Challenged

I have barely been at Sunshine a month, and yet I feel as if I am taking some of the largest most difficult steps in my Christian walk. Every day I spend here challenges the things that I have taken for granted or neglected completely as a Christian. Daily I ask myself if I have truly placed God first in my life. I see how the staff at Sunshine have exemplified this by making their ministry one that does not end when they leave work. I realize that the Sunshine staff live as the disciples of Jesus did, not by bread alone but by every word of God. It’s the Word of God that drives and sustains their actions, not career goals, desire for wealth, or power. I have begun to examine my own walk and the example that I display to unbelievers. Is my Christianity something that I fold up and store away where no one else can see it when I’m not at church or around believers? Or is it one that encompasses every part of my being, leading every thought and action?

Jason Warren
Youth Outreach Summer Intern
Jason will be a freshman this fall at Lane College.

A Fantastic Experience

My experience at Summer Blast has been fantastic. Being able to help each child to grow academically and in Christ is a wonderful feeling. Everyday the kids keep me on my feet. They are always energetic and playful so there is rarely a boring time of the day. One of the things I really love about the kids is when they remember verses from the Bible and tell them perfectly. It really warms my heart when I see that, because that lets me know that God is working in their lives.

Even though it is wonderful working with the kids, it is also sometimes stressful. Sometimes the kids can get out of line and make a person want to pull their hair out. However, the stressful things they do still does not outweigh the joy of being there. Everyday I look forward to going to work and being part of the children’s lives.

Justin Ross
Youth Outreach Summer Intern
Justin will be a sophomore at UIC this fall.

Transitions

Transitions have never been easy. Sometimes they can be inconvenient, painful and disappointing. The sad thing is all of these adjectives I used are often true. Lots of times we look at our lives and how we got where we are today and ask ourselves if it was worth all the drama and trials we’ve had to face. The truth is yes. Not only do transitions cause discomfort, but they create huge amounts of growth in the process. That growth promotes maturity, wisdom, patience, understanding, grace and security in Christ.

I have had the privilege of undergoing major transitions in my life for the past five years. The first one was in the September of 2006. I was 19 years old and needed to get away from the city of Chicago. I was young and afraid of change, but I wanted to grow deeper in my relationship with God. At that time, that meant I needed to get away from what was familiar. I had too many bad influences in my life and I was too weak spiritually to overcome them by myself. Therefore I went away to a discipleship school called Master's Commission USA. Through this process God began to radically transform my life.

During that season of time, several things happened. I lost all my grandparents in one month. I had major cultural encounters that shifted my viewpoint of others. My view of God became larger than I could ever imagine. I also had plenty of opportunities to showcase my talents in front of tens of thousands of people. Most importantly, I realized how privileged I was. God had a plan for my life. I do not deserve anything. I am a “nobody” that Christ died for. My story is not in any way special or self glorifying. The challenges I have faced in the past are not at all horrifying, but simply a testimony to the call that God has on my life.

The biggest transition I am about to undergo is being betrothed to my wife to be. I am so humbled that I get to marry such a strong woman as Sarah. She helps me in my weaknesses, and I help her with hers. She has been so patient with me and extended so much grace that I don’t deserve. It has been a bumpy road at times, but the biggest thing that I have learned from our relationship is AGAPE love - to love selflessly and unconditionally. To show agape love, it also means to not assume things, but rather to ask. It means to not judge prematurely, but rather to extend mercy. Transitions can be painful, but the reward is immense. God’s glory is shown, and men will know it (just like in Romans 8:28 all things work together for the good). In another example, when Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and spent years in prison for a crime he did not commit (Genesis 45:5), he expresses how God had a plan to use him to save millions of lives. He had to go through countless hardships that helped him grow and strengthen his character.

If you find yourself in a difficult situation know this, it will never last.

PSALM 30:4-5
Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment,and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night,but joy comes with the morning.

Mike Avery
Mike is Sunshine's Club 2-5-2 Director and the founder of the D3 Movement.

