Tuesday, November 30, 2010

the Banqueting Table

Hey Hey! Just a quick note to say that Niverville YFC's Banquet Fundraiser held on November 24th was a great success! We were able to have a wonderful meal together with about 200 people in the ambience of Niverville's Atrium. With this, we shared our present context and future vision as a ministry; Eric McMahon shared the story of our skatepark (see previous post) and our volunteer, Kaeleb Visram, shared his story of hiring one of our Drop-In teenagers and seeing the ensuing change in the young guy's life. There was also some great music and great financial support for the Drop-In. THANKS TO ALL WHO CAME OUT!! and thanks to those who care enough to have considered coming, or even those who read this. You're amazing!

-Mark von Riesen

Friday, November 19, 2010

24 HOUR SK8ATHON: the story of pedestrian disturbers making a difference.

Late summer, 2010.
The Niverville Skatepark suddenly burst to life with many many young people on skateboards. It was so exciting to see the skatepark's current relevance years after its conception. Yet this unforeseen emergence meant a major increase in unsupervised activity and so it was our job to facilitate this as best we could. Two things became inevitable: our inability to monitor the skatepark around the clock, and the kids propensity for causing trouble after enough time without enough aim.

Autumn, 2010.
No sign of the skatepark's activity letting up. The activity was exciting, but the potential trouble brewing each day was a bit of a hassle to us, as our need to monitor the park was over and above our already busy schedules. To our amazement, instead of the child-mob getting out of hand, a simple idea planted in their heads by one of us led to the kids initiating a full-on campaign to raise money for the skatepark by means of a 24-hour skate-athon!! Now the idea was completely planned and carried out by the kids at first, and they did a great job, but it wasn't actually going to work fully. So we came alongside their ambition, and set up the fundraising campaign, helped plan the event, and made it happen with them.

Halloween, 2010.
The first-ever 24-hour skate-athon took place. The kids were able to raise over $5000 for the skatepark, and they facilitated a period of constant skateboarding for 24 hours straight. Professionals from the Edge Skatepark in Winnipeg came out to put on a demonstration and help us out. A few skateboarding companies sponsored the event, and offered prizes to many of the participants. All in all...a story of great success, as we truly believe in the hope and potential in every young person.









*our banquet fundraiser is WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

design thinking

The summers at YFC have traditionally been a time for the ministry and staff to reset, refocus, and re-establish ourselves into what we're doing and why. We were able to have a staff retreat day in July, and a staff reflection week in August; these being times for us to work together in planning our future. Part of this process is also spending time corporately and individually seeking the heart of God, actively listening to what He's saying about EVERYTHING!

The trends of our youth are changing, and we are constantly attempting to analyze the hearts of such trends. Exterior changes come and go and focusing on them can be fruitless time consumption for youth workers, BUT...learning about the issues that drive them can be valuable understanding that helps us connect with youth, and direct them to their potential.






In our reflective focus this summer, we came across an idea called "design thinking." It involves the innovative business-minded thinking for the future, met with creative ideas that are yet to be relevant. Experts say that the idea needs to be irrelevant in order not to be a "catch-up-to-relevance" idea. The process of design thinking involves a "no stupid question" policy, where the necessary and brilliant idea comes from a hundred bad ones before it. We liked this idea, and the type of process it involves. Not so much the need to be irrelevant - so we coined the term "pre-relevance," where at times our ideas might feel a bit irrelevant, but we understand with design thinking that the youth culture can adapt in relevance to our ideas. These ideas are not merely us trying to dictate relevance, but to catch on to the changing wind of the Spirit, knowing God's heart about what is priority in life, and then being initiators towards this end while inviting the world to join us.

This pursuit of pre-relevance is often quite a challenge - the exact difficulty AND need for this new generation. The youth trend these days seems to be apathetic towards youth ministry trying to be cool anyway. "Design thinking" is a powerfully worded phrase, too, as we apply God's design in our world and in human nature to understand where teenagers are at. This applies to being pre-relevant as well. So we're believing that God is actually calling us towards His "design thinking" in order to help us help others...and we're excited about this calling! So what does this mean practically? Well...that is what we're looking and praying into. There may be some different ideas coming down the pipe for us (it also explains some the "interesting" ideas we've already had...and this is only encouraging us more!).

