Christmas Blessings

Upper Canada Youth For Christ, serving churches in Upper Canada by building relationships, sharing resources, and following the pulse of God where it is already beating. "...But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God..." Youth Christmas Party On December 13 at youth, we had our Christmas party. We decorated one another, had Christmas dinner complete with birthday cake, a gift exchange, and read the Christmas story strait from the Word of God. Each youth was given their own teen Bible. It was a sacred time of honouring Jesus for coming from his throne in heaven, being wrapped in flesh and blood to endure humanity. For love. For the the Father, For us. YFC CANADA NEWSLETTER "The Gift of Showing Up!" (click here) Youth Christmas Talent Show On December 10 the youth from Prescott kids Choir and Youth Answer showcased their talents at our annual Christmas Talent show. They did an amazing job! If you were not able to make it, video was made of some of the performances below in the red boxes.  Talent show Trio (click here to enjoy) Christmas Talent Show Finale, 2016 (click here to enjoy) "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him...

As adults, we know how difficult the world can be to navigate.  Add an insane amount of hormones, modern technology, peer pressure, very little teaching about absolutes, and you have the make up of a modern day teen. Life had its challenges for every generation before, but I believe the youth growing up today, even when given more than enough opportunity to succeed, have not been given the knowledge or tools to live life to its fullest; the way our loving heavenly Father intended for us to live. The Word gave life to everything that was created... One advantage youth have today is the hunger for authenticity. They want the real deal... to invest, to experience first hand, to have purpose and meaning, and not to settle for less than the best... which we know is God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. In Him we find all we need. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus by investing in others eternally, the indwelling and adventure of life in the Holy Spirit, and an authentic relationship with the creator of it all.  ...and His life brought light to everyone... There are a million doors of opportunity to join God in the work he has already begun. He is always at work, always beckoning our hearts eye, and always inviting us as he has since the beginning, to join him in the work He has begun. He is making all things new.  ...the light shines in the darkness... This Christmas join Him in the work He has begun. Jesus came for that neighbour that you cant stand, for that kid that picks on your kid, the coworker that curses His name, the young mom that stands at the bus stop more interested in her phone than her kids that desperately need a hug before they go off to school. God is at work in their lives just as he is in yours. Today He asks you to see with His eyes, and join Him in the work he has set before you. ...and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1:1-5 Join us in reaching this generation... (click here to give)

Copyright © 2016 Upper Canada Youth For Christ, All rights reserved. You are part of the Upper Canada YFC Family. Our mailing address is: Upper Canada Youth For Christ PO Box 807 Prescott, On K0E1T0 Canada

Youth Christmas Party!!!

Upper Canada Youth For Christ, serving churches in Upper Canada by building relationships, sharing resources, and following the pulse of God where it is already beating. This week at youth we will be having our Christmas party. We will be doing a gift exchange, having a Christmas meal together, singing carols, and Celebrating Jesus' birthday. Most importantly, the Christmas story will be read.  I ask that would pray for a newness to fall upon those that know the Christmas story well. For God to reveal something alive and fresh, that the youth would be able to cherish and keep close to their heart. For those that do not know the Christmas story well, pray that it might be a new beginning. That the fairy tale of what they think to be Christmas might be seen for what it is, truth understood, and believed.  I will include video and pictures of how the talent show went in a Christmas email. Thank you for your prayer, as this is always a time of beautiful fun and fellowship with many families from the community. The kids were great, and we had three youth not part of the youth group come and ask if they could join us next year! That is another huge answer to prayer!

The National staff conference in Nanimo BC was a beautiful time of uninhibited sharing, God anointed planning, and personal revelation. When surrounded by beauty as breathtaking as the mountains and lakes in Nanimo, one cannot help but be overwhelmed by the voice of God. It is humbling to be at the table with some of the best strategic thinkers in youth ministry not just in Canada, but internationally. To learn, to hear, to have a say, and input into shaping strategy for future generations is such a joy, and honour. Please continue to pray for these strategies at the national level. Growth is happening at such a quick rate with YFC Canada that the National team needs to grow with it. Please pray for the right fits, for discernment in the process, grace for one another, and for Gods continued guided favour.

Testimony week at youth

Upper Canada Youth For Christ, serving churches in Upper Canada by building relationships, sharing resources, and following the pulse of God where it is already beating. Testimony week...

This week at youth on Tuesday night we will hear testimony from Rev. Tracey Smith, the Anglican pastor at St. John's in Prescott, St Paul's in Cardinal and, St James in Maitland. The churches in Tracey's care have been generous, caring and loving to Youth for Christ since our start 3 years ago. It will be an honour to have her share her story with us. December 10, 2016 from 6-8 pm at St Andrews Presbyterian church in Prescott we will be holding our Annual Youth Dessert Night Talent show. This is an opportunity for you to support this group of amazing youth, see them in action and show them that you care about what they are doing. Please call me if you would like to purchase tickets! (613) 802-4222 or email me at johanna.freer@yfccanada.org. Cost of tickets are $20 a couple, $12 a single, and $5 for kids under 12. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

If you are not able to make it to the talent show, but would like to give to this youth group, please follow the link below.  Give to youth programs in Upper Canada YFC

Please Pray for the National Staff retreat this week from Monday to Thursday. We will be planning for the year to come, looking at ways to improve, and seeking God out for the forward movement if YFC across Canada. Please Pray for Shaun and the girls as well. It will be difficult to be away from one another for that length of time.  Copyright © 2016 Upper Canada Youth For Christ, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are serving in prayer for Upper Canada Youth For Christ. Our mailing address is: Upper Canada Youth For Christ PO Box 807 Prescott, On K0E1T0 Canada

A Legacy Not Forgotten

"Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm;  the signs he performed and the things he did in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his whole country;  what he did to the Egyptian army, to its horses and chariots, how he overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing you, and how the Lord brought lasting ruin on them..."
Deuteronomy 11:2-4

Stories. Stories of deliverance, stories of disobedience and defeat... With stories we bring to life, paint a verbal picture of a place in time that something important happened. Stories also can remind us who we are, and why we do what we do.