Reaching Our Full Potential

As a ministry team here at Sunshine Gospel Ministries we have been meeting together weekly to discuss Radical Together, by David Platt. Only a few chapters in, yet I have been wrestling with one of his thought provoking questions. He challenged his readers to consider the ministries their involved with, and the money they spend. He didn’t ask whether the ministry is good but if it is the most effective way to share God’s word. Platt says it like this, “We have to put everything, even good things in the church, up for reconsideration before God, releasing them wholly to him and asking him to show us his priorities and purposes for each” (Platt, 9). That simple statement really challenged me, to evaluate how I go about my ministry, am I really doing it the most effective way with the resources I’ve been given?

Some questions I began to comb through as I evaluated my own life were; who does God say is my neighbor? Is my life-style and work, my free time, my spending, my giving used in the best way for the glory of God. So how can I make my resources and time most effective for God? Once I thought through these I began to write down some things I could change. They didn’t have to be big changes. I started off with my money. Not having much money makes it easier to know where I spend it. The biggest money expense after rent is food. Now I love to go out to eat and I tend to go at least 3 times a week, so I decided why not cut back to one meal with others and one by myself. So one less meal a week and I made one meal with the purpose of fellowship. Last year I worked on my tithing realizing that I struggled to give God just 10% I decided to donate to a cause every month in order to make sure I was giving at least 10%, if not more monthly. Since then most months I’ve also found myself more available to give to others and churches with the extras the Lord has provided me with. Finally, I re-evaluated how I spend my free time. When I looked at my journals over the past year I noticed that I wasn’t daily in the Word. Some weeks I was missing four days. Yet most days I was watching a movie. So I decided daily I will spend time in the Word instead of watching movies. I decided to read more books. So this summer I began that challenge and yes I’ve watched some movies but without missing a day I’ve been in the word and I’ve read seven books. Even the little things in our life might need to be re-evaluated to allow ourselves to be more available to God. I hope this may encourage you all to evaluate your own lives to and walk in this journey along side me!

Jonathan "JR" Roberts
Youth Outreach Summer Intern
JR will be a sophomore at Moody Bible Institute this fall.
You can check out JR's personal blog here

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Encouraged

I am really encouraged by what God has been doing at U-Turn this year! We started out with 3 teens in January, and now we are at a consistent 12 teens! Not only are they consistent, but they also are really growing in their walks with the Lord. They are faithfully showing up, asking challenging questions, and encouraging us (the leaders). One of our guys, Demetrius, will regularly come up to me and quote a song lyric or scripture that he is encouraged by. Another named Damani, will consistently ask me deep theological questions as he prepares to attend Moody in the fall. Just the other day I turned on a popular Christian hip-hop song and all the teens went crazy and started singing the lyrics word-for-word! What a testimony to the Lord that they are singing that instead of the garbage the media is feeding them. Needless to say, I’m more blessed by them then they could ever know.

CW Allen
High School Ministry Coordinator
You can listen to music from CW Allen here.

Coach John's Mid-season Reflection

I am honored to share what God has done in my life while coaching my first basketball team (with the help of Dave, Demetrius, and CW). I first met my team on May 19th, as I walked into Sunshine for the second time. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I was nervous, scared, and overwhelmed all at once (lol). As soon as I met my team, God truly changed my heart to care and mentor these young men. As the season has progressed, God has matured me and taught me not to be selfish anymore. I knew these young men were hurting and needed some fresh air from the neighborhoods they live in. So I prayed to God and told him I will not give up on these young men and I will try my best to be a positive role model and friend to the team God has put me in charge of.

As the season has gone on, we have grown as a team and I have loved every bit of it! We still need a lot of work and patience, but that will form over time. As for the season record we are not doing so well. We have not won a game yet. However, I'm not frustrated. All I can think of is continuing to pour nothing but positive words into their lives and help them to play hard and never give up. This season so far has taught me to care for my team and make sure they receive God's Word. I also want to teach them how to treat people, work together, and become positive young men.

John Gross
Youth Outreach Summer Intern
John will be a junior this fall at Moody Bible Institute.

*Sunshine has a junior high and senior high team in the Miracle Basketball League.

