Our Reflection to the World: Enduring Humility

Our Reflection to the World: Enduring Humility

In many ways, an organization’s culture should be like a well-composed culinary dish, where all of the ingredients of the dish complement one another and the flavors are perfectly balanced. At Stateline Youth For Christ, our goal is that the youth we serve would taste Christ’s love for them through our ministry. To help them taste Christ’s love, a key ingredient in our organizational culture is enduring humility. But what is the proper flavor profile of enduring humility, especially when our zeitgeist’s cultural ethos promotes the elevation of one’s self and a hyper attentiveness to “me and my rights?” In other words, what does it look like for us to practice enduring humility in the Stateline area today? 

Addressing the Mentoring Gap

YFC USA recently shared a report that explored young people’s perspectives on mentoring. This report found that of the estimated 24 million at-risk* young people in our country, there are “an estimated nine million at-risk youth who will reach age 19 without ever having a mentor” (Bruce and Bridgeland 3).  Nine million young people without a mentor is a staggering number, especially when you consider everything that young people are facing today. 

At NextSteps, We are Family

NextSteps is a program of the Juvenile Justice Ministry here at YFC. Our vision for NextSteps is to bring restoration to youth involved with the justice system by inspiring hope through relationships and new opportunities. We do this by building new relationships and strengthening existing relationships with at risk young people through holistic support from a positive caring adult. 

Fear, Anxiety, Worry Overcome by WORSHIP

Fear, Anxiety, Worry Overcome by WORSHIP

Have you ever had one of those days when nothing goes right? When the odds are stacked against you, you’re overwhelmed, and you wonder if you should just give up and go back to bed? When you have a day like that—or maybe even a year like that—we have two choices: We can worry, or we can worship. We can’t do both. If we’re worrying, we are not going to worship. If we’re worshiping, we are not going to worry. Sounds so simple doesn’t it?

Kingdom Inspired Diversity

Will lament over injustice towards the black community fade in a few weeks? Will cries for change wane?

Maybe this is already happening. Maybe buzz about this was simply a trend for many.

But the black community is still grieving and desiring change. Will their cries be heard?

Personally, I find this conversation to be critically important for a couple reasons:

1) As a believer in Jesus Christ, concern over injustice is central to God’s heart. Isaiah 1:17 states, “seek justice, correct oppression.” I am compelled to consider the ways the gospel of Jesus Christ invades broken hearts and broken systems to bring about transformation. I am learning here, but this is my heart.

The Emotionally Healthy Leader: "Endings and New Beginnings"

I am grateful to join my YFC team in reading The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero. Each week’s reading followed by discussion have been impactful both collectively and individually. The final chapter entitled “Endings and New Beginnings” could not have come at a better time during this “Stay at Home order.” There were so many nuggets, but I want to share thoughts on understanding my practice of endings and new beginnings.