CHOSEN...coming fall 2014

I have talked about Foster Kids quite a bit on my blog.
I talk about Foster Kids a lot in my regular life.
The BOLD Truth is : I LOVE FOSTER KIDS!
(whew, it feels good to have that out there in the open!)

For several years I have been involved with Teen Leadership Camp (sponsored by EvFree). TLC is an amazing summer escape for Foster Kids ages 12 - 17. This year I was on the leadership team and played an integral part in planning every detail from ridiculous games to evening activities and AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS snack packs. This summer TLC was fantastic. It was the best camp we’ve ever done (at least if you ask me or Alise!) I was the Queen of Fun and I loved it. However, three (3) days with the kids goes by SO FAST and it is painful to have to wait until the next summer to see them again. We say goodbye on Sunday afternoon and by Monday morning I miss hearing them laugh and wish so badly we could just go back to camp, at least for a few more days!

So…this year we’re going to try something new! Alongside my treasured and super passionate friend Rachel Williams, I am Co-Directing a new ministry at EvFree - CHOSEN - a monthly club (that will loosely resemble a youth group) for teenage kids that have been touched by the Foster Care System. On the 3rd Saturday of every month, we will gather to encourage, support, laugh, eat, and build relationships of trust that hopefully allow these kids to see the love of Christ on a consistent basis. We will get to be part of our campers lives. We will get to see them nine (9) times before we go to camp in June! I am beyond excited. I am ecstatic! I have absolutely no idea where God is going to take this ministry. I am hoping that it is a gift to these kids and that it gives them new hope and the start of a foundation for a future that looks different than the one they may have been born into. These kids are beyond incredible and if I we can be part of their success stories, then glory be to God.

SO...will you come alongside me? Will you pray for me and Rachel and the team of invested leaders who are going to pour into these kids? Will you pray the caregivers will be willing to bring the kids? Will you pray the kids have open hearts and so much fun at CHOSEN that they want to come back each month? Will you pray God provides the speakers, worship leaders, and financial resources for EvFree to support this new ministry? Will you pray opportunities will rise up for us to mentor the kids one-on-one and develop deep and meaningful relationships? Will you pray that God works mightily in ways we can not even begin to ask for?

God can do GREAT things and I trust that He will, I’d love to share the journey with you.
I am sure it is gonna be a whirlwind…and this is just the introductory blog post...HERE WE GO!