- Mark von Riesen

Friday, September 10, 2010

vive le montreal!



YFC'S NATIONAL MINISTRY CONFERENCE: held in Montreal, started on June 26th. This year all three of us staff were willing and able to make it out to the conference...unprecedented in Niverville's history! YFC Canada has done such a great job in bringing together the staff from all across the country each year to encourage and equip the staff, and network and expand the ministry.

We have to admit that for us young staffers, a chance to get out of town is always enticing, but also beneficial to be strengthened in our ministry from beyond the walls our Drop-In Centre and Niverville. The spiritual focus, and the fellowhips of the YFC community are huge blessings to us as well. YFC is a parachurch (outside of the church) youth ministry, and although North American youth ministry has grown vastly in its resources, it's been almost entirely in the realm of church ministry. Therefore parachurches like YFC remain isolated and unresourced, and so its staff can easily feel the same. The annual NMC does wonders at combating such isolations.



One of the "hot topics" the we faced at the conference was the issue of retaining our organization's charitable status. The issue in our country begs the question, "how much are we willing to compromise?" Recently, a Christian charity went under due to a lawsuit from an employee who "came out" as a lesbian and was subsequently fired. The way the YFC Staff Manual is worded can put us as an organization at huge risk to such threats. The balance we struggle with is how to word our manuals, and approach such delicate issues with a non-faith-compromising manor WHILE not intending to offend, divide, or belittle others. I guess even before this question, we ought to be asking ourselves if such a balance even exists. Believing in SOMETHING greater than ourselves, and a better way, can have such ugly ramifications in a country intolerant of its own founding faith. A strange predicament we face here in Canada.

Lastly, on another note...at this conference I, Mark von Riesen, was honored with a 5-year staff award presented by the Youth for Christ National Director, Dave Brereton. God has been so faithful to me in these 5 (actually 6 by now) years of service, and I'm so greatful that He continues to use me, love me, and help me into the heart of youth ministry here in Niverville.

- Mark von Riesen



Wednesday, July 21, 2010

the PARfect team

so...here's an update on our staff theme:


Gordon "corey pavin" Kroeker: this man was known for his impressive start with the PGA tour, then lost his luck upon losing his moustache. Hopefully Gord won't have the same fate.


Eric "shooter" McMahon: this shooter will not eat pieces of poo for breakfast.


David "ian poulter" Ward: Niverville's own union jack of all trades. As always, England prevails.

Mark "bob barker" von Riesen: he's getting on in years, but he's still got some fight left in him.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

golfaroony

So we just wrapped up the 20-ishth annual golf tourney for Niverville YFC! Despite some scheduling and rescheduling conflicts, and the ensuing tardiness on getting the word out, we still managed a respectable turn out with about 100 golfers! On top of this, we had the PERFECT day for golf and a wonderful flow the fundraising events. So thank you Niverville...and everyone else who does not fit into this category and still helped us out.




Here's Captain Gord, doing a great job at overseeing much of the tournament.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

the best PROJECT we've undertaken

Niverville YFC can truly say we were so blessed to have Project 86 come out from California to rock out with us (aka perform a musical concert) Friday night of the Fair. The show was full of incredible energy, and connected so well with the youth - regardless of where they were coming from.

Not only were we blessed, but so was the band. We found a post online from them shortly after the show:
" Absolutely PERFECT show tonight. Niverville, Winnipeg, and surrounding regions...thank you for helping us have one of the best shows in the history of our band!"
The tide is turning within the youth...where they can look forward to meaningful events and experiences at the Fair, rather than going on a few rides and making up their own experiences themselves (which end up being the same old drinking parties for many of our youth). It's interesting to see how our community can have an impact on how our young people plan out their activities on such an epic weekend in their lives as the Niverville Fair. We at YFC have taken serious note of this oppotunity, not that Project 86 was the major factor, but that we as a community are moving forward with this PROJECT.

