Ben There
Over the past 15 years, Benjamin Brown was one boy who has been around for almost every activity. From Bible Clubs (starting as a first grader), to summer camp, tutoring, Teen Church, Youthfront, FCA weekends, basketball teams, and camp counselor, he has been everywhere. We have so enjoyed watching him grow up, graduate and join the work force. This summer, he was once again a camp counselor, and gave the devotional to a group of listening teenage boys, just like he once was. We are proud of Ben and believe the Lord has great things for him. Keep going Ben, and don’t look back!
Regine Remix
Regine first showed up at Freedom Fire as a grade-schooler. Spunky and smart, she soon became a favorite and got involved in lots of our programs, enjoying the attention of numerous role models. But the best part is seeing her turn around and be the same for another generation of little girls. Regine is now leading a Bible Club with 2 grade school girls who live just around the corner from the apartment where Regine grew up. I walked by their room this week and overheard them memorizing a Bible verse together – just like Regine used to do with her Bible club leaders. Can it get any better than this?
Dave and the boys
Dave began mentoring a few boys almost 3 years ago. A few boys have moved away, but Shannon has stayed a part of the group, and Khaliq has joined this year. Both are 5th graders at the local grade school. Along with some hoops and plenty of food, they talk about character and faith. Last year, Shannon was accepted into an excellent charter school, but because he spent the summer out of town with his father, he missed the cut off date for the school. This year, he is signed up again, and along with his mother we are praying that he gets in! If he does, Dave’s encouragement, tutoring and accountability will be even more important.
Brock's Homies
Brock has been leading a Mentoring Group for the last year here at Freedom Fire. With names like Abdi, Abdul, Ismael, Hussein, and Ali you can see their families have origins in far away places.But what they have in common with every young man is that they are hungry, and not just for food. They are hungry, starving in fact for the attention of an older man. Enter Brock. Their weekly discussions cover school, family, the future, character, and of course, God. They love Brock! He doesn't need a course in cross-cultural ministry, he just shows up. They grab a burger and sit down to talk. No one else is doing that with them, and so they listen. Please join Brock in praying for these boys, that they would follow Brock, as he follows Christ.
Keyshawn and Ryan
For 3 years now Ryan has been tutoring Keyshawn, now a 4th grader at Kansas City Christian School. You won't find anyone sweeter or more sensitive than Keyshawn. And for the most part, he is an eager learner. But boy, does he need help staying organized. So tutoring becomes more than academics, it usually spills over to life skills. A volunteer may start out as a tutor, then as the relationship builds they discover the child needs more than help in math and reading. They need all the loving support we can muster. I heard recently that kids need on the average 5 loving adults around them in order to navigate their way through life. And elsewhere I read that the best 'therapy' for kids who have experienced trauma is caring adults around them. So Ryan - and others - are essential if wonderful kids like Keyshawn are to make it. Way to go Ryan. The investment is eternal.
Making a Memory
Pauline has been tutoring 3rd grade Shanaira now for a few years, and they have developed a wonderful friendship that goes beyond the after school hours. Pauline invited Shanaira over for a fun Christmas evening last month. Here's how Shanaira described it:What did I do over Christmas?I got to go to Pauline’s house. I made a ginger bread house. It had candy on it like candy canes, gum drops, M&Ms, and icing to keep the house straight. I also played with Pauline’s dogs, cats and watched movies. Next, I went in the hot tub! When I got hot I went to the trampoline and then went right in the hot tub. Then I went to Pauline’s room. She had a beautiful room with a balcony. Pauline let me wear some of her clothes and that’s very helpful, thank you Pauline!The EndOne afternoon doesn't change someone's life. But making memories are part of building a strong relationship, and it models for our kids how the Christian life should look. Little ones naturally look up to older ones, and if don’t step in to fill that need then other less desirable role models will.
It Pays to Stick Around
Nothing in Common. So What.
What do a middle aged white man from Leawood and a teenage boy from the hood have in common? Well not much except being part of God’s plan for each other. Terry signed up as a tutor, and was paired with Jershon, a good-natured 8th grader who was a part of our Friday Night Outreaches, and went to summer camp. They now enjoy hanging out each week, working on math and reading and playing hoops. What’s in it for Jershon? You might be surprised at how quickly a young man will forget that you look different from him when you are willing to spend time with him. And where our society looks at young men of color and sees a threat, Terry told us that Jershon “is the type of child any parent would love to have; to witness the charisma and potential that exudes from him is a joy!” It’s not the first time we have discovered, in the most unlikely places, a precious pearl created by the Father. Way to go, guys. 
