Kids Bible Club

Santa vs. God?

OK, Virginia, There's No Santa Claus.
But There Is God

My 8-year-old son, Caleb, puts his hand on my shoulder; he wears an expression that shows he wants to have a man-to-man talk. "Dad," he says, "I know there's no Santa Claus." He rattles off his indictments, starting with the pure physics of the enterprise. There's no way one guy can visit every house in a single night. And how does he get into houses with no chimneys? Then there's the matter of zoology – not a single nature book on our shelves mentions flying reindeer. Perhaps most important for an 8-year-old, there's the weight of public opinion – none of Caleb's friends believe in Santa any more. He leans close, his voice taking that tone of worldliness that is at once endearing and saddening to a parent. "He isn't real, is he?"

Perhaps a more responsible parent would confess, but I hesitate. For this I blame G.K. Chesterton, whose treatise "Orthodoxy" had its 100th anniversary this year.

Click here to read Tony Woodlief's essay in today's Wall Street Journal.

Block Party a Great Success!

Our Block Party this year capped off a wonderful Kids Bible Club week that saw about 30 neighborhood children discover how exciting the life of Jesus can be. It never could have happened without the prayer and help of our awesome team from Grace Community Church in Pennsylvania and the generous participation of so many amazing volunteers. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts!

Click here to see a full size slide show

Saturday started off with deep clouds and threatening thunderstorms but opened up into a sunny blue-sky afternoon with only scattered sprinkles. God's hand was evident from the very beginning, and so many human hearts and hands were involved in making our day a success that it will be hard to list them, but I'll give it a try. Our setup crew arrived early and up went the tents! Then Matt Doward arrived with his horses and their yellow-shirted "friends", Richard Stutzman hopped out of his car as Happy the Clown, Mitzie Collins and Tom Bohrer set up their Punch and Judy show, Liz Jefferson and the Owens' got their balloon-filled face painting tent ready, and a fantastic circus atmosphere began to emerge. We closed off Arnett Blvd. between Warwick and Rugby, fired up the grill, and a crowd began to gather that numbered in the hundreds by mid-afternoon. When Jeff and Rachel Peden opened up their Airplay Jugglers stage, we knew the show was on!

Special thanks go out to Rora, Eula, Nancy, and all the other faithful members of the Arnett Block Association whose tireless planning, preparation, and free food service made the whole event possible, to the City of Rochester for letting us block off Arnett Blvd. and the Rochester Police and Fire Departments for coming with their trucks and crews, to rap artist and brother Cuevas Walker, to Community Bikes for their generosity in giving away 10 free bikes and fixing numerous other ones, to Willie Lightfoot for his lively performance as our Master of Ceremonies, to all our sponsoring merchants who provided us with so many generous donations and raffle prizes, to Wanda Miller and Mindy Monk for bringing the "WOW" factor to our HCR/GFM medical booth, to Lisa McElroye for her free massage demonstrations, to Mark Dixon and Gabe Pellegrino from the Arnett Branch Library for their kids' story time, to Richmond Futch for his painting demonstration, to David Dey for hosting an open house at Risego, and to Tony Nichols and the entire New Life Fellowship Gospel Choir and Flag Team for the wonderful tribute they paid to our Lord by leading us in open worship before our God and Maker at the close of the afternoon.

Remarkably, everyone pitched in and helped to the very end, so even the cleanup was a breeze and by 5 pm you never would have known the event had happened. Already folks are asking about "next year's Block Party." Hey, let's talk about it - after we've all had a breather... God bless you all!

Kids Bible Club

Monday – Friday

1:30 to 3:00 pm

Games, Stories, Snacks!
Fun, Fun, Fun!

350 Arnett Blvd.

Willie Hits the Streets

Click on picture to play video report

Jefferson Avenue prepares for revival
Reported by: Kevin Jolly

Monroe County lawmaker Willie Lightfoot is going from door to door spreading the word. The lawmaker and minister is spreading the word about a revival tent going up in the heart of one of the city’s most challenged neighborhoods. “Some systemic issues that we’ve been dealing with drug trafficking and other crimes like robberies, things of that nature,” said Councilman Lightfoot.

It’s not just crime. Businesses there are also struggling to survive. Nelson Baldwin has operated a barber shop on Jefferson Avenue for 30 years. “I’ve seen Jefferson Avenue at its best, thriving best I should say,” said Baldwin.

He’s also seen it at its worse with the crime and drugs. “A lot of them just hang out down here on the Avenue and do the wrong thing. That’s because they don’t have the training they need and they happen to reject it these days and time,” said Baldwin.

Pastor George Dailey is teaming up with Councilman Lightfoot to help spread the word. He says its just one way of reaching residents and turning this neighborhood around. “We trying to reach everybody we possibly can. We reach people and their lives have changed it'll be a better community a place where we can live together,” said Pastor Dailey.

Councilman Lightfoot says he’s seen the revival work in the past and hopes to have the same success this year. “We've seen drug dealers, we’ve seen drug addicts come give their life to Christ as a result of this tent revival. Turn their lives around and then join the other side of the team and start helping us with the positive efforts instead of the negative efforts,” added Councilman Lightfoot.

