Identifying the Greatness in Kids!

From a very young age I have fond memories of my grandmother looking me in the eye and saying to me with a big smile, “I can’t wait to see what you grow up to be!”

My grandma was a great Christian lady, and though she went home to be with the Lord before she was able to see who I would grow up to be, her words remained in my heart. I would find myself thinking, “Would grandma be proud of where my life is right now?”

I believe that as Christians our words carry great power and influence in others’ lives.

“For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?...And if you greet your brother only, what do you do more than others?" Matthew 5:47

Most of us do a good job of giving encouraging words to those who are easy to compliment, but I believe if we want to see the world around us change, we need to be people who can see the gold in someone who is used to being rejected.

At SCYM this is a very powerful tool for us in tearing down barriers and building relationships with kids, so we wanted to share it with you. It is simply speaking the truth about how God has created each young person, no matter how angry, indifferent, hyper, or sullen they may seem to us.

That young man with a swagger? He may have a wealth of leadership potential.

That girl who is withdrawn and quiet may be a great thinker, a great listener.

The young person blanketed with tattoos may be expressing God-given creativity that is bursting to come out.  

What effect do you think it would have if we spoke about the gold in these young people, whether they are neighbors, grandchildren or nieces or nephews, or just someone we pass in the store? What if we smiled and said something like:

“You’re going to be a great leader someday”

“I can tell that you really care about your friends”

“God must have made you creative”

“Did you know you are God’s
treasure?”

Or like Grandma, “I can’t wait to see what you grow up to be!”

Simple words, yet powerful for young people who often only hear judgment and criticism. Words that reflect the heart of their Creator, and we can be His agents to communicate them. Let’s step over the line of fear together and see hopelessness crushed in children’s lives by the love of God!  

Tyler Worley

Associate Director

Why you should save the date for October 13

This week they're putting on their backpacks, traipsing off to school, some climbing onto buses, some smiling and excited, some resigned. Pictures of first days of school posted on Facebook. Some in stylish new clothes and some in hand-me-downs, but all of them a reminder of their Creator and of why SCYM exists. They are our kids.

On Saturday, October 13, upwards of 100 kids from around the city will be singing, acting, dancing, and offering up their talents for an event we call "Celebrate Kids!"

I am personally so excited about how this event is doing a lot of unique and important things: Bringing children, families, and churches from across the city together. Listening to our kids' voices. Reminding ourselves of how vital they are to our future. Giving them a platform to give back to their community. Raising funds to support year-round opportunities for kids citywide. Not only that, it's going to be just plain fun!

I'd like to invite you to join SCYM and many around our city to "Celebrate Kids!" on Saturday, October 13, from 5:00-7:00 pm at Maiden Lane Church of God. Bring a few dollars for an inexpensive but delicious dinner from Rudy's Smokehouse Bar-B-Q, a few more if you'd like to bid on a silent auction item, and prepare to enjoy a great evening with all kinds of great activities for kids and people of all ages.

If you're as excited as I am about this event, maybe you'd like to get involved. If so, we've got opportunities for you. We're putting together a team of 40 volunteers from different churches in the city to staff the event -- why not join the fun, and bring a few friends! We'll be having a Celebrate Kids! Preview on Monday, September 24, at 7:00 at Maiden Lane for all volunteers.

Second, maybe you'd consider donating a sponsorship or a silent auction item. Details on sponsorships -- which can be given by individuals or businesses, but provide promotional opportunities for businesses -- are here on our blog. Our financial goal for this event is to raise $15,000 to support programs that support Springfield kids all year, and it takes many people joining hands to reach that goal. Every dollar donated will help a Springfield kid this school year!

So as you see a kid heading off to school this week, pray for them! And mark your calendars for October 13, and consider how you might be involved. Together we can help kids in our city crush the odds with the love of God!

Blessings,
Faith

Faith Bosland, Executive Director

Help Us Celebrate Kids on October 13

We're excited to host our second city-wide Celebrate Kids! event on Saturday, October 13 at Maiden Lane Church of God. Youth and children's choirs from around the city will be using their talents to help other children have access to year-round programs through SCYM. 

As well as joining us for this great event, families, churches, and businesses can help celebrate kids by becoming a sponsor. 

For businesses, sponsorships are available with the following promotional opportunities:

Event Sponsor: $2500 (One available)

• Sponsor logo/name in SCYM newsletter, event Powerpoint, printed program, postcard mailed prior to event, name/link prominent in SCYM event emails, and 4x8 banner displayed prominently above performance area. Includes opportunity to give a welcome on behalf of your business at the event, and a featured interview in email and print newsletters.

Standing Ovation: $1000 or more

• Sponsor logo/name in SCYM newsletter, event Powerpoint, printed program, postcard mailed prior to event, name/link prominent in SCYM event emails, and 4x8 banner displayed prominently above performance area

Three Cheers: $500

• Sponsor logo/name in SCYM newsletter, event Powerpoint, and printed program; name/link in SCYM event emails

Round of Applause: $250

• Sponsor name in SCYM newsletter, name/link in SCYM event emails

High Five: $100.00

• Sponsor name in SCYM newsletter

All funds raised go directly to support SCYM's year-round programs like STARS, Camp Boost, GirlPower, and Wise Guys, which serve more than 250 Springfield children and youth and "help kids crush the odds with the love of God." 

