Mission Camp Changes Kids’ Lives
Close to 170 kids and adult leaders from Louisiana, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas had an awesome week in Mexico during was our largest camp this summer. Our staff feels it was the best camp we've ever had.
For many of the group, their first experience serving God in a foreign country was a real shock: seeing people who live in cardboard houses with no electricity or running water, being immersed in a new culture, learning a little Spanish and seeing God's mighty power at work.The camp was made up of 6 different youth groups and their youth leaders. Many of these kids committed their lives to Jesus by the end of the week.
In King's Kids we always emphasize God's work in the lives of the kids more than His work through them. If they had only had a great week serving God but not experienced a genuine touch from the Holy Spirit in their own lives, there would be no long lasting fruit. But when they experience a heart transformation and know the reality and presence of God firsthand, a camp like this often is the turning point in their lives. Here are some of the kids' comments from their evaluation forms.
"I just recommited my life and I am going to reach millions back in Colorado"
"I accepted God into my life/heart this week. Before I came to camp I didn't have Jesus in my life. I know now that I'm not alone and will never be alone again for Jesus is with me."
"He has called me to be a missionary of some kind."
" He is the best friend I've always wanted."
"I have never seen God work like this before. I saw lives changed, including my own. God really is an awesome God."
"Being religious and being with Christ are different."
"I have a gazillion new friends and I will be followin' God closely."
Would you participate in another King's Kids outreach?
"Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ."
*DEFINETLY!!!!* *YES!*" (just as she wrote it)
"This was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life."
"It was awesome and I can't wait to come back!"
"YUP! YES! Definitely! Oh Yeah!"
Spring GO Camps A Success
Nearly 100 kids and adults from churches all over El Paso and Las Cruces came to Juarez for a 3-day missions GO Camp in February. They had a lot of fun and worked on our ongoing construction project in Sausal, just east of Juarez.
We saw the Lord touch many kids' lives, with a great response one night at the altar after worship and preaching. So many kids struggle with personal pain and problems, or just simply need to get their lives right with the Lord. The kids ministered to men at a Christian drug rehabilitation center in Juarez on Sunday morning.
Spring Break Outreach in March was the largest missions camp we've ever held. Over 240 kids and adult leaders from Washington, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico spent a week in Juarez experiencing firsthand what it is like to be a missionary and learning to serve others.
Each day the the kids did construction and street witnessing. We worked with a local church in outdoor evangelistic meetings with music, drama and preaching. Everyone was really charged up about seeing people give their lives to the Lord. We also handed out thousands of Gospel tracts in the market and door to door in some of the poor neighborhoods.
Each night the King's Kids band from Colorado Springs led worship, and God worked in an awesome way. Many kids said the anointed worship times were their favorite part, and large crowds of kids came forward to the altar for personal ministry and to get right with the Lord.
Many leaders and kids said they wished the camp was longer than a week. One adult called it, “an incredible spiritual experience in a compressed time frame.”
Local Teenagers Serve God Around the World
This summer teenagers from El Paso and Las Cruces are going out to preach the Gospel with other King’s Kids from around the world.
Justin Villareal got his start ministering in Central America last summer on an outreach to Nicaragua with our local team. Now he is in Costa Rica for another mission trip.
Emrys Prochnow, Mac Wheatley, Sam Wasson and Robert Feuille are having an adventure in missions in Papua New Guinea.
Jason Giles is involved in street ministry with a team in Scotland. Eric Nava and Michael Flores are on an outreach with their church in Russia.
Other El Paso and Las Cruces teenagers have gone around the world with Youth With A Mission during the last year to attend Discipleship Training Schools. Shauna Acton spent 3 months in the DTS in Egypt before going on outreach to India. Matt Powers enjoyed DTS in Hawaii followed by outreach in Japan.
Meghan Wheatley attended DTS in Australia and shared the Gospel in 5 African countries and in Malaysia. Derrick Woodward is now on DTS staff in Montana after completing his DTS there and going on outreach to Northern Ireland.
Other King’s Kids alumni are finding the next step of God’s plan in different places. Kim Pofahl has a challenging work/study program in Honduras. Rachel Warren is on staff with a YWAM team ministering in Russia this summer.
Outreach Center Progress at Rancho Los Amigos
The results of teenage help in building on the YWAM children’s home property are amazing. We have a 4400 square foot, 50 bed dormitory, complete with a meeting room, large kitchen and bathrooms, that was built almost entirely by young people. The dormitory has already been in use for two years, housing teams of kids and adults who come here for missionary work. Two Discipleship Training Schools have used the building during the school year to house international students training for missionary work.
A 4100 square foot multi-purpose chapel that can seat 300 is nearly finished. We’re looking forward to the time that hundreds of kids can worship God in English and Spanish in this building!
Apartments for our staff living in Mexico are under way. This is our top priority now, since a growing ministry requires more leaders, and leaders need adequate housing for their families. The 14 apartments will total 11,000 square feet.
Hundreds of teenagers from around the country have raised the funds necessary to construct these buildings and learned skills in the building trades from Christian contractors who have volunteered their time to help us.
The buildings are being constructed debt free! Each team of young people or adults that comes to Rancho Los Amigos takes the project closer to completion.Every time a business or family takes an interest in the project, we’re able to purchase the next batch of cinder blocks, cement or roof trusses. Would you pray about being a part of building the Kingdom at Rancho Los Amigos?
Mission Builders is a program based in YWAM Seattle which gives adults an opportunity to serve God through practical means. Many retirees as well as young people participate in the ministry, using their knowledge of construction to advance God’s work in foreign lands. Their service can last from 2 weeks to 2 months. Garrett Livingstone, a 17 year old Mission Builder from Canada, is serving here this summer.
Do you have expertise in plumbing, electrical, masonry, carpentry or other building trades? How about free time and a desire to serve? Maybe Mission Builders is the opportunity you’ve been looking for!
For more information, contact our office at (915)581-8744.
Local Teams Reach Out to the Community
About 70 children and teenagers from El Paso and Las Cruces participated in local outreaches with the junior and senior King’s Kids teams during the last year.
They ministered in churches, including Jesus Chapel West, Our Savior Lutheran church and Victory Temple, fed the homeless with World Challenge and shared with the elderly at Camlu Retirement Center. King’s Kids also brought the message of the Gospel to the youth Detention Center, the Christian Home,the Southwest Keys program (another detention center for boys), Rio Vista Rehabilitation Center, the Eisenhower Housing Project and many outreaches with both practical service and evangelism in Juarez.
A Word from the Directors
As we look back over the past year, we are amazed at all God has done through young people here in the El Paso/Juarez area as well as around the world. We see God’s call on this generation in a powerful way and recognize how much they can accomplish when given the opportunity.
Our young people can make a difference, but they need to be discipled and sent out. We want to thank all the parents, churches, and business leaders who have released these kids and helped give them an opportunity to serve God here and in other nations.
We also want to thank the members of the King’s Kids staff who work full-time, raising their own support in order to serve God through this ministry.
We say farewell to Jackie Smith who will be leaving for Canada in order to renew her visa and residential status. She has faithfully served King’s Kids for the past 10 years. We look forward to her return next year. Dan Bergman will be leaving for the Special Forces this fall.
We will be spotlighting members of our staff in coming newsletters.
Bob & Karen Pofahl