UNITED STATES 2011 - FacePlant Skate Church Staff Meeting

FacePlant SkateChurch Staff Meeting

FacePlant SkateChurch Staff Meeting at Whipple Creek Church

FacePlant SkateChurch Staff 2011 (L to R): James Atchley, LeeAnn hull, Pam Knowles, Curtis Christensen, Christian Young, Brian Worcester, Zach Barazowski, Ricky Brewer, Chad Stevens, McKenzie Knowles (not pictured: Josh Newton and Victor Marquay)

THAILAND 2011 - Packing Up and Heading Out

Pattaya, Thailand

Friday, February 25, 2011

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Packing Up and Heading Out

In three days I head out to Thailand where I will meet up with 14 other IRIS missionaries. First I fly in to Bay-jing, Chi-na, then to Bangkok, Thailand. It's been fun packing up my exterior-frame pack with enough clothes for over two weeks, sleeping bag, toys (that my children picked out which I will give away to children in Thailand), guitar and even my skateboard (just found out a few days ago we will be doing some skate park ministry in Pattaya)

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Again, our focus of this trip is to hear from God together as a team on where we can start an IRIS Ministries base in the near future. For those of you who don't know much about IRIS Ministries, it was founded by Rolland and Heidi Baker, who have a HUGE HEART for the poor, broken and outcast of this world. About a year ago Heidi and some other folks from the IRIS tribe went to Thailand and were wrecked when the reality of how many boys and girls are vicitimized by the sex slave trade hit them. From there plans were made with Yonnie Cheng (who is co-leading this trip along with Jesse and Tanya Gellatly) to take a team of IRIS missionaries (of which I am blessed to be a part of) and begin the process of starting an IRIS base which will focus on rescuing these boys and girls from forced prostitution, taking them in, housing them and giving them training and job opportunities, which will in turn give them dignity and hope of a life that doesn't involve them selling their bodies every night. This is the love of Jesus. This the heartbeat of Papa God. I know that eternity will look different because IRIS is taking this step to join other organizations involved in similar endeavors in Thailand. Another key to the DNA of IRIS Ministries is constantly being wrecked in God's presence and carrying His glory to the darkest places of the earth, preaching the gospel and operating in the signs, wonders and miracles as laid-down lovers of Jesus Christ. We are stoked! We are ready! And I absolutely believe that we will see the wonders of God on this trip!

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We would love if you would join us in praying: (1) for the IRIS team (and our families) from March 1st to March 15th as we minister in Bangkok, Pattaya and Kanchanaburi; for protection (in this very spiritually dark climate) and a sensitivity to hear the heartbeat of Papa God; for unity within the team; (2) for all those we will come into contact with; that God would show His unconditional love and compassion through us to those victimized by the sex slave trade as well as any others we connect with otherwise; and that God would prepare their hearts for receiving the gospel; (3) for IRIS Ministries as they will continue the process of setting up a base; direction from God as to a strategic place to do this; for future  missionaries and workers who are called to this very special task of rescuing these boys and girls long-term.

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Thank you so much friends, family, supporters. God has provided wonderfully for me to be able to take this historic trip (a special thanks to those who have financially given toward this endeavor...may God richly bless you and return to you hundred-fold that which you've sown into his Kingdom through our missionary family). I will make sure to blog on the trip after I get back on March 15th as I will not have our computer with me. Catch up with you all on the flip-side.

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Heaps of love, grace and peace,

Christian Young

UNITED STATES 2011 - Battle Royale and Another Seven

Harvest Time at FacePlant SkateChurch

The fun continues at FacePlant SkateChurch on Monday nights. This past two weeks we saw seven more skaters come to Christ. 5 kids gave their lives to Christ over a week ago after James taught on Jesus calming the storm from Mark 4:35-41. We also broke up into small groups and prayed for each other as almost all of the kids said that they had "storms" going on at home. Many, if not most of the skateboarding youth community here in Vancouver, Washington come from broken homes. So it is amazing to be able to support one another and pray for each other at SkateChurch every week. 2 more kids made first time decisions to follow Jesus last night as Ricky spoke on the man possessed by a legion of demons from Mark 5:1-20. We are seeing a mighty harvest of youth coming to Christ. So far we have seen 25 youth come to Christ in 2011 alone. That makes at least 265 young people who have prayed to receive Jesus Christ since we started SkateChurch in 2006. To the best of my knowledge, here is the breakdown of salvations every year at SkateChurch:

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2006 - 80 first time decisions to follow Christ

2007 - 83 first time decisions to follow Christ

2008 - 58 first time decisions to follow Christ

2009 - 10 first time decisions to follow Christ

2010 - 9 first time decisions to follow Christ

2011 - 25 first time decisions to follow Christ

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2006 to 2011 - 265 first time decisions to follow Christ

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Maybe it sounds a bit repetitive when we write about youth placing their faith in Jesus Christ week in and week out, but to us, this is the main reason FacePlant SkateChurch exists. Every time one of these skaters raises their hand and prays with us, inviting Jesus Christ into their lives, the angels are partying in heaven as new names are being added to the Book of Life. So we like to party with the angels over these young skaters, many of which wouldn't darken the doors of a normal church. Hope you can celebrate with us!

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On another note, the guys continue to find ways to amuse themselves. They now have a game they have made up on the mini-pipe called, "Battle Royale." They all drop in and skate the mini-pipe at the same time, trying to knock eachother off their boards (it's okay parents, haven't had any injuries). The last man standing wins. Fun stuff.

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Christian Young

FP SkateChurch Pastor

UNITED STATES 2011 - Seven More Youth Come to Christ

Seven More Youth Come To Christ

We have really seen some amazing things take place during the 21 days of prayer and fasting at Whipple Creek Church. One thing we were specifically praying for as a church is a harvest of souls coming into the Kingdom of God. We've just recently seen seven more youth come to Christ over the past few weeks. On January 17th Zach taught from Mark 4:21-25. After his message four youth raised their hands and prayed to receive Christ. The following week, on January 24th Chad spoke on ark 4:26-29 and three more youth not only raised their hands and invited Christ into their lives, but did so publically in front of their peers. Our staff and interns are on a teaching rotation so that not one person has to have the responsibility of giving the Bible lesson every week. I am so proud of our FacePlant SkateChurch staff and applaud them for the wonderful job they are doing in studying, preparing and delivering the message week in and week out.

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Please Invite People To FacePlant SkateChurch

I would like to take a moment and just ask that you would invite any skater you know to come out to FacePlant SkateChurch on Monday nights. Chris Gilbert has so graciously allowed us to use their skate park every Monday night. Our attendance seems to always fluxuate; some weeks we have 15 skaters and other weeks we have over 40 skaters. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to who attends and when. One thing we really need to have in order for it to be worthwhile for Ripzu to continue to let us utilize their facilities is an attendance of at least 30 skaters at FacePlant SkateChurch every Monday night; at least if we want to keep the cost down to $4 per skater every Monday night. Ripzu Skate Park has an overhead and it has to make sense in order for them to be able to pay their lease payment and utilities. So this is just a call to invite friends to come and skate, as well as a challenge to all the regulars; if you call this your church home, please do all that you can to make it out consistantly on Monday nights, not only to keep our costs down, but because you are probably missing out on something that God has for you if you aren't getting fellowship anywhere else. We care about you and want you to continue to grow in your walk with God. There are so many times that skaters are encouraged by a teaching or by being prayed for by their peers during small group interaction. Anyhoo...hope to see you guys as much as possible. We love all of you!!! =)

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Christian Young

FP SkateChurch Pastor