Summer is always an exciting time for those of us in ministry. For us at Teen Parents it has been an especially busy and wonderful time. Summer is a great time to be more relaxed but at the same time intentional in our activities. We have more time to interract with the girls in a fun way. We have had two pool parties and are looking forward to a wonderful day at the indoor water park in Albany. We have continued with our group meetings but have done fun things like stamping, scrapbooking and making message boards. This has also given us great opportunities to talk to the girls in a more intimate way. Ten new girls have come to group and we look forward to getting to know them and sharing the life changing power of Jesus with them. Please pray that God will supply the $1000 needed to cover these activities. One of the highlights of the summer will be at the end of August when Becky and her husband Keith will be back with us for a visit. The girls are eagerly looking forward to this visit.
We praise God for what He is doing in our midst. A teen mom in our program was recently baptized; another has worked her way off of welfare, and still another is counseling even younger teen moms in what it means to live for Christ. Our City Life Center has seen a lot of activity in the past year. Summer Breakfast Club, Bible studies, worship times, Teen Moms groups, childcare for Teen Moms and “hip hop camp” are all taking place there this summer. In the fall all nine hundred freshman from our local inner city high school will be coming through the building on school time to participate in our Point Break anti-bullying, anti-suicide program. This past year there were 5 teen suicides in the high school and a number of other attempts. In the spring we ran two pilot programs with 70 kids at a time and students and faculty alike said it was the most life-changing program of its kind they had ever experienced. Our staff now has access to the high school and middle school during the school day. Much renovation has taken place in our building and there is still about another $30,000 work of renovation still needed; $10,000 for electric plus several thousand more for air-conditioning, new windows, tile, and a fully serviceable kitchen. Please pray with us that God will supply all that is needed to make this building a haven for hurting teens.
We continually praise God for you, our partners in ministry. We thank you for your continued prayers and financial support.