In this issue...
- From the Staff
- Summer Camp
- Volunteer Highlight
- Recent Happenings
- Volunteer Opportunities
Contact Us:
Urban Family Ministries
543 Eastern Ave, SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616.365.9009
www.urbanfamilyministries.org
info@urbanfamilyministries.org
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From the Staff...
Psalm 119:89-90
Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.
Have you ever gone through a difficult season in your life and realized God’s faithfulness never waivered? As faithful supporters and friends of Urban Family Ministries, most of you  are aware we have been in a difficult season for the past several months. Not one staff member, board member, volunteer or supporter of UFM has intentionally sought to do harm. Establishing and operating a nonprofit ministry is not an easy undertaking and mistakes were made. God’s faithfulness has sustained us and He continues to bring people with amazing gifts and talents and willing hearts to help us repair broken walls and build a stronger foundation. We are so grateful for your prayers, volunteer service, financial support and faithfulness. Because of you we have ministered to hundreds of children and their families despite this difficult season. There have been many weeks the staff were not paid and did not know when they would be paid. Yet they suited up and showed up for work because they do it as unto God and not as unto man.
Our work is not done. While other ministries have closed, you will read in the stories below that our mission to reach the less fortunate families in urban areas of Grand Rapids by providing resources to meet their physical, emotional and spiritual needs is occurring every day. The doors of our ministry center located in the heart of the Baxter neighborhood are open, vans and busses have been running every week to take hundreds of kids to Wild  Wednesday. Super Saturday will resume this fall. Urban area schools are partnering with us again this year for mentoring and moral character trait building. We continue to see kids come to Christ and build relationships with their families. God IS faithful! We are so excited to have the opportunity to continue to serve Him through UFM, a dynamic ministry He raised up to quench the spiritual thirst in some of our driest missionary fields right here in our own neighborhoods. We always welcome your phone calls and personal visits. We need you to serve alongside of us to reach these precious children. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us (616) 365-9009 or sending an e-mail to pboverhof@urbanfamilyministries.org.
Serving Him with you,
Ken Besteman
Interim Executive Director
Summer Camp Summary
This summer has been a highlight of our year as a record number of kids were able to go to camp. We were blessed with hearing of several who accepted Christ for the first time  while at camp. We are anxiously awaiting for the exact number which is normally sent to us at summer's end.
Our biggest highlight of the camping season was the number of high school kids who attended a leadership training week at Grace Adventures and then in turn, committed to returning to the camp and serve for one week. They served other campers by working in the kitchen, on the grounds, setting up chairs, taking down chairs, cleaning the bathrooms, etc. Within this group, we have seen an excitement about serving here at UFM as well! They have been helping during our Wild Wednesdays as a senior leadership team and the results have been wonderful! A few of these high school students have returned to camp for more than their one week of service and some have volunteered for several more weeks. There are a few who want to return to help on the weekends throughout the school year. These high schoolers are the future of UFM, and we are so proud and excited to see their growth over the summer, not just in maturity but also in their Christian walk!
Volunteer Spotlight ~ Kirk Zylstra
Kirk Zylstra stepped in last fall and volunteered to lead our lessons each Saturday at Super Saturday. Each week, as a retired principal and youth minister, Kirk would come prepared with a lesson to share the Good News with the kids in the gym, but he didn't stop there. He would often help drive a van route, occasionally using his own van. He would enter the gym, sit down with kids and talk to them. When the kids were in the stands and  he was waiting to share his lesson, he could be found sitting next to the stands with young boys on both knees who needed some love from a Godly man. During the lesson, he would bring visuals (for example - he taught the kids about the fruits of the spirit and brought in different fruits to represent each Biblical principal). This helped the kids better understand, at a deeper level, what he was teaching them. Then at dinner, he could be found sitting amongst the kids, laughing and talking with them. Not only did Kirks' lessons touch the kids, but the staff and volunteers made several comments over the year of how they felt he was talking to them too. Recently, Kirk was hired as a principal of a Christian school in Holland. Because of the new position, he will not be able to continue on a weekly basis as our Super Saturday teacher, but has told us he would return on occasion as he loved to teach the kids. We will miss Kirk as we start Super Saturday, but we are also excited for him as he enters into his new position, knowing he has been looking forward to this for a long time. Thank you Kirk for the lives you have touched over the last year!
Recent Happenings
Wild Wednesday Wrap Up
Our Wild Wednesday program finished for the summer last week. And again, there was a great turnout of over 150 each week! This includes weeks when 20-30 kids  were attending camp! The excitement heading into the fall continues to build as we begin to plan and set a course for our Super Saturdays which begins September 19. We feel very blessed with this large of a turn out for Wild Wednesdays, as our Super Saturday numbers always exceed our Wild Wednesday numbers. This means even more kids will be coming in the fall and even more kids will be reached for Christ! If you would be interested in helping at Super Saturday or even want to see what it's all about, please contact Peggy at (616)365-9009 or at pboverhof@urbanfamilyministries.org.
After-School Program
As school begins shortly, we would like to have the youth center open after school Monday through Thursday from 3:15pm - 5:00pm for kids to have a  quiet place to study and get some help with their homework. We cannot offer this unless we have volunteers willing to come in for an hour or two after school to sit with the kids, help keep them focused, play some games with them, give them a chance to relax and enjoy being here at the building. If you would be interested in tutoring or covering an afternoon a week to just be here when the kids drop in, please contact Peggy at pboverhof@urbanfamilyministries.org or at (616)365-9009.
Volunteer Opportunities
The need for volunteers never goes away. Below are a few opportunities where we can use your help.
Super Saturday-
 As we start to plan for Super Saturday this fall, we have several volunteer opportunities. We will need people to drive the 15 passenger vans, and a second adult to ride along, to pick up the kids in the neighborhood and transport them to Super Saturday. No special license is required. We will also need volunteers to sit with the kids during the lessons to help them stay focused.
Classroom Helpers - As most schools will be starting in the next couple of weeks, we are  planning on putting volunteers in the classrooms again this year. All of our regular volunteers are anxious to get started again, and we can use a few more this year. This offers a variety of opportunities at times that are flexible and can fit with your schedule. When working in a classroom, you provide support to the teacher and to the students. You might help one or more students with reading, math flashcards or finishing a writing assignment. Your time in the classroom not only allows the teacher to focus on the lesson knowing a student who might need extra support is getting it, but also gives the student a sense of self-worth as you work one on one with them.
If you are interested in helping out with any of the needs, please call Peggy at (616)365-9009 or email her at pboverhof@urbanfamilyministries.org.
Financial Support Needed
As many of you are aware, these have been difficult times for the ministry. Your support  as a volunteer is greatly appreciated and needed. And your support financially is greatly needed as well. Finances are critically low. Many changes have been made to cut costs to ensure our core ministries are continued throughout the fall. Please prayerfully consider how you may financially support God's ministry here at Urban Family Ministries.
You can donate online or send a financial gift to:
Urban Family Ministries
543 Eastern Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
E-scrip Shopping Online or at Several Retailers
Shop for items you use every day and donate to UFM at the same time through E-scrip! Visit www.escrip.com to enroll. Register Urban Family Ministries as the group you wish to support, using our name or our Group ID #500015944. Then shop on-line at www.shopping.escrip.com or lookup a list of local retailers. Up to 16% of your purchase will be donated to Urban Family Ministries.
Isaiah 25:1 "Oh Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness, You have done marvelous things, things planned long ago." |
