 It’s been quite a school year of prayer, perseverance, and continuing to seek God’s desire on the ministry He has entrusted us with. Through prayer we continue to see God working mightily in our region. We are grateful for your partnership as we seek to reach more students with the gospel! Area Development Update:  We have been praying for over a year that God would bring Young Life to Urbandale, IA. As of January 2021, we now have an adult committee in Urbandale! (This picture represents some of our new committee!) This is a big step towards opening a new Young Life area. We will have a launch fundraiser in May to be able to share the mission of Young Life and invite other people from Urbandale to join us in reaching students in their town with the gospel! Please pray that God would continue to bring more adults to join this area. New Young Life Area:  I am very excited to introduce you to Marlin Baker. He is our new staff person in our new Young Life Area in Decatur IL. Over the last 2 years many have worked hard and prayed for new ministry in the town of Decatur. This is big news as it represents another town in our region that is reaching students that don’t know Jesus! Coaching New Staff:  This is the group of new staff (Year 1 and 2) that I work with regularly to help become the best Area Director that they can be. This group represents ministry in Bettendorf -Jeff, Moline -Kyle, Rockford -Jared, Decatur -Marlin, Davenport- Luke. Please pray for Gods direction on each of these men as they seek to reach students. We are excited that there should be at least 1 lady joining this group for next year and we are praying for more! YoungLives of Greater Des Moines Update:  I (Liz) have recently learned about a program called LYFEPACTS that Young Lives in NYC began as a way to meet new teen moms and help meet their physical needs as well. It is a care box filled with items such as diapers, formula, personal hygiene items, and non-perishable food. There is a google form that teen moms can fill out to request a LYFEPACT, then we will deliver it to their residence. We are going to begin this program here in Des Moines and are praying that God would use LYFEPACTS to introduce us to the teen moms who need help.  These are the 3 women I’ve been meeting with this year and that I have done mentor training with. I’m grateful that they are willing to be “Mentor Moms” for YoungLives. We have been praying about how to start meeting teen moms in the Des Moines area and we are hopeful that LYFEPACTS will be the doorway to do just that! Our goal is to make each LYFEPACT more than a box but a way to connect each teen mom with a YoungLives mentor who will pursue a relationship with her and her child, demonstrate the love of Christ, and act as a bridge to a relationship with Jesus. Family Update  Our family is doing well. We were able to get away to Branson, MO for a few nights over Spring Break. We are very thankful that both boys were able to be in person this entire school year and are now enjoying both Track and Soccer this Spring.  Please join us in continuing to pray for: *A deeper reliance on prayer. God has continually nudged Liz and I to continually bring everything before Him. *The new Young Life areas that are in the beginning steps of starting, that God would stir people’s hearts towards desiring to reach the lost youth in their communities. *That God would use LYFEPACTS as an effective way to connect with teen moms for our YoungLives ministry. We are grateful for your prayers and financial support that allows us to serve with Young Life here in the Heartland Region. We look forward to seeing many of you this summer when we are in the Chicago area the first week of August! |
Sislers in Iowa 