To become a sponsor, contact us at SCYMinistries@gmail.com, donate online at our website and indicate "Celebrate Kids," or just send a check to SCYM at 1500 Broadway St., Springfield, OH 45504. 

Be a hero to a kid this fall!

Our fall programs are ramping up to serve Springfield city elementary and middle school kids once again, and we need many "heroes" to invest an hour or more a week in a kid's life! Would you consider joining our awesome team of volunteers this fall?

Here are some of our opportunities to connect with kids:
STARS Afterschool Program Mentor/Tutors: Mondays, Tuesdays, OR Thursdays, 4:30-5:30 (STARS Ramp-Up Day Meeting for all volunteers is Monday, September 12 OR Tuesday, September 13 at 4:00 pm, held at High Street Nazarene on Monday and Westside Christian Community on Tuesday) Contact: Tyler Worley, tylerworley33@gmail.com.

One-on-One Mentoring: Mentor a 5th-8th grade Springfield city student on your own schedule, one hour a week commitment for one year. Mentors must be 18 or older. Contact: Faith Bosland, 206-7812, faithbosland@yahoo.com.

GirlPower leaders: Help city middle school girls develop confidence and learn healthy habits on Tuesdays OR Thursdays, 4:00-6:00 pm. Contact: Angela Boblitt, 207-9463, angelaboblitt@gmail.com.

Training is offered for all volunteer roles. It doesn't take special superpowers to change a kid's life -- just availability!

Celebrate Kids with SCYM this fall!

We're excited to announce a new event coming Saturday, October 8 -- Celebrate Kids! Held from 5:00-7:00 pm at Maiden Lane Church of God, Celebrate Kids! will feature a musical showcase of local children's and youth choirs and groups, a $5 roast beef dinner, fun activities for kids, and the chance to join together to celebrate our community's kids. Springfield Mayor Warren Copeland will be joining us as "celebrity host" for the evening's events.

SCYM is seeking to raise $15,000 in individual, church, and business sponsorships for Celebrate Kids!, which will help 250 Springfield kids "crush the odds with the love of God" through SCYM's year-round programs. Would you consider partnering with us as a sponsor of this event? For businesses, we're offering the following promotional opportunities:

Standing Ovation: $1000.00 or more
• Sponsor logo/name acknowledged on SCYM website and newsletter, event Powerpoint, printed program, postcard mailed prior to event, and 4x8 banner displayed prominently above performance area
Three Cheers: $500.00
• Sponsor logo/name on SCYM website and newsletter, event Powerpoint, and printed program
Round of Applause: $250.00
• Sponsor name on SCYM website and newsletter, name/logo on event Powerpoint
High Five: $100.00
• Sponsor name acknowledged on SCYM website and newsletter

If you'd like to participate in this great opportunity, and support Springfield kids at the same time, you can contribute online at our website, or by mail to SCYM, 1500 Broadway St., Springfield OH 45504. (Just write "Celebrate Kids" in the memo line.) Feel free to contact our office for more information, at 937-325-6183, or SCYMinistries@gmail.com. We hope to see you October 8 for a great night!

Kids Can! Summer Day Camp 2011

What a great four weeks it's been at Kids Can! Summer Day Camp! This year's camp for 3rd-6th graders in Springfield City Schools focused on helping kids develop their creative writing skills while getting to know the Author of Life. Camp director Tyler Worley and assistant director Rhonda Fellows have done a great job leading the kids, along with many volunteers who have given hundreds of hours to help kids grow in their faith, their knowledge, and their relationships. THANK YOU to everyone who's generously given time and resources to make this year's camp possible and affordable for so many kids!

Alongside daily chapel time, creative writing and art activities, kids have also trekked to Carriage Hill, Cedar Bog, Freshwater Fish Farms, the Air Force Museum, and the Columbus Zoo (coming this Friday, the camp's final day); and choices of specialty activities like "backyard camping," fishing, hikes in the Snyder Park woods, gardening, basketball, soccer, wiffleball, watercolor painting, photography, and music. Here are a few of those moments caught on camera:

Our office, the week before camp. Yes, that is a ping-pong table and a basketball hoop!


Patty Rose and kids from Maiden Lane Church of God led the camp in worship:

Kids revved up their imaginations with daily writing activities:


Kids made some cool "illuminations" during art time led by local art teachers:

A photo taken by one of our campers during a photography session led by Thor Bisher:

During "backyard camping" week, kids learned how to build a campfire (and of course, toasted marshmallows!)

Want to drop a grace grenade?

Recently in our staff meeting we discussed how "transactional" our society gets, and how it colors our relationship with God -- the mindset that I'll do something for you, if you do something for me in return.

But when you start looking at Scripture, you realize that God's love is not transactional at all. In fact, a better word for God's love is extravagant -- a flood of grace and blessing in return for the small tokens we can give him.

This got us thinking: Could we plan some moments at our upcoming Summer Day Camp that go far beyond transactional -- you signed up for this, so we're going to do what we said -- to extravagant? Could we drop some "grace grenades"?

So we're looking for help. Are any individuals or small groups out there interested in pulling off an extravagant surprise for our day camp kids -- like a fancy breakfast, an amazing experience, a gourmet snack, something that they may have never experienced before? We'd like to pull off one grace grenade a week, for the four weeks of camp.

Give us a shout if you think you can help. (And it doesn't get any more "feel good" than this -- just make some kids feel special and loved!)