Newsletters

SLYlights The official newsletter of Southlake Youth Ministries

Fall 2011

Summer 2011 (click here to download the 4 pages as jpg files: P1 P2 P3 P4)

A Word from the Director
As you may have heard South Lake Youth Ministries is not offering a mission trip for students this summer. It was a tough decision to make since we had seen so many positive spiritual things come out of the trips we took in recent years, but we felt God leading us away from it this year. As I was reading in Luke recently I was deeply impacted by the story of Jesus calling Simon Peter in Luke 5.
Simon was done fishing for the day and washing up his nets when Christ showed up and told him where to go and what to do. Though Simon showed reluctance he also displayed obedience and followed Jesus’ directions. The result was a harvest so plentiful that it nearly sank two boats. The catch of fish was not the biggest story of the day, however, it was Simon’s response. He recognized Jesus as the Christ, recognized himself as a sinner and left everything behind to follow Jesus. I wonder what may have happened to Simon had he chosen to stick to his original plan instead of listening to Jesus. What if he had said, “You know what Lord, I’m the fisherman here, my nets are clean and I’m not changing how I do things to accommodate how you want to do it”?
I have to ask myself, how often I do that. Oh, I don’t exactly use those words but I allow tradition, or public perception, or societal standards to dictate how obedient I will be to God’s calling. We just about had a summer mission trip this summer because people were expecting it and students wanted it, but I am convinced that God had others plans. Now that we are moving into the summer I am able to see the way He is moving, the relationships He is building, the activities He is coordinating. My response is much the same as Simon’s; I recognize all over again just who God is and how big His plans are, how blessed I am to be a part of those plans, let alone a part of His family. This world really has nothing to offer that can compare to a life lived in a relentless pursuit of Him. Samuel replied: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams‟. I Samuel 15:22

Thank you so much for your partnership with South Lake Youth Ministries. Please pray that we will remain attentive to the Lord’s leading and obedient to His calling, as we continue to pray the same for you.
God Bless, Wayne

Exciting News – Guess who’s getting married.
Our newly added staff member, Charles William Dole (Will), will exchange wedding vows with Andrea Boever, on August 20th 2011. The two were introduced via Facebook by a mutual friend who recognized they had a great deal in common. After nearly two years of getting to know each other and several road trips, Andie moved from Iowa to Idaho in April. Anyone who knows them recognizes their common desire to serve the Lord and we know that Andie will also be actively involved with SLY. (In fact, she already is.) We pray for God’s blessing on their wedding and marriage.

Thank you from the PBC
The congregation at Plummer Bible Church would like to express their appreciation to the MWSB students who spent their spring “vacation” dismantling and excavating mud from our 100 year old basement in preparation for a major remodel. It was quite a sight to see 30 students digging and carrying mud to the conveyor. It was a dirty job and the students did it well and cheerfully.

MWSB Spring Break
What happens when you turn loose 30 college age students full of energy and passion for the Lord?
 Long days of hard work hauling mud
 A beautiful 300+ square foot mural
 Participation in a 30-Hour Famine
 Youth group games, break-dancing and conversations
 A community Gym Jam at the Wellness Center
 A worship service in a dark, but not quiet, barn
 Memories and friendships that will last forever

The Eves - Micah, Wayne, Emma, Shannon & Tana

Requests
*God’s leading and timing in LTC as God puts together students and a team of staff
*SLY’s level of involvement in more communities
*Summer activities and Bible studies
*A new vehicle for the Eve family

Praises
In our last newsletter we asked for prayer for a new vehicle for the Eve’s because their car needs some major repairs. God not only keeps it running but some friends recently provided to have the hub fixed.
We also asked for more volunteers which God has provided. God is good.

It’s Will’s Turn
This is my second article/update, and it still blows my mind that I am working with SLY. God has been doing so much; there is no way I could cover it all. The growth and discussions in the Harrison Teens and Plummer’s Redzone have been exciting to watch. The way God is orchestrating the planning for the Leadership Training Center has been humbling and amazing at the same time. Humbling because it is so amazing, which leads me into what God has been teaching me of late.
I have been convicted by how selfishly I approach my relationship with Christ and then take that attitude into ministry. I have wrestled with Ecclesiastes 7:2, "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart." If you're scratching your head as to the connection, that's okay. Why is it better to be at funerals than parties, and how does that teach me to follow Jesus? The more I pondered this passage the more God teaches me, but I will only mention two points.
First, we need to realize that we are finite and we are mortal. I will not live forever, therefore, I am not worthy of my own adoration or praise, much less the praise and adoration of anyone else. Why then, would I seek those things?
Secondly, if I'm taking my mortality to heart, I will be motivated to live my life in a God-centered, others-focused manner. Love for self dies and is consumed by a love for the eternal God of the universe who sacrificially loves me. This love for God expresses itself in a sacrificial life.
Are we living lives of sacrifice? Do we use our time, our money, and our prayers to pursue our happiness and comfort or to advance the Kingdom of God and the joy of all people? God help us in this endeavor, both in SLY and everywhere.
For the glory of Christ,
Will Dole