This was done in the old testament regularly. The people heard time and time again how God had saved their great great grandparents from EGYPT... and what a fantastic story it is! The women would tell of  Moses's mom and the basket in which she placed their one day great leader. Then the moment of all moments, when the hand of God had written out those commands, history breathing a blessing onto a rebellious and stubborn nation. A covenant made, a forever future chosen.

Generations would enjoy the protection and providence of God based on the truth in the stories passed down from generation to generation. But stories, the spoken word, ceased to be told. Youth grew, grandparents died, and the nation of Israel would forget... Surrounding nations would crowd in and the spoken word, their legacy, the legacy chosen for them before the foundations of the world would be forgotten. Time and time again, like a children's fable lost in the back of a dusty library, the word of God would be forgotten.

Are we telling the compelling truths to our children about God and our history? Are we telling stories that widen the small eyes of a child, and truly make Jesus out to be their superhero? Or has your imagination taken a back seat and been subdued by daytime streaming drama and prime time pseudo porn?

Have you known what it is like to run through the middle of raging waters on dry ground while the enemy pursued? Or stood on a mountain when fire rained down from the heavens? Eaten beautiful snow like bread every morning, and watched water gush from a rock in the middle of the dessert?

Have you played in the mud that healed a man born blind, held the hand of a child once dead? Did you feel the ground shake as tears poured from the heavens, or seen the place where He laid in a tomb now empty?

And what about you? What about the story written in your life not on paper or stone? What about your story bears truth to these wonderful miracles?

My Grandfather having the right set of gifts in a war camp to sneak food at night; not only to feed himself, but feed the men that toiled with him day to day...

My life being a miracle after my parents believed God was greater than a diagnosis not to have "normal children"... named Johanna Eva because I truly was to them God's gracious gift of life.

"It is time to share your burdens" a wedding plan in motion between their father and I... as God knew the family I came from would soon fall apart, and nearly break my heart.

Stories. Stories of deliverance, stories of disobedience and defeat... With stories we bring to life, paint a verbal picture of a place in time that something important happened.

Have we allowed this culture to crowd in to the point of no return? Will your grandchildren remember Gods providence of a survived great grandfather through the war, or the healing power of a God who gives good gifts to parents that seek His face, and renews all things in His time?

Paint for your children a picture that is true to the faithfulness of the one who dwells richly in them. Daily let them taste and see that the Lord is good. Let us together, raise a generation that knows who they are, where they came from, and why they believe what they believe. It takes a village, no it takes a body, a bride, the bride of Christ to raise a child.

Father let us be a people that remembers your great faithfulness. Give us words and pictures to tell our children of the wonders you have done, and will continue to do into eternity. Let not the world crowd us out of tasting, seeing, believing and experiencing your goodness, for you are good. We Praise you and thank you for all that you are yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.

Upper Canada Youth For Christ, serving churches in Upper Canada by building relationships, sharing resources, and following the pulse of God where it is already beating.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:18 This week will conclude our study about how to use the armor of God in our everyday lives. The youth will be given reminders, Bible verses, and pictures they can bring home to hang in places they will be reminded of their right standing with God, and how to use the word to remain in Him. Please pray the youth retain that which we have spoken. Also that they are given a desire to be in the word, and are reminded to keep talking to God. Father we know that it is only in you that we come to the throne of grace to be in your presence. It is a desire you place in us. Today we pray this desire to be given to each youth that has heard your word of truth. Make them hunger and thirst for you more than anything they have ever wanted before. Set their hearts on fire, may your word dwell richly, and abundantly in their hearts, revive and awaken their entire beings to you. Bring them into the light where they can be known and know that you are God. Help us speak words of your love, your forgiveness and your redemption over them. Help us build up, encourage and show them you. Where we are lacking, may your grace cover us, where we are needing, may you speak the right words through us. You are faithful. Thank you for this. Protect them from the lies that the world teaches... from the lies that try to snuff out your light. May the breadth of your goodness and love for us be a safe place where we retreat to you. May it be a place we invite your children into. Teaching them to trust you with the hidden things of our hearts, hidden fears, hidden wants, and needs. Thank you for this group of youth. May your delight continue to rest on each one of them. May they know you and want to know you more as well. We lay this before you in Jesus name, Amen Youth Pastors in Brockville and Surrounding area's gather for prayer this Thursday (November 24) for prayer. Please pray for each one, and the ministries they serve. Every Monday Johanna meets with a leadership team for Prescott Youth. Pray for this time of learning how to apply Gods word to leading and planning. One of these girls has some big life choices to make as well, pray for peace, and grace. The group looking to help those addicted to Pornography continues to meet. A plan has begun to form looking at how we will partner with Ottawa group Strength to Fight. Pray for a common vision, and protection for front line work. Planning for the Talent show continues. The show is on December 10. Please pray as this time comes closer for all the planning and time lines, and patience with one another through the process of learning. With the organization of churches in Brockville doing Global Alpha, we are encouraging youth leaders to run Youth Alpha at the same time in 2017 with the plan of including shared times  with the larger body. The Holy Spirit weekend is one of these times. Please pray for this vision to catch.