A Mid Summer Reflection

A Mid-Summer Reflection

During the past few weeks with the Sunshine staff have been some of the most challenging and yet most wonderful weeks I've had in a long time. The summer staff have grown close and are able to have fun and talk deep with each other – it is truly family. Because of this bond that has formed and has continued to grow, the interactions with the children and teens have been memorable.

During the week of June 20th through the 24th, we took the kids and teens in separate groups up to Union Michigan to Sunshine Cove Camp. The first three days were full of games, wonderful chapel lessons, and developing relationships with the 2nd-5th grade boys and girls. The second half of the week was spent at camp with the Jr. High and Sr. High. I loved this time as well, because the girls in my cabin were very open with situations going on in their lives. We had some really wonderful talks about hardships we go through as teenagers, in their homes, and as Christians. One night the chapel was about Christians across the world that have been tortured and martyred for their faith. This was a hard and thought provoking chapel for the girls in my cabin. We had a very good chat that night about what they go through at home because they seek to follow God and desire to do right. This time blessed me and it was good to learn more about each girl in order to continue relationships with them, and also it helped me know how I can love and pray for them more effectively.

I have had a passion for Sunshine and the inner city for almost ten years, and I am honored and blessed at how God has allowed my relationship with people at SGM to grow and deepen over the years. This summer has confirmed even more what God has called me to do for His kingdom in my short time on His earth. Continue to pray for the children and teens – that God will grip their hearts and invade their lives!

Natalie Webster
Youth Outreach Summer Intern
Natalie will be a sophomore at Moody Bible Institute this fall.

The 61st St A's

(Deanna, Nikki, Brittney, and Taniya at WMBI!)


(Deanna & Taniya in the booth!)

The "61st Street A’s"

The 61st Street A’s are buckling down and ready to win! Our middle school girls here at Sunshine have been playing their first year of little league softball this summer. Coached by myself and our high school intern,Nikki Blodgett, our season started off about 2 months ago. Most, if not all, of our girls had never played the game before. We even had girls ask if they could wear gloves on both hands so they could be more likely to catch the ball! Yet, after smoothing out the kinks and finding our groove, our team is beginning to truly look like a team.

Every game we’ve played we have grown in our competitiveness. We recently lost only by one run! It is so exciting to see the unity within our team of teen girls. They have truly grown together, become amazing friends, and developed softball skills and even skills for life. We have not only worked with the girls on hitting and fielding the ball, but on representing Christ with their attitudes, and on responsibility, and teamwork.

Some of my favorite times with the girls are the long drives through traffic to the West Side games as sing our favorite songs at the top of our lungs, laugh, and share our hearts with one another. The relationships that this season has facilitated couldn’t be forced in any other way, but have come together by the grace of God.

As the season started, I was able to go on WMBI Moody Radio and talk about our season and the needs that we had as far as equipment. Not only did we receive a plentiful amount of items to be able to be supplied for the season, today we (Nikki and I) were able to go back on the radio show with two of our players- Taniya and Deanna. Though we were all a little nervous, we had an amazing time sharing with listening ears about our team and Sunshine.

Continue to pray for relationships, discipleship, and even a win for the 61st Street A’s!!

Brittney Rost
HS Ministry Coordinator
Brittney also has a personal blog called "A City Light" that you can check out here.

A Week At Camp

(D'andra, T'anna, and Natalie enjoying a rainy day at camp)

Last week at camp was fantastic! The best part was chapel time. I really enjoyed talking about God and learning more about how He invaded the world (John 1:14). I learned that no one is perfect, and that we all make mistakes and sin (Romans 3:23). It’s up to us to learn from those mistakes, and make choices that would please God.

D'andra Phillips
HS Intern Youth Outreach
D'andra will be a senior at DuSable High School in the fall.

Camp, Day Camp, & A Book Discussion

(Brittany Fisher is pictured on the left)

Last week (June 20-24) at camp was a decent week! I felt that the kids actually learned about God, and got to express some thoughts that they had. I also believe that they now feel more comfortable to be Christians in every environment they may be placed in.