Loving Means Doing
Camp Shalom {Summer 2012}
Boys camps and Girls camps, June and July 2012 at Camp Shalom near Mound City, Kansas[youtube]http://youtu.be/7UVQBjEQha0[/youtube]
Table Rock Lake {Summer 2011}
As a reward for completing a summer academic program, we took several kids to Table Rock Lake for a weekend. Summer 2011
This is a collection of pics around the ministry, in which every pic has people of different races or ethnic groups in it. It isn't hard to find that around Freedom Fire - a mix of lots of wonderful colors!
[youtube]http://youtu.be/AEL97lkv7XI[/youtube]
NOTE: The video is really only 4:17 long - there is a stretch of black at the end for some reason!
1st Annual Talent Show Hosted by Antioch Community Church & Freedom Fire Urban Ministries
Click here for Registration Form.Click here for Liability Waiver.More information email asage89@gmail.com or call 816-452-7833
Reward trip to Shalom
This was a trip from last year that we took, celebrating the successful completion of summer school work![youtube]http://youtu.be/vBWj4dhudDc[/youtube]
Daily Life...
If your'e not already involved in Friday Night Outreach, come check it out![youtube]http://youtu.be/IH75AgWetio[/youtube]
A Big House
We love this song, it speaks to how we feel and our heart for the community.[youtube]http://youtu.be/yfNHnjXHl1Q[/youtube]
William's Story
Some kids are loners and some kids are abused, William was both. By all worldly accounts he should be a bitter, angry person. Growing up he was beaten by both of his parents. William’s father was a Golden Gloves boxer and was disappointed in his son. He didn’t feel his son was tough enough so he beat him, thinking this would make him a man. Eventually, his parents abandoned him to make it on his own in the cruel streets of urban Kansas City.Others in the neighborhood would beat William too. He became known as the whipping child. Kids in this economically depressed neighborhood looked down on William because his family was so poor. He was the poorest of the poor, often times going without food. Just to survive, William would look for odd jobs mowing yards to get a little bit of money for a meal. Often he would be jumped and have his money taken before he could make it to the store. Some kids have bad days, others have horrible days. William’s days were often in the latter category.Years passed and William wandered into a church hoping to find a place to rest. It was there he heard the Gospel. He discovered that he had a loving Father in Heaven who cared for him and wanted to comfort him in his pain. William gave his life to God as a young man. It was through his faith, fellowship, and following Biblical teachings that he experienced the grace and mercy needed for inner healing. The anger, bitterness and hurt dissipated as the Holy Spirit operated within William’s life. In these early years, William learned to pray to God by saying, “your word, your will, and your way.” This prayer has been lived out in his life as a servant of Christ.One summer, he served a wonderful inner city camp called “The Sky’s the Limit.” It was during this time that William was introduced to Freedom Fire. There were over 100 Freedom Fire kids at the camp. He quickly became friends with the Freedom Fire staff. At the end of that summer, William began working part time for the ministry.That was ten years ago. He has since become a highly valued member of the team. All who meet William are endeared to him. One of the major reasons why people love him so much has been due to his overwhelming compassion and generosity. The staff of Freedom Fire has been inspired by his generosity. He regularly gives out of his poverty, to his own neglect, so that he can help others.Once his mother (who has since become a follower of Jesus) called William, panicked because her electricity was about to be turned off. William, without hesitation, gave his last bit of money to pay his mother’s bill. Consequently, he did not have enough to pay his own bill. William lived over a month without electricity in his apartment so that his mother would be OK.Knowing that William gives extravagantly out of his limited means, we have given him bonuses for his work. Routinely, he gives that money away to others whom he feels need it more or need encouragement.Although William has become known as a generous person with his money, he has been even more generous with his time and affection. Currently, he has taken in a young man who had no home and was going hungry most of the time – much like William once did. He provides a room and food, but most importantly he has given spiritual encouragement and direction to this young person.On numerous occasions he has dropped everything to go rescue a staff member with car problems or give a mother and her children a ride to the grocery store. He has always been willing to serve in anyway. William truly models Christ’s heart for service as mentioned in Philippians chapter two.
Drug Deals in Church?
Drug deals go down all the time in the city – sometimes even in church. One Sunday at Freedom Covenant Church, I was preaching when my wife witnessed a drug deal go down in the back of the church. Preaching for pastors can be a humbling experience as it is, let alone when nefarious business transactions are taking place during your three key points to holiness.Freedom Covenant has a unique congregation. We have a number of families from federal housing, a large contingency of homeless people, and a growing number from the suburbs. We meet in a warehouse located in the heart of the inner city just east of downtown Kansas City.Three weeks after the drug deal went down, an invitation for prayer was given at the end of Sunday service. The drug dealer came forward and prayed with me to receive Christ as his Lord and Savior. As we were praying, I noticed that tears were hitting the concrete floor. Since that time the former dealer has sat in service worshiping with a new perspective on life.