LYF Purpose

The purpose of the youth ministry programs at Faith is to:

• Strengthen, build up, and encourage one another in the Body of Christ.
• Recognize and nurture God-given gifts and abilities.
• Foster Christian stewardship of time, talents, and resources in all areas of ministry.
• Foster fellowship and community with others, and to develop an attitude of service to and caring for all humanity.
• Deepen our relationship in the Triune God, and to examine and apply that relationship as it relates to our daily lives.

This group is made up of all confirmed youth in grades 9 through 12. LYF meets at least twice a month for events consisting of retreats, athletic events, service projects, and several major outings.

Up Coming Events

• June 22-28, 2008 — CAMP MINNEBOJI - "Don't Forget His Lyrics" is the theme of Camp Minneboji this summer (June 22-28). God's people have been remembering the great deeds of God through Psalms, hymns, and songs for centuries. Our Bible studies and other aspects of camp will be built on this theme, as the campers will especially be led by way of the Psalms to remember what God has done for them through Jesus. Camp Minneboji is for those who are currently in grades 4 through 9. The camp, located at Camp Okoboji in northwest Iowa, features Bible study, mission presentations, crafts, music time, sports and recreation. Cost is $225 for 4th-8th graders and $255 for 9th graders. Camp registration booklets will be mailed directly to last year's campers and in bulk to the congregations by April 1. For more information, check out the camp's Website: www.minneboji.com, or contact the Camp Dean, Rev. Scott Sailer (scottsailer@aol.com, 605/332-3401). Faith Lutheran Church will contribute $50 towards any camper from our church. Return any registration to the church office with a check for the registration cost minus $50 and the Church will cover the rest. Registration forms are not yet available, but please save the date on your calendars.
• July 15-18, 2008 — Circuit Bible Camp In addition to Camp Minneboji another important camp this summer is our Circuit Bible Camp. We will be going out to Spearfish this year and our theme is, "Streams of Mercy". The date for the camp is July 15-18th and the cost will be $75 for early registration and $85 for late. Look for more information in March. The Camp is for current 3rd-8th graders. Please mark this date out on your calendar.
• July 25-August 2, 2008 — Mission Trip The LYF kids are going on a mission trip to Mexico this coming summer with some kids from Gettysburg and also with Pastor Hinckley's church in Minnesota. We are leaving on Friday morning July 25th and will return late Saturday night on August 2nd. The trip is to Ysleta Lutheran Mission in El Paso, Texas, and we will spend the week working in Jaurez, Mexico. If you are a LYF youth and would be interested in going, but haven't spoken with me, please do so now, we may be able to get you in. Also if you are an adult and think it is great our youth are going, you can support us through upcoming fundraisers. For more information about what we are doing you can find info at www.ylm.org.

A Note From Jon

Dear much-missed friends way out west,

I hope you all had an excellent Christmas and New Years and that you were able to spend good times with family and friends. Also hope Santa was good to you all. As you can see in the picture, he brought me more hair on the chin and some lumps on the side of the head from biopsy incisions, but then he took some hair away up top. It will all be disappearing when radiation starts, but I wanted to show you Vicar Jon as he is right now . . . feeling strong, feeling at peace, just looking different.

If you can give me a minute or two, I first wanted to thank you so much for the cards and for all your thoughts and prayers. Those mean so much to my family and me right now, and I do keep you guys in my thoughts and prayers, so thank you for passing such things back to me.

Also wanted to share with you this: I have been asked several times over the past month, "Don't you wonder why God would do something like this to you . . . allow a brain tumor to come to a 24 year old?" The answer is, "No." You see, cancer is a reality in this world. So are earthquakes, tsunamis, depression, break-ups, days where you feel you can't go on or that God isn't there. Folks, that's Satan . . . that's his work, and he will always be here in this world. BUT SO WILL OUR LORD! Jesus is the one who brings the healing and the comfort after Satan's brought the pain and sadness. Jesus is the one who guides us after our plans have been shattered. Jesus is the one who shows us that heaven is what He has promised us and what we look forward to . . . not a life free from pain or sadness and periods of darkness . . . but even in those dark periods, Jesus never leaves our side . . . and there should be no greater comfort in life than that. I was hit by a freight train in mid-December when I found out about the cancer, but at the same time I was hit by the reality that our lives are not ours . . . they are God's, and it has brought so much comfort to know that it's His plan for our lives that goes . . . not ours. He's got our lives in His hands . . . and nothing that Satan brings into our lives can change that love the Lord has for us . . . for each of you.

OK, I'm done preaching . . . so I will leave you with the hope that I'll see you sometime down the road Lord-willing, and I will leave you with one more bizzare fact and weird city name of the week. Bizarre Fact: Apples are more efficient than caffeine in keeping people awake in the morning. Weird City Name: Peculiar, Missouri.

Friends, again, thank you. May 2005 be a blessed year for all of you. Jesus be with you guys.

Sincerely,

Vicar Jon

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