Spring Break Outreach Report

We've just returned from a week in Juarez and are recuperating from the blowing dust and colds we picked up there. It was a great camp, with lots of practical service to the poor and construction on the property of two churches and two homes. The kids especially enjoyed conducting a Vacation Bible School in Anapra and holding two evangelistic fiestas which brought hundreds of Mexican people to hear the Gospel through music, drama, testimonies and preaching. Many children professed Jesus as Savior and Lord, and the local churches were encouraged and strengthened.

The 173 teenagers and adults who participated in the camp included foreign students from Albania, France and Russia. Here are a few of the comments they made on their evaluation forms:

"God really showed me His love for me and His love for others. He opened me up to learn to love others also. His love for me and others is unconditional."

"I have become closer to God and my character has been strengthened."

"I've learned to worship no matter who is watching."

"God wants all of me-especially my heart- so I gave Him all of me- for the first time!"

"I decided to quit drugs."

"I've learned to accept myself for who I am in Christ."

"I learned that I always knew there was a God, but I never believed in Him and followed Him. I think I will continually try to follow God because He has touched me in a way like never before."

"I want to raise the standard in my life and walk in holiness and purity."

We were blessed to see a great response at the altar each night and powerful times of worship. These camps are worth all the effort our staff and volunteers put into them

Senior Team Reaches Out

This year the Senior Team has been busy sharing the Gospel and serving the community. Beginning with a performance before the Jars of Clay concert and a commissioning service at Jesus Chapel West, the teenage team returned to the Schaeffer House, a halfway house/detention center for boys where we have had successful ministry every year.

In December the team went to Anapra, Mexico to help a Vineyard church with a Christmas outreach to the poor. We helped feed the children and distribute 400 pairs of new shoes as well as ministering in performing arts.  In January we went to a homeless shelter to minister.

Everyone’s favorite outreach was a camp with 150 kids and adults from four churches in Las Lunas, New Mexico, which is just outside of Albuquerque. We began with a training seminar for youth leaders and then brought the teenagers together to train them in how to reach out in the community. The ministry in poor neighborhoods, convalescent homes and a skateboard park was a life changing time and left the churches with many teenagers who are enthusiastic about sharing their faith in Jesus.

Junior Team News

This year the Junior Team was an incredible group of kids who did a great job serving God and ministering to others.  Half our outreaches took place in Juarez, Mexico and half in El Paso.  Many parents came consistently to the outreaches with their kids.

 During prayer about what the objectives and goals of the team should be this year, God really stressed mercy and practical service partnered with using performing arts as an evangelistic tool.   These objectives were fulfilled as many times the kids were able to help practically, whether winterizing a home in Mexico or sorting through a donation room at the YWCA transitional center.  Also we spent great relational time showing God’s love to the people that we were serving. It was fantastic to see the way the kids allowed the Lord to develop their giftings, and how they were able to reach out to many different types of people, even those that spoke another language.

When we reviewed the year, the kids were quick to say they felt that God had used them and had changed their lives as a result of stepping out to serve Him. This just solidified what our focus is in King’s Kids: that kids would know that they are not too young to serve God now.   God once again has been faithful and we thank Him for a wonderful year!

Summer of Service Coming Up

Our passion is to equip, train and send young people to the nations, so this summer we are adding an intense program that will help to enhance leadership skills as well as promote personal growth in every participant. If you want some hands on training and experience mixed with adventure, personal and team challenges, and best of all, meeting with God, then this SOS is for you. We have a great staff combining leadership from King's Kids El Paso and King's Kids Colorado. It will be a life changing experience for everyone who is ready for the challenge. 

The SOS includes an Extreme Encounter– a three day backpacking adventure, Bootcamp–  performing arts, leadership training, awesome worship and inspiring teaching, a Mega Camp in Mexico with the SOS team leading the camp in various areas, and an outreach to Creel, Mexico for construction, evangelism, Vacation Bible School with children and much more! See you  there! Call for an application.

Meet our Staff!

Charles Reed comes from South Africa after 7 years with YWAM in Cape Town. He completed his Discipleship Training School, School of Evangelism and Principles in Child and Youth ministry school.  Charles is an identical triplet and has an older brother who works on the cruise-lines out of Miami, FL – his parents live together in South  Africa.  Favorite sports and interests: bodyboarding, surfing, ice and roller hockey, origami, calligraphy, cartoons and messing around on the computer.  Although not from a Christian family, Charles gave his life to God at 12 and followed him through junior school, high-school and two years in the SA army.  At age 14 he felt God calling him full-time into the ministry.  “The only thing I knew about full-time ministry at that time was being a pastor so I thought I would end up doing that.  God eventually showed me that I was to be a missionary.”  He has served his home-church as Sunday-school assistant and youth leader and desires to see young people “know God and make Him known” into all the world. Check out his website at
http://kidsnews.go.to/

Karen Rissling is from British Columbia, Canada.  In 1992 she graduated with a degree in psychology and education.  She has enjoyed working with YWAM/King’s Kids since her discipleship training school in El Paso in 1993.  She loves the El Paso “beach”, but just wishes there was a body of water nearby!  Karen pent time in South America completing a bilingual Principals in Child and Youth Ministry  (PCYM) school in Venezuela, and then staffing a PCYM in Paraguay.  Karen enjoys traveling, reading, kickboxing, running, tennis, skiing, and anything that involves people and fun.  She is attempting to learn the guitar, and loves working with teens and kids.  Karen directs the Junior team, works with the Senior team, and also helps out with accounting and administration.  God has given her a heart for Latin people and she loves learning more about the Spanish language and culture. This summer  Karen will be helping to staff the Summer of Service outreach in Mexico for a month and is excited to see what God will do there.  She wants to send her love to her family and friends!