“it takes all of us to impact our community”
Local Church reaches out at the skate park

Pastor Mike Harrison had been looking for ways to see his congregation reach out to the community. When presented with the opportunity to invest in the youth at the skate park it seemed that God had orchestrated things. Church members Todd Varhalla and Jeremy
Davidson, who in their professional career both serve in the public school system, had been looking for ways to do more for the (at-risk) kids they worked with. Youth Pastor Mike Minghi only lives a couple of blocks away from the park. The team of three men can now be found
on Monday nights teaching the Alpha Course, a course explaining the Christian faith. They’ve shown that God isn’t in a ‘box’, where you spend an hour in church or at a Bible study, but that it affects every moment of your life—including your time in school. They have since heard from several people (including parents)
how much their presence at the skate park has shown the kids and the community that they truly care. Theyshared their personal testimonies and will bring some of their own kids with them to show what a father looks like. They are not afraid to touch ‘hot’ buttons like boy/girl relationships and the rampant pornography that has infiltrated the internet. The church is looking at hosting a lock in for the kids this winter. They can be found praying at 6.45 every Thursday Morning.
Mike Minghi, Youth Pastor at the church, talked to one of the skaters on his way home. This young man had questions as he had seen the imperfection among Christians and asked Mike whether he should believe any of it. Mike told him that not our religion, but Jesus is the way into heaven. They opened the Bible together as Mike explained the Gospel. They prayed together and this young man decided to become a follower of Christ. According to Hannah Kissinger, YFC staff at the park, this talk made a big difference for him.
I am encouraged as I watch this team and this church embrace the skaters. It wasn’t too long ago that the board of YFC decided to pursue a strategic shift: Instead of YFC staff doing the bulk of ministry, we would look at new ways of multiplying our efforts by engaging the local church and community in ministry. Watching this team teach kids about Christ, and seeing the changed lives as a result makes me dream for a future where many more kids could be reached in accordance with Jesus’ prayer: “The fields are white unto harvest. Pray therefore the Lord of the Harvest that he would send laborers into his harvest field”.
Would you help us make that dream a reality through your continued prayers, giving and volunteer help? Thank You!
November 2009
P.O. Box 765
Farmington, MO 63640
(573) 747-1705
IN THE PARKLAND