Thanks so much to our wonderful community, who opened their doors, opened the stage, opened their hearts, and opened their wallets to make this experience a reality.

Monday, May 17, 2010

David VIPER Ward


Niverville YFC proudly presents David Ward as the Summer Staff Worker for 2010. David brings a summer of experience to the plate as he was on board with us last year. With the foundation from last year, he moves stealthly like a viper into the snake pit of youth ministry. Snake pit, you ask? Well yes, let your imagination run wild.

We're pleased to have you on our TOP GUN team, David...or should we say Viper!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

fast lanes, big bands, and the glue that holds them together

life is back in the fast lane.



There is a TON of stuff on the plate with us YFC folk. An early spring brings out teenagers from hibernation. In April we ran a weekend retreat for YFC staff and volunteers from around the area that amounted to around 80 people. It went really well and we were excited to gather together as a YFC family, equipping each other to further the ministry. We also recently hosted a Drop-In Open House, showcasing some of new renovations, new programs, and some of who we are and the history of where we came from. It was amazing to see new faces and familiar faces, as well as people from every church congregation in Niverville. REPRESENT!




We're currently going full throttle on planning for future events...including bringing a band from California to play at this year's Niverville Fair! A band called Project 86 is performing MAIN STAGE on Friday night of the Fair, a treat our youth have never experienced at the Fair in years past. So if you happen to be in Niverville on the Friday night of the Fair (June 11), be prepared for some LOUD music and if it happens to hurt your eardrums...please suffer for the kids!



So we're looking forward to this summer and its stuff...looking forward to its hopeful impact on our teenagers. With all the stuff going on, we still focus so much on the relationship we build and foster with the teens. It acts as the glue between the cracks of the stuff that goes on in life and our programming. Go glue go!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

the Drop-In's TOP GUN idea

We've decided to boost our staff morale with the idea of monthly staff themes. Genious idea, I know. So...this month's theme is TOP GUN! (based on the fact that Gordon recently came in to work with a Goose-like moustache).

ERIC MCMAVERICK



GOOSEDON KROEKER



ICE MARK VON RIESEN



So we're not sure what kind of impact this will have on the ministry, but we're expecting great things!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

ebb and flow and away we go

Anyone who has been involved in youth ministry, or with youth in general, or can remember being a teenager, will know that consistency is NOT a characteristic for this demographic. With this in mind, we're going to share a little on the "ebb" of our ebb and flow natured ministry.

The first few months of every year are usually our coldest, and usually our slowest in terms of numbers here at the Drop-In. We had a considerable "flow" leading up to the Christmas holidays - packed house most Drop-In evenings, high levels of intervention and activity, ministry to many, and chaos - and transitioned to much fewer numbers of youth. This ebb of youth ministry can appear as defeating, and even feel discouraging based on surface level evaluation. BUT BUT BUT...upon a closer inspection of what is actually going on, there is a lot of good in it.

For example, over the last few months our youth-to-adult ratio has gone from 10:1 to 4:1. Some nights we'll even have a 2:1 ratio, and in these moments we are making significant, long-lasting and impact-ful connections with our teenagers. Statistics in North America have shown that there is a significant correlation between the decline in adult connection in the lives of youth and the decline of their functional behaviour. Our teenagers also tell us that the connections they have with adults at YFC are sometimes the only ones they do not run away from (teachers, parents, police...etc.).

The safety of our Centre and ministry also has had a chance to grow. A standard is set, where people coming here can not only be loved by us, but also learn to show love and respect back to us, their peers, and to themselves. The difficulty and tension in setting a standard is having a target audience that has a hard time with living up to something and being held accountable...and thus not willing to come anymore. They opt for hiding in the dark, unaccountable shadows, away from adults in general (never mind adults of integrity). So in these ebbing months we also focus on reaching out of our Centre and connecting with youth...sometimes in those dark shadows.

With the spring often comes a resurgence of youth; a coming forth out of the winter shadows, with a little more willingness to seek the light. The Light. In the meantime we still have a good amount of fun and growth at our Centre. Ebb and flow we may go, but Christ remains our Cornerstone. Enjoy some pics...





