(A Message From Rob Browne, Executive Director, YouthReach International)
Think about that. Jesus invested heavily in 12 who in turn changed the world. Paul invested keenly in a few young evangelists who greatly broadened the reach of the church. YouthReach International is encouraging our Mentors, referred to as 12-3-1 Mentors, to follow Jesus' example and do the same as the core of this ministry is 1 to 1 mentoring in the orphanages of Ukraine and Russia. It is a huge task but it is a worthy task. Thank you for sharing in it with us.
As said in our last newsletter, last month was National Mentoring Month. I heard from many readers some of the efforts they initiated to see mentoring become more real to them. A good friend and local minister in our area and I have challenged each other to invest in people half our age. At 43, that really means something! In keeping with that, I had breakfast with a wonderful young man named Mark last week and marveled at the joy and ease of listening to him and encouraging him in the things he is passionate about. Mentoring does take effort but it is definitely a joy. Whether in your home country or on a YouthReach International Mission Trip, invest the effort and experience the joy for yourself!
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| 2012 Team leaders Retreat |
Much is happening on the ministry front we want to share with you. On January 24, nearly 50 YouthReach alumni, friends, team members, and team leaders gathered in Lilburn, GA, for a powerful night of worship and fellowship. Thank you to Tim and Sheila Dunn for hosting us and to Pete McReynolds for leading this worship time. The next day our core team leaders for 2012 gathered for a full day of equipping at Campus Church's "Underground" in Norcross, GA. Thank you to Karla Crump, Julie Williams, Cheri Raines, Tim and Sheila Dunn and Traci Browne for preparing and serving our meals! Pictured below are leaders from California, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Georgia. Please keep them in prayer as they are now training their teams who will go out this summer to stand beside those 12-3-1 Mentors in Ukraine and Russia and invest the effort while experiencing the joy of mentoring orphans and at risk youth.
Two hours before that wonderful night of worship started, our Board of Directors, together with our Executive Team, concluded their first meeting of the year at the 1818 Club in Duluth, GA. From left to right, Dr. Jerry Strader (Abilene, TX), Wayne Tomlinson (Brentwood, TN), Rob Browne (Executive Director and Director of Russian Operations), Sherriann Hicks (Atlanta, GA), Dr. Andrew Vick (St. Louis, MO), Jim Pack, Jr. (Atlanta, GA), and Tony Morrow (Director of Ukrainian Operations, Abilene, TX) are pictured below. We are very grateful to our Board for their commitment and service to this ministry. Please keep them in prayer as you also remember our staff, volunteers, Mentors, and of course orphans. Also, click on this link to read a brief profile on each of our Board Members and see a better picture than below of what they really look like. They serve quietly and behind the scenes but it is important that you know more of who they are and the passion they bring to our work.
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| YouthReach International - Board of Directors |
In less then 3 weeks we will have completed Mentor Training Retreats in Novosibirsk, Russia, as well as Donetsk and Simferopel, Ukraine. These efforts are beyond key to our work. A mentoring ministry is only as strong as its mentors and these retreats are all about developing the depth of our mentor teams in both countries. Please pray for Mike Neill (College Park, GA) and Margaret Moore (Abilene, TX) as they join me in Novosibirsk, February 24-26, 2012. Tony Morrow will be carrying out the Ukrainian Retreats the last week of February and first week of March. These meetings are especially key for our Ukraine arm right now. Your prayers for Tony as well as any encouragement you can push his way will bless our efforts there immensely. Thank you in advance for them!
Next month's activities include Chick-fil-A SERVE Seminars in Novosibirsk and Tomsk, Russia, as well as a team from Greater Atlanta Christian School going to work alongside partner church, Tomsk Christian Church, in Tomsk, Russia.
An upcoming announcement about our spring fundraising dinner in Nashville, TN, on May 5, is just around the corner. In a sense, I am burying the headline but you will hear more about this in the coming weeks. Those of you in middle Tennessee, please save Saturday, May 5, at 6 p.m. for a very special evening with YouthReach International in Franklin, TN. More on that in an email all by itself.
Finally, are you interested in serving on YouthReach International's Prayer Team? It kicks off tomorrow and a few places do remain. Please contact Tony Morrow (tony@youthreach.org) immediately if you desire to stand with our ministry in this way.
Please refer to the Latest News page on our website for prayer requests, praise reports, and online resources.
With sincerest thanks and deep appreciation for you all, I am,
Rob Browne
Executive Director/Director of Russian Operations
YouthReach International
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