BRINGING THE JOY OF THE LORD
The holidays are fast approaching. This should be a season of family coming together and abundant laughter and joy. A wonderful turkey dinner on Thanksgiving, a gift exchange and eggnog on Christmas. For followers of Christ, it is a time to be thankful to God for sending his Son Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins so that we could be reconciled to the Father.
Unfortunately, this is also the hardest time of the year for the facilities that we have been sent to minister in. Not having family, or being locked up during the holidays makes for a very difficult season. When I was a teenager, I really looked forward to the holidays, not so for the 150 or so teenagers that will be in the four facilities we serve in Southern Colorado.
It is not only the youth that have a difficult time during this season. Inadequate staffing frequently makes it difficult for the facility personnel to take time off. Double shifts are often required. Fatigue builds and the joy of the season can easily be lost.
As a ministry we do all we can to bring the joy of the Lord to the kids and staff. We will be planning around 15 individual unit Christmas parties. We will provide new sports equipment, games for entertainment, art supplies, puzzles, warm hats and gloves, etc. Socks and underwear are a big deal, (not so much for me when I was a teenager). Sugar cookies, candy canes, and pop are big hits. Singing Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer and Jingle Bells, fills the pods with the sounds of feeling free. For a little more than an hour there will be a different environment in each pod, and the gifts we leave with them will hopefully ease the longing to be elsewhere.
Over the years, Lorie, my right-hand and office manager, and I, have put a system in place to make all of this happen. I will tell you that when the season is over, we will need rest. The volunteers as always are such a blessing every week. It is hard on them seeing the struggles of the youth and staff. They pour out every ounce of Love, Mercy, and Grace the Lord fills them with, and sometimes it seems to make very little difference.
I tell you these things because we need your prayers for this ministry, the youth, and staff more than ever over the next two months! The spiritual darkness that resides in the facilities seems to double its efforts to prevent the Lord’s work from being done during this season. If you would like to go in a facility and help with the Christmas parties please give me a call.
I pray you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas. (Too early??)
Blessings,
Andy
