CHRONICLE ISSUE 001 December 2009 YOUTH FOR CHRIST STEINBACH WE SEE THE HOPE AND POTENTIAL IN EVERY YOUNG PERSON Faithfullness // Jim Harms Logo Legend: Volunteer // Devon Klassen Staff // Rueben Singh UPCOMING EVENTS YFC Central Region Staff Conference // Jan. 13-15, 2010 Parent Info Night // @ Backstage • 7:30pm • Jan. 18, 2010 YFC Banquet // SMC 345 Loewen BLVD • March. 18, 2010 Motorcycle Benefit Ride for Backstage // June. 12, 2010 YFC Golf Tournament // Aug. 05, 2010 Faithfulness since the beginning of time! And still I fail to fully compre- hend the depth and full extent of what and how Gods faithfulness really works. YFC Steinbach was started as an outreach to especially the teens at risk in our community in 1989. Several of the deepest apprehensions were How will we staff this ministry with volunteers? Who will choose to assist and provide their volunteer hours for the long haul? How will the funds be generated? Where will they come from? How will the community embrace this outlandish effort? Looking back over the years, we exclaim “except for the Hand of God, this makes no sense.” We have always had a faithful crew of volunteers since our opening date of June 4, 1989. We have had an occasional evening each year perhaps a maximum average of 6 evenings per year where we have had less than 3 volunteers or staff available to serve and were committed not to open because we could not provide adequate supervision and safety and effective ministry with only 2 volunteers. We have nearly always had a volunteer roster of at least 20 members who faithfully give one evening each week to serve at BACKSTAGE. The volunteer crew consists of pri- marily local young adults, complemented by a few students from Stein- bach Bible College and Providence College. Budgets for non-profit organizations have always been among the larger challenges. Our YFC Steinbach budget has grown from approximately $60,000 in 1989 to $335,000 in 2009. My personal goal for the minis- try bank account has always been to establish a reserve fund balance of a minimum 6 month operations expenses. We have never come close to that balance ever, but have always had the ability to pay all our bills, cover all project costs in about one-half the arranged payment schedule, and always been able to look ahead and plan ways of extending the cords of our tents and creating a greater impact in our ministry to teens in trouble. God has been so faithful in prompting local businesses and individuals to share generously to support YFC Steinbach. His faithfulness inspires us to follow obediently and passion- ately in the ways He opens for us. We chime together “GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS, O GOD OUR FATHER.” YFC SKATEPARK MINISTRY YFC TEEN HOMELESS HOUSE GENERAL YFC NEWS YFC Facebook // search Youth for Christ Steinbach YFC YouTube // youtube.com/user/yfcsteinbach BACKSTAGE: YFC DROPIN CENTRE Some of the coolest things I’ve ex- perienced at Backstage have been also some of the most random things that can only be explained by the Holy Spirit. There’s been a few times when I’ve had the chance to actually pray with some of the kids here that you think would never do that. They start to share about home situations, or to start a new lifestyle, you ask if they want some prayer expecting the usual “NO!”, but this time they say yes. I like that. Some people still ask me if there are actually homeless youth in our community. The answer is still yes. UTurn has been open in Steinbach for just over two and a half years now and we have seen over 20 youth come and stay and participate in the program. That’s a little over ten per year. In UTurn we try and equip the youth with the nec- essary skills to spring board into independent liv- ing. Have we been successful – yes. One girl comes to mind. She came to us with no support after leav- ing the foster system. She butted heads with us at times, worked hard, and paid her own way. She’s left UTurn now and is currently finishing up col- lege. What a beautiful picture. Giving hope to the hopeless. If you have any questions or are interest- ed more about UTurn, please get in touch with me. Annual Prudential Realty Christmas Party