What's in your closet?

Recently during an office clean-out, we discovered some children's picture Bibles stashed in a cupboard, unused for some time. Wanting to put them to better use, STARS director Jeff Nelson took them to the "STARS-Bucks Store," where kids participating in the program could cash in points they had earned for items they wanted - small toys and prizes, school supplies, or other practical things.

One little girl, "Jocelyn," had her heart set on a Bible. She was so excited to get her Bible that she could not stop hugging it. During gym time, she kept her new Bible with her, looking at the pictures and showing all of her friends.

How precious is God's word to us, and how precious are the kids he loves! May we all share Jocelyn's childlike joy and wonder at God's letter to us.

And a simple challenge - is there something in your closet, unused, that could bless a kid? The STARS-Bucks Store is open monthly at the two STARS location and always needs new or gently used items for 50 kids grades K-6. (More Bibles or books are welcome!) Email us at SCYMinistries@gmail.com if you have items to donate, or call our office at (937)325-6183.

Literacy Training Dates

SCYM will be hosting a literacy training in collaboration with David Smiddy and the Warder Literacy Center. The event is free and open to the public. Additionally, anyone who attends will be certified to tutor at our STARS afterschool program. The training will be offered twice. Below are the locations and times. We would love to see you there!

Sunday, November 22nd from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
High Street Church of the Nazarene
1625 East High Street
Springfield, OH 45505

or

Monday, November 23rd from 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Westside Christian Community
1335 Maiden Lane
Springfield, OH 45504


For more information, please contact Jeff Nelson at 360-7308 or jeff4kids@yahoo.com

Tutors needed for STARS After-School Program

Did you know that one of the leading indicators of whether a child will be involved in the court system as an adult is their third grade reading level?

Because we believe that part of helping kids grow to mature, responsible Christian adulthood is helping them value their education and succeed academically, we are working on a new initiative in our STARS tutoring times to help kids improve their reading skills. We're excited at helping these kids hone a skill that will enrich their entire lives.

But - we need help! We're aiming to get one tutor for each of the 40 children currently enrolled in our STARS programs. From high school age on up - if you can read and you can show up, then we believe you can help a kid. Training begins in late November.

Tutors can come on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday afternoons for just 45 minutes. Times vary slightly but fall between 2:30-4:30 each week. Why not join us and impact a kid's life forever? Email us at scyministries@gmail.com, or call our office at (937)325-6183.

OX Roast Pics!

The OX Roast was a blast. The kids enjoyed the jumpers, Buckeye Hunt, and making bracelets.

God gave us a beautiful day, and lots of hungry SCYM fans.

Jeff Nelson comments; OX ROAST 2009 a big success!

Well, this is my first official post to our ministry blog.  After a fruitful ministry with the Projeto Resgate street childrens ministry in Brazil, my wife Tiffany and I, along with our four kids Caleb (12), Michaela (10), Joshua (8) and Samuel (6) have settled back here in Springfield.  You can check out our family blog to learn more about that.

I am really blessed to be a part of SCYM, and see the exciting things that God is doing and has done in this ministry.  I run the STARS after school program, as well as Wise Guys mentoring groups for Jr. High boys, and Kid Can! Summer Day camp.  We have some exciting things planned for this year.  Next week STARS will  begin at Westside Christian Community and at High Street Church of the Nazarene.  We hope to have about 25 kids coming from Snyder Park Elementary to Westside, and about 32 coming from Kenwood Elementary to High Street.

Today we had an answer to prayer regarding transportation for High Street.  The church bus only has seats for 21, and I have been trying to figure out how we were going to get the remaining 11 or so students to the program.  After checking into a few options, I talked to my friend Captain Steve Carroll at The Salvation Army, and he said they would be happy to partner with us and let us use one of their 11 passenger vans on Wednesdays.  God is good!   

Our annual OX Roast is now history, and was a big success.  We had about 300 donors and other friends from the community join us at Faith in Christ Lutheran Church for some great food, good music, a cool Buckeye Hunt and other activities.  Thank you to all who participated and gave to help us this year.  Look for OX Roast pictures in my next post.

Jeff Nelson

Associate Director SCYM

One hand at a time

A few weeks back at Kids Can! Summer Day Camp, I helped some kids learn how to make candles. Hot wax + no air conditioning + active little kids = as much excitement as you'd expect. (The kids did a great job, and their business, Downtown Candle Co., made a great product.)

On one of our first days of business, I took the kids to a craft store to buy candle supplies. This involved the necessary “research” of smelling every scent of candle to the point of possibly permanent wax buildup on their noses. Also, a lot of touching everything on every shelf. But, on with the story.

A five-year-old boy I’ll call Donny, a sweet, funny, and dare I say Extremely Active little guy, was part of my candle-shopping group. Donny was one of our kids from Interfaith Hospitality Network, whose family had hit hard times and was homeless. As I called Donny’s name – often – to rein him in from destroying anything valuable in the store, he caught my director’s heart off guard when, at one point, he reached his five-year-old hand up and put it in mine.

Reaching for a hand. It was a very simple, unexpected gesture. I do it with my three-year-old daughter often, but rarely with kids from the ministry. It said to me that Donny was hungry for attention and affection, even when he was being reined in and under a little scrutiny.

It struck me that Donny and every kid will outgrow the desire to have their hand held – but that they won’t outgrow the need to have their hand held. Not literally, of course – they quickly become too big, too cool, and too independent for that. But holding a hand symbolizes a lot of things – things that kids both younger and older still need, and that the staff at SCYM, both paid and volunteer, are there to give.

Guidance. That hand they hold helps keep a kid from going down the wrong aisle, from darting out in a parking lot, and from heading down a dangerous path.

Balance. My three-year-old is a great walker, but her knees are just a mess in the summertime from spills and scrapes on the sidewalk. If I hold her hand, I won’t keep her from tripping, but I can help catch her before she really gets hurt. Adults who walk alongside kids are there to help kids before they get into really disastrous, hurtful situations and provide some balance in their lives.

Reassurance. We all need the freedom to explore, but the reassurance of knowing we’re not alone. Kids need to have a consistent, caring adult presence. Someone safe to talk to, who will be there over the long haul. Period.

Safety. Presence. Fun. Correction. Encouragement. There are so many others. What’s more, each of us, no matter how big, strong or independent, needs to hold a hand that’s bigger than ours – the Father’s.

How can you grab a kid’s hand? How can you come alongside and give reassurance, balance, or guidance? Never underestimate the importance of a hand.

Faith Bosland
Executive Director

Ox Roast 2009!

On Saturday, September 12th from 5:00-7:00 pm at Faith in Christ Lutheran Church, SCYM will be hosting our 12th annual Ox Roast! Come out to Northridge and eat delicious food before the big OSU game! There will be delicious roast beef and sides; live music provided by Rick L. James (www.rickjamesmusic.net); activities for kids; and a silent auction including YMCA family membership and many other items.

The Ox Roast is a terrific opportunity to help support SCYM and the kids we serve! If you would like to contribute to this year's event, click here and write "Ox Roast" in the message field.