The revival begins on Monday July 7 and is scheduled to run the entire week.

EO to begin STD testing

His Branches and Embracing Options have received a $1000 grant from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation through the intercession of Dr. Andrew Doniger and his staff at the Monroe County Health Department to fund a pilot project offering EO clients free urine testing for the two most common STDs, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Jessica Speares, our Rochester Youth Year worker, has been studying the issue and planning with Dr. Morehouse and Sandi Clawson for nearly a year, developing protocols and teaching materials and training volunteers. The pilot project will start next week and end with a full analysis of the results after 50 tests (at $20 a test) have been done. Those clients who test positive will be offered follow up clinical services through Grace Family Medicine. We're trusting that the results of our initial project will demonstrate the need and justify the allocation of further funds to continue. Please pray that our counselors, using this additional testing tool, will be able to reach more and more at-risk individuals with our message of hope, healing, and life.

Entrepreneurship Workshop

On Wednesday, October 10th from 3-5 pm His Branches will host a workshop sponsored by Rochester Youth Year and led by Bob Tobin, Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the University of Rochester’s Center for Entrepreneurship, titled “An Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship.” We've been chosen as hosts through Jessica Speares, our full-time RYY worker.

As Bob describes it:
“A social entrepreneur is someone who recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create, and manage a venture to make social change. Whereas business entrepreneurs typically measure performance in profit and return, social entrepreneurs assess their success in terms of the impact they have on society.”

Space is limited and advance registration is required. Click here to view a program flyer. For registration or more information contact Sam Nichols, RYY Program Coordinator at (585) 275-5957.

RYO Literacy Program

Rochester Youth Outreach is co-sponsoring a Children's Literacy Program with the Arnett Branch Library this fall on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, starting on September 25th. Under the supervision of RYO's Jessica Speares and Gabe Pelligrino from the Library, volunteers from Roberts Wesleyan College and Elim Bible Institute will be working with 4-8 year old kids whose parents have signed them up.

The program will offer enrolled children a safe place to go after school, a confidence builder in academics, nutritious snacks, and parental involvement.

Click here to view a flyer and here to download an application form.

Cut the Violence Event

Willie J. Lightfoot, County Legislator and member of our Board, will be hosting another "Cut the Violence Initiative" event on Monday, September 17th from 4-7 pm at the Jefferson Avenue Childhood Development Center, 793 Jefferson Avenue. From 3-4 pm a special community forum will be held to talk about the recent rash of violence in the neighborhood. Community agencies, including Embracing Options and Rochester Youth Outreach, will have information booths, and youth will be offered free haircuts at New Creations Unisex Barbershop, 649 Jefferson Avenue.

Willie has this to say about the project:
I have partnered with Councilman Adam McFadden and his “Thou Shall Not Kill” campaign to create the “Cut The Violence Initiative,” which brings local service agencies, and professional barbers together to combat the violence with our youth. We have successfully held many “Cut the Violence” events at different locations throughout the City, providing free haircuts and assisting over 400 families. We know that violence is not just in the 27th district but plagues our entire community. I am committed to linking community service agencies with over 160 local professional barbershops and beauticians who are willing to offer their shops as informational centers and safe havens for young people.

Click here to read more about Willie's role in the community as a professional barber. Contact WJL office @ 753-1940 for more information.

The Final Makeover

Our new next-door neighbor, RISEGO, is putting the finishing touches on the development of a Social Entrepreneurship Center in the city of Rochester. The center will help young entrepreneurs create businesses that address problems in their community and avoid the pitfalls of selling drugs and other negative behaviors. The site will feature four new businesses that model how entrepreneurs create wealth the right way. Social Entrepreneurial classes will be beginning in mid-September, so they need your help during the days outlined below.

RISEGO has set aside six days, and volunteers are needed to complete a variety of skilled and general projects. Please join us for one or more days and feel free to bring your son, daughter (over 12), or friend along. This is a great opportunity to make a lasting investment in the lives of others or serve as a community service project.

Lunch will be provided each day!

Dates: August 16th - 18th and August 23rd - 25th
Daily Time: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: 336 Arnett Blvd., Rochester 14619

Things to Bring with You:

• Tool Belt (additional tools and materials will be available on site)
• A Friend to Help
• Desire to Make a Difference

Please confirm your attendance by sending an email to David Dey noting which day(s) you will be volunteering along with the number of volunteers that will be joining you.

Block Party 2007!

This year's Block Party, being hosted by the Arnett Block Association in our parking lot on August 4th from Noon to 4 pm, is shaping up to be an extravaganza! We got the tipoff when we applied to the City to close 2 blocks of Arnett Blvd. for the afternoon (YES, the street will be closed off!) "What you're describing is more like a festival than a block party," we were told. After our Neighborhood Bible Club Monday ends on Friday (see below), here's what's on the schedule for Saturday:

* Free food, hot dogs, and beverages!
* Famous juggling team, Airplay!
* Rap artist Cuevo!
* Willie Lightfoot, Master of Ceremonies!
* Free horse rides for the kids!
* Health fair booths!
* Fire trucks, ambulances, and police van!
* New Life flag team and gospel choir!
* Dedication of the new Bird & Butterfly Garden park!
* Dignitaries (maybe even the Mayor)!
* Face painting, balloons, and prizes!
* Happy the Clown!
* And much more!!!