So far this week has been great! The kids are having a great time at Summer Blast (our summer day camp for 7 through 11 year olds), and I feel like the summer staff has been doing a good job teaching the kids and bonding with them as well.

Finally, we are also discussing the book Radical Together as a youth staff. We discussed the second chapter yesterday. The book discussion went well! I actually learned something, and got a different view on the gospel!!

Brittany Fisher
HS Intern
Brittany will be a freshman at Eastern Illinois University in the fall.

Educating Our Youth

Educating Our Youth

During our staff training we had the opportunity to watch a film about the education system in America called "Waiting For Superman." The documentary highlighted five families that were currently involved in one of the most surreal aspects of our present public education system, school lotteries. These school lotteries that leave the fulfillment of a child's hopes and dreams to nothing more than a series of random numbers. This was my first time watching this film but as I was watching it I began to become heartbroken because the parents desired a great education for their children but weren’t able to get it because of the low quality of schools in their area. I could empathize with these parents because being a parent myself I want the best for my children, especially with their educational endeavors. I enjoyed this quote by the narrator of the film, “I think that every kid, no matter where they are born or what they have been given in life, deserves a great education." I believe we, as a country, and especially Christians should desire a great education for all kids across America. It shouldn’t matter the status of the child or where they come from to determine the type of education they get. After watching this film I was left with this question: how do I as a Christian respond to the current state of our education system? I believe we have answered this question at Sunshine by volunteering in our local schools and providing afterschool programs for our kids. Although we aren’t in government to change laws that can help better our schools we can do tangible things like this to support our local schools and come alongside our kids to support them.

Nikki Blodgett
Summer Youth Intern
Nikki will be junior this fall at Moody Bible Institute. She is a youth ministry major.

The Main Thing

During staff training, I had the opportunity to teach a session on discipleship, entitled "A Worthy Investment." This topic of making disciples has been a consistent theme of conversations, meetings, and times of prayer that we have been having as a Youth Outreach staff. Over the last few months, I have read a couple of books that have further fueled my fire to see disciples made in all nations. These two books are: “The Complete Book Of Discipleship” by Bill Hull and “Radical Together” by David Platt. Platt challenges us to think about what we as communities of faith (Churches, ministries, etc.) are devoting our time and resources towards. He exhorts us to ask ourselves, “Are these programs and activities the best way to spend our time, money, and energy for the spread of the Gospel in our neighborhood and in all the nations?”

As we read through “Radical Together” as a staff, we are asking ourselves this question. We recognize that making disciples is not an 8 week assignment, but rather a lifelong commitment to a lifestyle devoted to seeing “Christ formed” in others (Galatians 4:19). It is hard work. It is messy. Yet, it is what God has both commanded and created us to do. Living out the Great Commission, and devoting our lives to it, is in our DNA as Christ-ones! In the same way that Jesus called His disciples to Him that they might be “with Him” (Mark 3:14), we desire to make discipleship time with our youth a priority this summer. I like the way Paul put it in his letter to the Thessalonians - that we share not only the Gospel, but our lives as well (1 Thess. 2:8). Pray with us that as a staff this summer we would “spend ourselves” on behalf of others in life on life discipleship!

Dave Clark
Youth Outreach Director
You can read Dave's personal blog, "Continuing Education," here.

It's Been A Whole Year...

It’s been a whole year…

Over twelve months ago I arrived in Chicago after spending four years in Phoenix, Arizona. My entire life, mindset and spiritual outlook was completely different. I wanted to do ministry and help people, but I also had my own ambitions I was tending to. I had so many opinions, ideologies, presumptions and perspectives of myself and how God viewed me. Some of them weren’t entirely wrong. For example, I loved to share the gospel and dance for Gods glory. However, the way I exemplified this wasn’t exactly the healthiest.

