CHRISTMAS IN THE STABLE


In a scene reminiscent of West Side Story, the teen parents and their children began to drift into the room. Body posture and language are not so much a matter of ethnic background as they are of geography. Most of the teens in our program come from the city. They walk, talk, and act in accordance with their culture. The ten teen dads each walked in, surveyed the room with a glare and quickly sat down talking to no one. The moms huddled together according to ethnicity while the children clung very close to their moms, hugging legs and sitting on laps. In accordance with the culture each adult staked out his or her territory.
On a dark night in Bethlehem a light broke forth in the sky alerting shepherds to the arrival of the Light of the World. 2008 years later, in a church basement, the Light would shine again, startling teen parents rather than shepherds. Greeters fanned out in the room, a local church group busily prepared a meal fit for a king and faces in the room began to change. Games, conversation, Christmas music in the background and a sumptuous feast, all in the name of Jesus, melted the cold December hearts of 17 moms and 10 dads. They watched, transfixed as a video clip portrayed in beautiful detail the harsh entry into the world of our loving God and Savior. A brief Gospel message was delivered over the voices and restless stirrings of 21 infants and children. At the end of the evening gifts were distributed but the greatest Gift of all had already touched lives.
As the evening wound down teen fathers talked to each other and to volunteer leaders, moms encouraged each other and racial lines were blurred. The difference between the group’s coming and going was discernible. THEY HAD SEEN THE LIGHT! “Oh God, please let them receive the light.”
Thank you so much for being a part of this evening through your prayers and gifts. Please help us continue to do this work. In frightening times we face staff cuts or salary cuts. Please help us to believe in a God who is larger than the sum of all our fears.

"You Don't Make Eye Contact!"

I love being married to Ruth. There is an innocence about her that is engaging and the source of a few laughs in our family. Recently she told me of her first encounter witnessing a drug deal in one of the projects where we work. This project is one of the worst in our city and is home to five of our teen moms. As Ruth was sitting in her car waiting for one of the mothers and her kids she noticed a car and driver behaving strangely. The car circled the parking area three times and then stopped. Someone came out of one of the apartments and an exchange took place. Another time around the lot and then there was another delivery at the car's window. Once more the scene played out. Just like your mailman stops at your house, so does your local drug dealer.

As Ruth was telling me about what she saw, I became concerned since there have been numerous shootings at this location. I asked her "Did he see you?" "Oh yeah," she responded, "I gave HER a dirty look." "What? You made eye contact?!" "YOU NEVER MAKE EYE CONTACT!" You see it's dangerous to see and be seen in some settings. Even a 64 year old grandmother isn't safe.

Please pray for Ruth, Becky, Andy and Kate, and Ray V. as they go into some troublesome areas. We don't feel unsafe but know that we need the protection of God and the prayers of His people. Thank you for standing by us in prayer and supporting us in giving. Our finances at YFC are very much impacted by fear of the economy. Giving is down considerably for Ruth and I as well as for Andy and the City Life program. If you could make a sacrificial year end gift we would be deeply appreciative. Thank you for partnering with us to reach what some regard as the "least and the lost."

For Christ and the kids.


Ray and Ruth

Welcome to my blog!

We want you to know that we are changing how we communicate with our partners and friends of Youth for Christ. Instead of receiving a monthly prayer letter from each specific ministry area or staff members that you are connected with, we will be publishing this newly designed Youth Matters. We’ll keep you updated with a calendar of events, prayer requests, teen testimonies, ways you can get involved and we will honor a special volunteer each month. You will be directed to each ministry’s website and prayer blog, to read more frequently updated news, prayer requests, praise reports, family news, etc. on any of the ministries you are interested in. (see inside – Meet Our Team). We will be able to mail this new version of Youth Matters at bulk rate postage and save time and $$ each month – in printing and postage costs.

We hope you will welcome this change and frequently check out the websites/prayer blogs for the specific ministry area that you are most connected with. AND we hope you’ll visit the others as well, to learn more about the scope of our ministry and how we all are working together to reach kids throughout the whole Capital Region.

Thanks for standing with us… helping us love kids in Jesus’ name. Your partnership is making a difference.


--Ray