Be sure to tell everyone you know about it and come out on Saturday, August 4th for the highlight event of your summer.

Bible Club Next Week

Last year's Backyard Bible Club was such a success that we'll be hosting another one for kids 12 and under next week in the green space and parking lot at 350 Arnett Blvd. The youth group from Grace Community Church in Allentown, PA will be with us again to share their faith and enthusiasm. Here's the full info:


* Fun in the Son All Week Long!
* 350 Arnett Boulevard!
* Monday July 30 - Friday August 3!
* Every Afternoon 2:00 - 3:00 pm!
* Children 12 and Under!
* Bible Stories!
* Music and Sing-Alongs!
* Games and Prizes!
* Team from Pennsylvania!

If you'd like to help, call Jessica at 235-9000.

Jessica Speares Joins Staff

Please join us in welcoming Jessica Speares to our staff as a full-time youth worker under the auspices of the Rochester Youth Year (RYY) program. After developing Rochester Youth Outreach (RYO) this year with Greg Lewis and a team of volunteers from Roberts Wesleyan College and Elim Bible Institute, Jessica applied for the opportunity to serve with RYY this spring and received one of the 3 awards offered to area college students. She'll be spending her summer lining up next fall's team for an expanded RYO program, working with Sandi Clawson and Embracing Options developing a screening outreach for sexually transmitted illness (STI), and preparing a presentation at City Hall as part of RYY's summer Urban Fellows Program.

Last summer Jessica conducted a neighborhood health care survey that identified youth ministry as a primary need in our community. Further evaluation of health care statistics has revealed that youth STI and abortion rates are among the nation's highest in Rochester's inner-city communities.

After completing her work with His Branches next year, Jessica is planning to go on to become a Physicians Assistant with the goal of working as a missionary in underserved communities.

Rochester Youth Outreach

In RYO's Spring newsletter, Jessica and Greg report:

What a whirlwind this year has been! It seems as though we just began our friendships with the young people we see each Thursday. With the conclusion of both the Elim Bible Institute and Roberts Wesleyan College academic calendars, our outreach also concluded for the summer.

The end of the year was definitely full of challenges! Taking finals, preparing for a trip to the Philippines, attending medical school interviews, working part time, and moving to a new house kept Greg on his toes! Jess fought valiant battles with end-of-the-year presentations and finals, RA responsibilities, and teaching English to refugees from Burma. We are so thankful that we have such a dedicated group of volunteers at RYO! Surely the last several weeks of the program would not have been possible without such dedicated and diligent workers!

With our trusty volunteers returning to their hometowns for the season, RYO will be taking on a new form in the summer months. We hope this time will be useful for coming up with more recruitment strategies for Rochester-area colleges, formulating new ideas for the program, and building up support within the neighborhood.

Click here to read the entire newsletter.

Rochester Youth Outreach

In RYO's second newsletter, Jessica and Greg report:

We are so privileged to work with these kids. It is amazing the breakthroughs we have seen. As the kids are loved and invested in, we get to see their hard exteriors begin to peel away and they become kids once again. There is nothing worse than a child who is forced to grow up before their time due to circumstances they have been placed in, but here they are able to let it all go and be themselves. Bad behaviors are decreasing exponentially, and our hearts melt as we begin to see they are just enjoying spending time with us. It is so awesome to see the special bonds that volunteers have with the kids. The littlest ones, especially, who just love to be held and played with are adjusting quite well. Cuss words are becoming rarer, and please and thank you’s more common. We have had the chance to see the oldest ones begin to lead without being asked; helping to calm the younger ones down and serving dinner to all, as well as admonishing their bad behaviors.

A few weeks ago when I (Jess) asked one of our kids to pray with me before dinner (not thinking he would), I was shocked to hear his response. “Yeah, I’ll pray with you, but you have to stand up and pray. That’s how we do it.” His desire to show respect for the Lord by standing fueled the fire to keep the work going.

Click here to read their entire newsletter.

Rochester Youth Outreach

In RYO's first newsletter, Jessica and Greg write:

We are writing to inform you of what God is doing in Rochester among not only the youth, but the families and communities in which they live. This is our attempt to reveal to you how God is working in the 19th Ward of Rochester, the demonstration of His power through miracles among the youth, and the growth of this ministry.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.” Zechariah 4.10a

In our short time working in the 19th Ward, we have begun to appreciate the beauty of this idea; the Lord rejoices over the beginnings of a labor in His name, and for Him. Through the successes and the struggles involved in this ministry, we have seen how He is guiding our efforts, and glorifying his name!

Click here to read their entire newsletter.