A blessed life, but lack of gratitude

A loving God for our blemished hearts.

But the line that strikes me the most is:

It is a time where there is much in the show window

And nothing in the stock room.

What about me? Whats in my stock room? Am I allowing God to stock it with His gifts of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Or am I just putting those things in the show window while the stock room is filled with rotting fruit?

New Opportunities, New Kids, Same Message

2006-05-02T11:42:00.000-05:00

We have an exciting opportunity for new ministry. This one isn't at the Children's Home (although that ministry is still going strong.) Now God is stretching our reach to the Juvenile Detention Center. The question I receive most often is a confused, "Where is that?" Well, it's near the Peoria County Jail and it houses both male and female juveniles. Tom and Dottie Austin, along with their son, Joel have very willingly stepped forward to launch this exciting ministry.

The kids there are just like any teens. They've had bad experiences and they've made poor choices, but they have the same need for the same Savior as the rest of us and that's the message we're taking to them. I look forward to bringing you stories of kids who have found true freedom in Christ even while they're locked up.

Be Careful What You Pray For!

2006-04-03T15:12:00.000-05:00

You know how they say, "Be careful what you pray for - you just might get it!" Well, after 3 years of praying for more volunteers, God has answered that prayer with joyful abandon! In the last 3 weeks I have met with 27 potential volunteers. Wow! God is good!

We are so excited about plugging these new volunteers into the ministry. But there's one catch: we need more men! The Children's Home consists of 5 guys to every 1 girl. That means we need 5 times more men if each kid is to have a mentor. So if you know of any men who have an hour every week or two to give to a teenage boy, let me know. I can guarantee that it will be a very rewarding experience!

Welcome

2005-12-12T22:18:00.000-06:00

Youth For Christ and and the Children's home have been in partnership for over 14 years providing spiritual mentoring for the youth. YFC volunteers provide the spiritual leadership for 4 out of 5 of the residential units by providing weekly Bible studies. The Residential treatment Program at the Children's home consists of 10-bed living units, on 13-bed unit and one group home with 8 youth operating on a therapeutic milieu model. The program provides 24-hour care through an interdisciplinary team for children whose emotional, behavioral, sexual, or social dysfunction requires highly structured care. This program serves youth 9 to 20 years.