The Beauty in Questions

Hands raised, one after the other, our students asked us questions.

"If someone is a good person but doesn't believe in Jesus do they go to hell?"
"If I do believe in Jesus and I do bad things do I go to hell?"
"What if I keep doing a bad thing over and over again?"

Question was followed by question, and I could see the excitement in the eyes of our staff as we brought our kids to the Scriptures and explained the ins and outs of forgiveness, grace, life transformation, and Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We were at Tuesday night Bible Study and we were beyond excited because our kids were interested, and curious, and their questions were significant and thoughtful. They listened carefully to us as we responded, and in that moment I could feel God's movement.

Things are happening here, and good things are coming. Sure, each day comes with its challenges and its setbacks, but we can see our students transforming before our eyes. We can see the transformation in their attitudes, their words, their questions, and their joy. We believe that God is about to do something big here, and as a staff we feel privileged to be a part of God's work.

Tiffany said something great last night that spoke to my heart as I work with Apache students. She reminded me that God has chosen us to be here and He therefore trusts us with these students and their lives. He must believe that we can do this job and that we can be a part of His work here on the Apache reservation.

What freedom there is in realizing that God believes in us and the work we can do with Apache youth. And what joy there is in seeing Him move in the lives of our students. 

Time Away With Our Youth...

By John Book

    I knew as soon as we began to plan this year’s fall retreat that it was going to be different, new, exciting, and full of memories. It did not disappoint! We had close to fifty students attending this year from two different reservations, a ton of activities, and great speakers. 

    The most popular activity this year, by far, was paintball. We were blessed to have a company come in and run everything for us. From the guns, the gear, and even the specific games we played; they came ready to give us a good time. I did not see one unhappy face coming from the field. Everyone had a blast. 

    A new aspect of our retreat this year was a special time set aside for a service project. I thought for sure it would not have been accepted by the students, but I was totally wrong. The youth took full advantage of the opportunity and did a great job cleaning up brush, and cutting up wood for the American Indian Christian Mission, the location where the retreat was held. I was extremely proud of them. 

     It's no question that God moved at the retreat this year. Through the worship, the speaking, and the small groups; He moved through the lives of our youth. Something else new this year was bringing in a guest speaker, someone that was on the level of our kids and can speak to them in ways that we as an AYM staff could not. Joe Donnell, a Sioux native from South Dakota, brought a powerful series on a new hope for a new generation. He really brought home our theme this year, New generation, new hope. Though it sounds simple, the theme as a whole was extremely complex, and Joe was able to embody the that theme into his series. Our kids learned that no matter what we have done previously, we are all made new in Christ. 

      God provided a great weekend in which we, as a staff, were able to grow closer with out youth, and it was no question that the students had an awesome time. We heard from many of them after the weekend was over that they wished it had lasted longer! Was it exhausting? Yes. Was everyone ready for a couple days straight of sleep? Yes. But I don't think any of us would have traded it for anything. Thank you to all those who made this Fall retreat possible!

Teaching Jesus, Changing Lives...

By Meredith Carpenter

What is one thing that no one can ever look cool doing? 

This was the ice breaker at our Tuesday night Bible study last week and the answers were hilarious. They ranged from brushing your teeth to walking out of a port-a-potty, and we all laughed until we cried. Though these questions are just for fun, it has been great seeing our students become more comfortable with us as a staff. 

For the past few months our numbers have been spectacular. We have had around 30 kids at our Bible Study. . .when we used to have only 8! At the Rising, our Thursday night event, there have been up to 90 students in attendance. But what has been most encouraging recently is not the super high numbers, but the low ones. Each of us as a staff have been intentionally investing in five students. We work to understand their lives, their families, and their performance at school. Through focusing down on five students each we have been able to be attentive to their needs as we speak Scripture into their lives and pray with them when times get hard. It has been a rewarding process of discipleship. 

Another number that was encouraging was the number 35. Last week when we told our students that we would not be hanging out at the Kennel after the worship service, we watched over 50 students walk out the door. But 35 stayed. 35 students resisted the peer pressure to leave and made a statement that they were there to learn more about Jesus Christ and how He can impact their lives. It was perhaps one of the Rising’s finest moments. 

Here at AYM we are not about numbers, we are about lives changed and transformed by the power of Jesus Christ. But we are also grateful that so many students walk through our doors and that we have the chance to speak truth into their hearts, (as well as have fun).

Boots On The Ground

By Lydia Humphries

How I met your Mother, Friends, and Cheers, are all Television shows about a group of people who live, love and learn together. They (as we in the church world like to say), “do life” together.  Mixed with the occasional crude humor, these shows are wildly popular for a reason. They depict something that is attractive to our culture, we desire to have a group of people who know and love us unconditionally, and who will always be there for us. The lyrics for the theme songs state these things plainly. You want to go “Where everybody knows your name” and live in a place where someone says “I’ll be there for you”. We desire to be known and loved, and accepted in a community of people. 

As of the end of September, our team at AYM has added its most recent member, and we have come together remarkably. Our full team is now assembled of six people ranging from ages 23 to 32. Our original homes are spread across the map from places like Indiana, Georgia, Maryland, Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas. We are diverse in many fashions. We like opposing sports teams and types of sports, a wide variety of music and movies, we even have a few different views in politics. It would appear on the outside that people with such varied views, likes, and dislikes would be bound for disaster, but that’s not the case. When people flow in and out of our lives throughout the summer and the year, people like our students, short term teams, or visiting churches, there is one thing that remains. They see something in us, an identifying factor that we all share. 

Admittedly, our youth doesn’t always know what they are seeing. They simply see the way we love each other as brothers and sisters, but they don’t quite get it. They see the friendly banter or the love in the acts of service we provide for one another, but they can’t always identify the reason they desire to be around us more.

Do you know what they’re seeing? It took me a while to label it myself. When they witness authentic community they are seeing Jesus. They see the way we mutually submit to one another, the way we share our joys and our burdens, and the hope is that they want to participate, that they want to be part of something where love and grace abound in a powerful way. They look at our team, but what we hope is that they are actually seeing Jesus. 

As a team we have discussed how humbling it is to have Christ working in us so strongly. We are truly nothing special. What is special, is Christ in us, and His light that draws others to Himself. If it was up to us alone I doubt anyone would take a second glance, but because He shines through us we are able to live in authentic community that calls each other to a higher purpose. We are able to share what a family in Christ looks like with our youth, and hopefully, bring them into our family as well.