Tuesday, February 23, 2010

YFC STAFF PROFILE #3: Mark von Riesen



Mister Mark Wesley von Riesen, the senior staff member of the "YFC Three." So..."is his last name really von Riesen???" The answer is YES...and AMEN! Mark officially changed his last name in the past year, to the original version of Friesen. This kind of elusiveness has been a definite characteristic of Mark for quite some time now, with most of his acquaintances not being sure of where he lives, how he lives, what he's up to, or how to get a hold of him (rumor has it he now owns a cell phone for the first time ever...no one's quite sure if it's true).

BUT...the one thing people can count on is that he won't be too far from the Drop-In Centre, for Mark has had a dedicated heart towards the place, the people, and the ministry for a long time. Nine years ago he wandered into the Drop-In, started volunteering where he could, and now has been on staff for well over five years. With the more recent additions of Gordon and Eric, Mark has moved to an Associate Director position.

With a listening ear and an original perspective, Mr. von Riesen naturally takes a pastoral role within the YFC community in Niverville, be it amongst fellow staff, volunteers, youth, or others in connection with YFC.

Personally, Mark loves travel and new experiences, loves the diversity and uniqueness of his family (and now including his girlfriend, Kristen, and her family), and he loves music as well...playing as much as he can while bringing it to life at the Drop-In Centre, too. Mark's experience plays a major role to the YFC team, a role that YFC is very thankful to have.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

YFC STAFF PROFILE #2: Eric McMahon


And here's Eric Shaun McMahon...the newest addition to the YFC staff trilogy. With an enthusiastic heart to make an impact in the lives of Niverville's youth, he stepped up to the Drop-In plate over a year ago, and dedicated himself to the full-time position of Program Director. It's been quite a massive step as he did so in tandem with MARRIAGE, beginning his ministry upon return from his honeymoon. No wall is too high for Eric McMahon. This is the attitude he's taken as he has jumped right into the intensity of youth ministry with some of the tougher crowds. One can hear Eric every now and then say "people are just putting up walls, and I'm just tearing them down." It's his love for the kids that gets through, whether he's hanging out at the Drop-In, the skatepark, at the school, out for coffee, or in special events and programs with the kids.

Eric is just about 24 years old, and up until YFC he's done a number of random jobs, road trips, worked and lived in Thailand, lived in apartments with strange friends, and then married the love of his life, Melodie. He LOVES film, and music...and shares both these passions and talents in the ministry, and on top of being a man of God, he aspires to be a superhero called "Hawkman."

Thursday, February 11, 2010

YFC STAFF PROFILE #1: Gordon Kroeker


Voila!.....Monsieur Gordon Timothy James Kroeker, Niverville YFC's Executive Director. At the young age of 22, Gord finished up a college business degree and stepped right into the ministry about two years ago now. Thankfully he had spent the previous three summers working at YFC giving him an adequate initiation into the storm of youth ministry, though adequate may be an overstatement as there is very little experience that would be adequate preparation for being YFC Canada's youngest Executive Director.

His versatility has been fundamental to his work, for on top of connecting with youth and heading up the Drop-In Centre, Gord gets thrown into spheres such as planning banquets, delivering sermons, Seniors bible studies, random sports events, teaching elementary school kids, bookkeeping, cooking breakfasts, painting, and much more. In all of this, Gordon brings a keen understanding of people, business, and faith like no other; a combination so helpful to this ministry.

Gord has a passion for his family and his heritage, and a fascination with machines that move at ridiculous speeds (like a super-charged combine?). He also enjoys long walks along the Red River, Mennonite poetry, free-style hip-hop poetry, 16th century literature, and a mean farmer sausage.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

new place, new space, new face

Greetings, everyone!
We're just getting a "blog" going here for our Drop-In Centre...so we hope to keep you all in touch with potentially VERY interesting stuff. Spiritually inspirational stuff. Or at least funny stuff. The blog world is now becoming a new place, new space, and a new face for the Niverville YFC crew. Hope you like...

-mark