Busy Summer Schedule
Although SLY isn’t sponsoring a local or distant mission trip this summer, there are a number of activities available to young people, teens, pre-teens, and college and career age.
Mondays have a choice of Bible Studies:
Middle School Girls @ Flochs;
Older Girls @ Eves;
Boys @ Plummer Bible Church; Harrison Teens of All Ages @ Osmundsons
2nd & 4th Fridays; Soccer/ Fireside in Plummer
June 18th a Red Zone, Plummer Area Youth Group Fundraiser Yard Sale
June 26-28 SLY High School Camping on Marble Creek
July 5-8 SLY Backpacking to St Joe Lake
July 28-31 Alex Campbell Memorial Steamboat Hike
August 8-13 Extreme Backpacking to Half Moon Park in Montana
August 25 Middle School Day at the Lake
August 28-30 SLY Volunteer/Leadership Camping/Training
In addition, there are several camps
Camp Elohim, Troy, MT;
C-N Camp, Augusta, MT;
Camp Pinecroft, Newport, WA
Please pray that time away from home surrounded by God’s creation will give staff and volunteers opportunities to spend quality time with young people in order to build mentoring relationships and to challenge them to seek God and live their lives for Him.

MWSB Escape by Jennifer Mitchell
(Jennifer is a 2011 graduate of Lakeside High School and will be attending MWSB in the fall. She has been involved in Plummer Red Zone, and both the Transformer and Dying to Live Tours.)
I don’t know what it is about Montana Wilderness School of the Bible (MWSB), but I always leave feeling content and completely amazed by our Father’s immense love for us. Maybe it’s the lack of distractions. Maybe it’s the breath-taking scenery. Or maybe it’s the encouragement and growth that occurs when we are surrounded by fellow servants of Christ. At MWSB, God combines so many aspects to reveal His characteristics and to gently draw His children closer to Himself. He reminds us of what He has done for us and how good He is. He displays His majesty, creativity, and vastness in His creation. He repeats to us that everything He has made is a perfectly crafted masterpiece and it is precious to Him.
Each year MWSB puts on a weekend getaway for high school age students. The Youth Escape is a perfect opportunity to deepen our relationship with our Savior and learn more about His unfailing love, mercy, and beauty. At the retreat we participate in a variety of top-quality games, humorous and often tear-jerking skits, countless additional activities, worship and learning. The weekend-long retreat limits distractions and often works as sort of a detox for the heart, mind, and soul. Moments of overwhelming awe of God replace cellphone use, television viewing, and internet surfing, as these activities are unavailable at the school.
All four years of attending the Escape, I witnessed God move in both my own life and the lives of those around me. He revealed to me many of my fears, anxieties, doubts, sins, and anything that inhibited my relationship with Him, whether I realized it or not. Sometimes it was over-whelming, but each time He reassured me of His amazing and mysterious love and His constant presence in my life. Throughout these retreats God has worked in life-changing ways in countless lives, mine included. Each time I was there, the Most High King showed me that in Him I have worth, hope, and a purpose, that I am His precious child who He chose and loved before the creation of the world. The Youth Escape has repeatedly resulted in my brokenness, which has led to a stronger faith, greater trust, and vaster knowledge of my beautiful Savior. God has done and will do great things at MWSB as long as those there continue to serve and glorify Him.

Thank you to Ravalli Community Church
We would like to express our great appreciation to Ravalli Community Church for the gift of a 15 passenger Ford van, a cargo trailer and a chuck wagon trailer (“You gotta see it to believe it.”) These gifts are a valuable asset to the ministry of SLY and the LTC. Our main activities often include transportation and food preparation. A great big thank you to the Ravalli Church and Lee and Margy Wraith.

SLY Ministries 2010 Financial Report
Ordinary Income/Expense
Income
Direct Public Support
48,183.26
Special Events Income
1,969.30
Student mission fund
21,754.45
Total Income
71,907.01
Expense
Auto Expense
6,029.32
Charitable Contribution
2,175.45
Facilities and Equipment
201.95
Food
6,523.30
Insurance - nonemployee
1,572.00
Office Expense
1,889.59
Registration/Tickets
1,191.89
Salaries and Related Expenses
37,993.12
Curriculum
307.34
Supplies and Materials - Other
14,382.74
Total Supplies and Materials
14,690.08
Total Expense
72,266.70
Net Ordinary Income
-359.69
Net Income
-359.69

If you have any questions about SLY or LTC finances feel free to contact SLY Treasurer Denise Floch at 208-686-1148.