skate or die

There's a very interesting door that God is opening into the youth culture.

In the last year, a skateboarding scene has developed unlike anything Niverville has ever seen. Young people have been flocking to our skatepark by the droves (as you've probably already heard a few times), creating a natural connection between us YFC'ers and the skaters.

Now pretty much every culture has the potential to be consumed by either good or bad forces. Skateboarding is no exception, it can be infused and transformed by faith, or manipulated to destruction by the world. The opening door we have in front of us is a chance to infuse this culture with faith to a deeper level. We make plans. God laughs...and then He directs our steps.

We hope and pray there will be regular times at the Drop-in coming soon, where having a "skate sesh" will involve discipleship, prayer, open-hearted discussion...with the Way, the Truth, and the Light!

Please pray this will come about. And soon!

a year in review...

2011 - the year of the timelapse, the year of slow motion.

to understand what we mean, please check out this relatively short vid that was shown at our Banquet in November.

Christmas on the Frontlines

Merry Christmas!

from all the frontline youth workers at Niverville Youth for Christ!

What's a Gym?

Imagine a gymnasium the size of....

an average room?

This is what we have going for us at the Drop-In: a gym that is quite small, even tiny compared to an average gym. Yet it seems to be just enough space to be desired by many in and around our town.
Just in case you don't know what a gym is...

Anyway...back to the Drop-In Gym:

• Groups come from surrounding towns to rent out our place because it has this little gym option (as well as many other options).
  
• Local skateboarders come during winter months to brush up their skills in the gym.
• Teenagers and young adults with a lot of pent-up energy come ON A REGULAR BASIS to play hockey, and other sports in the gym.

Yeah, our gym has been a conduit for positive energy usage...BUT, more importantly it has been a major contribution to facilitating connection and relationship with many hurting young people out there.

The gym that was known as too small, too crammed, and too restrictive has become THE tool of ministry for us as of late.
Who woulda thunk it?

Now I'm just thinking what a bigger gym could do at our Centre. Hmmmm....

Hearts Out in November

Thursday, November 17th. 2011.
The town of Niverville gathered together for the annual Youth for Christ banquet at the Heritage Atrium.

The place was nearly full, as were stomachs and many hearts. Jordan St. Cyr and band played their hearts out (with an upright bass...nice!), and Daniel Williams shared his heart out on the topic of fatherlessness. Us YFC staff also shared our perspective of this topic, and what we're up to. Not that the evening went off without a hitch, but there was such a heart-warming response from you...the community of supporters around us. This wasn't just about the Drop-In Centre, but bigger...God is stirring up something inside His people and it was and is exciting to be a part of it. So thank you to all who were and are a part of it. We're blessed, AMEN!

Drop-In's Banquet!

OUR ANNUAL BANQUET!

Niverville Heritage Centre Atrium
Thursday, November 17th, 2011
doors open at 6pm
dinner & dessert buffet, plus live music by Jordan St. Cyr
complimentary tickets available upon request
contact us @ 388-6827 or nivervilleyfc@gmail.com

THE SUMMER OF CONNECTION; the summer of fatherlessness

what a summer.

what a whirlwind.

the presence of pain and the absence of connection met up with us humble few youth workers.

a long list of invested relationships from years past that are on the peripheral.

a large group of youngsters moving up the ranks from elementary to high school.

a new cultural breed of skateboarders.

a relentless demand for our centre to be open, and an unfamiliarity with intentional relationship.

and there's a flood of boys with little or no father input in their lives.

and then there's us.

with the whirlwind of thoughts in our minds of what we can do with it all.

no easy solution.

no overnight plan.

but there is a Father who knows, who cares, who connects...and who heals.

we made LOTS of connections this summer.

we saw LOTS of hurting voids in young people's lives.

we know LOTS of heartache and longing for renewal on behalf of the Father.

we LONG for God's Spirit to pour out on us all.

we LONG for the PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS to cover us!

enjoy some pictures of a bbq hangout that eric hosted as he, along with staff and volunteers, invests into this void.