I thought I was doing someone a favor by telling them about the love of Jesus then politely sending them on their way. I figured they had now received the gift of salvation and if I pray hard enough “someone” will take it upon themselves to disciple them. One thing that I missed and realized is that according to the scriptures, if I proclaim the Gospel and the redeeming power of Jesus Christ AND they decide to Follow Christ, they are now “my” disciples just as Paul exclaims to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:12-14. The funny thing is I graduated and helped start a discipleship program, yet I failed to grasp the blatant concept of Matthew 28:19-20. Over the next twelve months little by little my eyes were opened to the simple truth: Discipleship and Evangelism go hand in hand.

You can’t effectively evangelize without making disciples and you can’t make effective disciples without continued evangelism. I would challenge all Christians who are proclaiming the good news to not just throw an Easter outreach say a prayer then move on to the next lost soul, but MAKE disciples!

Mike Avery
Club 2-5-2 Director
D3 Movement Founder

A Long Journey

A Long Journey
1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Last night I had the privilege of watching the final game of the 2011 NBA finals with some of my close friends. I love the NBA, and I love sports! I love the idea of a player working as hard as he can to reach a goal, and even if it takes years, finally achieving that goal. As I watched the final moments of the game, I just thought about the players on the winning team, and their dedication to the game. Jason Kidd who is now 38 and has played 17 years and failed twice at winning the NBA title. Dirk Nowitzki who has played for his same team 13 years and reached the finals once but lost. Of course there were more, but these players stand out because they believed in each other and stuck with what everyone said was impossible for them to do. It reminded me, to not grow weary in well doing!

Then I reflected on my peers and I at Sunshine Gospel Ministries. Some of us have been doing ministry for years, and others are newer to the set, yet we all have one common goal, and that is to see the Great Commission fleshed out in our neighborhood. Sometimes It seems like this work is not paying off, but every so often we get the great reward of a student telling us how they have been touched, changed or encouraged. The prayers sent up, the time spent, and the great sacrifices made, all pay off in those moments. We are "YO"(youth outreach) team missionaries! Please keep us in prayer as we move forward this summer!

CW Allen
High School Ministry Coordinator
Sunshine Gospel Ministries
CW will be a junior this fall at Moody Bible Institute.
He is also a musical artist. You can check out his music here.

Jacqui White Reflects on Staff Training

I worked with Sunshine last year, and was stretched and challenged in so many ways. It’s just crazy to think of all the stuff that God has taught me and is teaching me through Sunshine. He is so faithful to correct and discipline and then in turn use us for his glory. I just feel so honored. This summer I will be teaching the kids arts and crafts at Summer Blast (Sunshine's Day Camp). I am so excited to teach the kids art and to watch them create things, as I share and incorporate lessons about the greatest artist of all time — our God! I wish the words on this page could somehow express just how much I want and desire these kids to feel close to God! I want them to know that even when their parents may leave them or their friends may come and go into their lives, that God never leaves them as orphans but embraces them as a father and a friend.

So far this week I’ve went through training, gone to the girls softball game, and to U-Turn (Sunshine's HS youth group). There has also been a lot of fellowship with the staff. The training has been so eye opening for me this week. We learned about poverty today which really convicted me because of the prejudices that are in my own heart that need to be done away with in regards to the homeless. One of the staff named Sarah spoke about this and something she said really hit home. She said that we all need stuff from other people but usually we wear masks so that we won't seem too needy. She encouraged us to imagine writing one of our own deepest needs on a piece of cardboard, and how much boldness and humility that must take. Another thing that I learned today was to have hope for our neighborhood — Woodlawn. I was encouraged to not refer it as being "the hood" or "the ghetto," and to not just see this neighborhood as being "a mess." Instead, I was challenged to see it as a beautiful place that God is working in, rather than just being a place where God sends missionaries. I really do love this neighborhood and the people that live in this community and cannot wait to watch God work all summer long!


Jacqueline White
Summer Intern
Sunshine Gospel Ministries
Jacqui will be a junior at Moody Bible Institute this fall.

T'anna Washington Relfects on Staff Training

Staff training really opened my eyes to a wide range of subjects that I didn’t know a lot about. I obtained a lot of information about youth outreach, history of the neighborhood, poverty, and how not having a father or father figure in the house really effects a child's development. If I had to pick a favorite part of the week, I would have to say Pastor Danny Lopez's presentation on "Ministry To The Fatherless." I really enjoyed his session. The topic of "the fatherless" really hit home for me, due to my past of not really having my father around.

