Letter from Area Director

Area Director, Scottie Dancy, wrote to YL Kingsport's committee members today...

Hello friends,

 

I just got back from an incredible month at SharpTop. I had the great opportunity to lead 43 college students as they served high school campers. It was amazing to have a front row seat as kids from all over the world (there were kids from England and Norway come) hear and experience the gospel and be transformed by it. In Young Life, I am one of the first ones to say that it's not about the numbers, which I believe with all of my heart, but there were roughly 500 kids, that we know about, who began a relationship with Christ this summer!! That's just one month at one YL camp. There are three months at 20 YL camps where kids experienced the same week this summer! From that perspective, it's clear that God is using Young Life to change the world.

 

There are many highlights for me over the month, but I do have a favorite. I was asked to participate in Real Life, which is where 5 YL staff will tell their story from the perspective of when they were in high school. I was very reluctant to do it because I wasn't sure how kids would relate to my story. It seemed each week I had the opportunity to share the gospel through my story. Each week, kids would come up to those of us in Real Life and ask questions about our stories. The first week I met a kid named Nick, whom I called the 16 year old Scottie. It seemed that our stories were almost identical. That week I had a few conversations with Nick about life and trusting Christ. He gave his life to Christ. Another week, after the last Real Life, I was talking to a group of guys and a young lady was standing behind these guys and was very emotional. I thought she was waiting to talk to one of the girls in Real Life. When I got through talking to the guys, she approached me. She was so emotional that she couldn't speak. Her leader introduced her to me as Anna. She was from North Carolina. Anna asked me about my story and how I went from living for myself to living for God. I told her that it was allowing Christ to live in me. She said she wanted that. I was able to lead her to Christ right there! Glory to God that He chooses to use us in the lives of kids. Not just in Kingsport, but around the world!

 

As I come back from assignment, I am more energized and excited to be a part of this ministry and what God is doing through our efforts than ever before. I have heard of some of the incredible things happening here while I have been gone. Young Life participated for the first time ever in the Fun Fest parade- over 30 kids and leaders were involved! A Dodgeball tournament has been planned and kicked off! As of today, there are 37 table hosts that are confirmed for the banquet!!!! In the 10 years that I have been Area Director in Kingsport, we have never had that many. I don't want to seem greedy, but 50 is a realistic number for us to shoot for. Let's go after 50 table hosts! That's 13 more tables of people in our community that we can share our heart, story, and vision in reaching kids for Christ. That's also more kids that we can reach with the money that those tables will raise. Thank you for all of your hard work and your faithfulness to this ministry.

 

In Christ,

 

Scottie

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Fun Fest 2013

Fun Fest 2013 kicked off last Friday with the time-honored Mardi Gras bash followed by the Fun Fest Parade. There, amongst the procession of marching bands and floats, was Young Life Kingsport celebrating community and fellowship in the Parade. Before a street audience of smiling faces, Young Life Kingsport proudly journeyed the route through downtown Kingsport.

Many students and leaders traveled the parade route by foot, flaunting a Young Life banner and handing spectators fliers. The Young Life float was decked out with an enormous 'YL'- and was fully loaded with students from Sullivan North, Sullivan South, Dobyns-Bennett and Holston Middle schools. Without a doubt, Young Life Kingsport was represented in an awesome way.

Fun Fest is a major, region-wide event, and Young Life Kingsport hoped to draw attention to their mission. Staff and leaders feel participation in the Parade was a huge success, and plan to make involvement in the Fun Fest an annual event.

The Fun Fest ends in two days- on Saturday, July 20.

 

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Young Life Kingsport at Bristol Dragway

In June, Young Life Kingsport had a need for speed- and went to the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals to cheer on a YL Kingsport fan favorite, Mike Edwards.

Mike Edwards Motorsports, partnered with Young Life, has a "mission" to send youth to camp. YL Kingsport is thankful for Edwards' devotion to middle school and high school students! For more information, visit the Mike Edwards Motorsports website.

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Young Life Camp

Hiking, canoeing and campfires- the typical view of summer camp. Right? Now, imagine this- racing down a zip line, zooming down a monster waterslide, riding a gigantic swing, scaling a rock wall, and cycling on dusty trails! Could it get any better? You bet! High adventure, topnotch accommodations, yummy meals and the good message of God’s love- that’s SharpTop Cove. Far from “typical”, Young Life camp at SharpTop Cove is “the best week of your life”.

In June, 15 Kingsport-area high school students traveled over 200 miles to SharpTop Cove in Jasper, Georgia. Thanks to our donors, they experienced the fun, fellowship and learning that come with a week at SharpTop. Our campers enjoyed every moment of SharpTop Cove- while they grew in faith. If you've ever been to Young Life camp, you wouldn't be surprised to hear about their deep, life-changing experience.

If you've never been to Young Life camp, it’s not too late! Join Young Life Kingsport in August for a weekend of family camp at Windy Gap in Weaverville, North Carolina. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the facilities are unmatched. There, your family will take in a disc golf course, climbing tower, fully-loaded game room, giant swing, high ropes course, horses, mountain bikes and much, much more. If high adventure isn't high on your list, you may lounge by the pool or relax in the hot tub. There's plenty to do! Your family will play hard, eat tasty food, make new friends and laugh and laugh and laugh- all in the name of Jesus Christ. Space is limited- and, at the low-low price of $130 for adults and $70 for kiddos, the all-inclusive packages are quickly reserved. Visit us on Facebook to register!

Young Life Camp - 2013

Kingsport-area High School Students Traveled to SharpTop Cove

Pool Play

High Ropes Course

 

Monster Waterslide

  

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Financial Update - Help us build an operating reserve | Young Life Kingsport

Dear YoungLife Friends,

We are in the second half of an amazing year of ministry. This year we have successful ministry ongoing at Kingsport area high schools. We’ve been experimenting with our Club format and found that a combined club of all high schools brings amazing energy and excitement. Over 50 kids come together each week for fun, excitement and to hear the gospel. It is a remarkable experience!

God has surprised us with a blossoming Wyld Life ministry that we never expected. Wyld Life is a ministry to middle school kids that is co-led by high school students. Wyld Life is meeting twice a month and we just returned from our first ever Wyld Life camp!

God has expanded this ministry in unbelievable ways the last two years! On behalf of the YoungLife staff, Leaders and the YoungLife Committee, I’d like to thank you for making all of this possible!

As you might expect, when our economy struggles so do the ministries that rely on donor support. The last two years have been a challenge financially. In the fall of 2008 our revenues decreased dramatically and the ministry quickly went into significant deficit. In response to the economic down turn, we reduced ministry expenses to a minimum and had to move some staff members from full-time to part-time salary.

Since 2009, with your help, our deficit has been reduced. However, we have not been able to build any operating reserve. Our operating account sits tenuously near deficit and each time the account drops below zero we are faced again with temporary salary reductions or temporarily stopping ministry.

The purpose of this letter is to ask for additional support above your already generous giving. We desperately need to move away from this financial cliff and build the necessary and responsible operating reserve. We have two financial goals for the coming year.

1. Build an operating fund reserve.
2. Return to the normal staffing levels required to serve all area high schools and middle schools.

To accomplish this goal, we need to raise an additional $15,000 to $25,000.

Please prayerfully consider how you can support YoungLife Kingsport in this challenge. Hopefully, with your support, we can move away from the financial difficulties of the last two years. Click here to donate online to YoungLife Kingsport.

Thank you so much for your support of YoungLife and for loving middle school and high school students. Thank you for helping us share the love of Christ in Kingsport!

May God Bless You-



Shawn Pace
Committee Chair

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