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We are excited to invite you to participate in a new SWOT on Friday, April 22, 2016 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on behalf of Impacting Hearts, a ministry of Young Life serving foster youth. They are in the process of launching this ministry in Orange County to replicate the success they have had in Los Angeles. Their mission is to introduce foster youth to Jesus Christ, using real relationships to help them grow in their faith and as individuals.
The goal for the Impacting Hearts: Young Life ministry in Orange County is that every foster youth between ages 11 and 24 would have access to a Young Life: Impacting Hearts leader and youth club. Young Life would provide a stable, consistent, relational connection with foster youth where they can experience fun, adventure, a sense of family, healthy relationships with committed adults, and faith lived out. The relationships developed with mentors would guide the youth into being self-sustaining adults that contribute to society.
Eventually they would like to provide separate, regular weekly meetings called "club" for middle school students, high school students, and college students who are currently or have previously been part of the foster care system. Club is a safe place for the kids to develop trusting relationships with leaders thru silly/messy games, singing songs, serving and eating a family style meal, learning life skills (i.e. cooking, shopping, job interview, resume writing), and learning about God's love. We envision there being several Young Life club locations throughout Orange County to provide consistency to foster youth when they change locations.
There are over 2,500 foster youth in Orange County between the ages of 11-24. Because of the transitory nature of these youth it makes it very difficult to establish consistent relationships with adults, peers, and support systems. 80% of all individuals incarcerated in the state of California are or were in the foster system. Within 2 years of ageing out of the foster system, 67% of the kids will be dead, homeless or in jail and only 2% of adults who were in the foster system report having full-time employment.
Young Life: Impacting Hearts aims to change these statistics because they know REAL relationships meet REAL needs! Under the mentorship of local Young Life leaders, area directors Jay and Shane Panthers would welcome our support. Jay and Shane are former professional athletes who have been clearly called to this initiative. Click on this link to view their Ministry Report.
For those not familiar with Young Life, they have a deep 75 year history of working with adolescents between the ages of 11-24 (6th grade through college).
They believe that every young person has the right to hear about Jesus in a way they can understand and make their own decision about Him. In Young Life that is done by living alongside of young people in their worlds and sharing our life with them - incarnational ministry.
Their BIG QUESTION is: How do we successfully launch in Orange County with an organization and funding model that would impact Orange County and can be replicated in other markets?
Please reply and answer:
YES, I CAN ATTEND or
NO, I CANNOT ATTEND
Date/Time:
Friday, April 22, 2016 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location:
Pepperdine University's Irvine Campus
18111 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 235
Irvine, CA 92612
Food/Beverages: Lunch will be provided.
Note: In preparation, each SWOT participant will receive copies of relevant background information to review prior to the SWOT. Please be prepared to provide meaningful input.
Please call me directly with any questions at 949-888-3030 x301.
Be blessed and encouraged,
Ron Henry
SWOT Coordinator
The Barnabas Group
949-888-3030 x301
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