Overall, staff training was amazing! I learned a lot, and I’m happy knowing that I can now take what I learned and apply it throughout the summer with the kids,and through the rest of my life.

T'anna Washington
Summer Intern
Sunshine Gospel Ministries
T'anna will be a sophomore this year at Western Illinois University.

Pete Blodgett Reflects on Staff Training

This past week was our staff training for our summer interns. During these week long trainings, we cover topics ranging from the history of Chicago’s south side, to the state of education in neighborhoods like ours, to issues of poverty and homelessness. I’ve been a part of these trainings since 2002, my first summer serving as a summer counselor. Although I’ve sat through most of these sessions many times, there is always something new that I learn. We added a new session this year, although I have heard it a few times at other conferences. It was called “Ministry to the Fatherless,” taught by Pastor Danny Lopez. With so many of our kids living in homes without their fathers, it was an extremely relevant topic for us.

Pastor Lopez hit on the importance of a father in the life of a child, and the devastating effect of growing up fatherless. Doing a quick word search for “fatherless” in the Bible shows us that God has a heart for those growing up without fathers. In fact, “religion that is pure and undefiled before God” includes caring for orphans (James 1:27). So many of the issues our kids are dealing with and the negative behaviors that some exhibit are directly related to growing up without a father. Being a father myself has shown me the significance of a father’s relationship with his children, but I’m still learning how strong that connection is. But the little that I do know has changed the way I view the kids in my neighborhood. Although I can’t fully father our kids, I can play a part in filling that void. I can provide a father figure and be the support that they need. I can, in small parts, attempt to be a picture of their Heavenly Father and His love for them.

Pete Blodgett
Youth Pastor
Sunshine Gospel Ministries

Safe Families & Youshare.org

Safe Families For Children (SFFC) & Youshare.org

SFFC and Youshare.org have become household words within the walls of Sunshine. Through these ministries, Sunshine hopes to become more airtight in fulfilling its goals to reach the community. We have begun integrating these programs into the ministry by working with pastors, community leaders, school counselors, principals, welfare agents, foster care agents and the like.

We believe the evidence that shows over 1000 volunteer families served as many as 1000 children and families last year alone with the same prediction for this year. We also believe the evidence from national and local video clips about SFFC and the testimonies of others who have served as “safe families”, as well as those who have benefited from the programs will be enough to encourage others to become involved.

SFFC and Youshare are two programs that work best when people truly understand what they are about. Youshare was born out of a need to help struggling moms who need help with some basic needs for their children. Safe Families is under the umbrella of Youshare.

A brief definition of these three terms will help...
Safe Families For Children is a faith-based program that intervenes before children are separated from their families and put in state run foster care.
Host Families are volunteers that come alongside moms and dads to help during the crises—helping them to keep their families together, by opening their homes to the children.
Youshare.org was created to help fill the need of caring moms needing items like mattresses for the kids, or clothing, etc. Youshare.org not only meets immediate needs, it helps foster personal relationships that will help families in crisis build a better life. Youshare.org is a national organization based in Chicago, IL.

Youshare.org is the program you need to become involved in if you have a heart to share at any level. You can register by going online to Youshare.org. There are four basic categories of involvement when you go online to register at Youshare.org. You can start by sharing your “Goods,” things that you have and are not using and perhaps are about throw out. Secondly, you can share your “Services” under such categories as medical (dentist, Hygienist, etc.). Thirdly, you can share your home, that is becoming a “Safe Family” (hosting children). Finally, you can share by donating your money. Youshare.org takes donations. You can do this by clicking on donations. When you go to Youshare.org to register you should register as a neighbor. In short you become a neighbor to those with whom you share your goods.

The above post was written by Roosevelt Gibson, “Hub Manager” for Safe Families For Children & Youshare.org. If you would like to speak to Roosevelt more about this you can email him at Roosevelt@sunshinegospel.org.