May 2010

May 16th - Honor our Grads Sunday

Abiding Harvest in the Spring of 2010 had 13 youth that dominated high school and were stepping out to conquer the world. They worked hard, overcame more than we'll know and are very deserving of honors. I'd like to post their names and info here to remind us to keep them in prayer as they will be makeing some of the greatest decisions of their life beginning this summer and in the next few years.

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OUR GRADUATING SENIORS

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Aaron Jacobson
Graduating from Town and Country School with honors and is a member of the National Honor Society. While in high school he earned being an Eagle Scout and 6 palms. His plans are to attend the American Broadcast School.

Brittany Kunick
She has graduated in the top 10% of her class at Union High School. There she was very active in Volley-ball and also the drama department. She is planning on attending OSU and majoring in Elementary Education.

CJ Rojers
CJ has graduated Union High School where he was active in wrestling. He will be attending the Honor Academy at Teen Mania Ministries in Texas where he’ll be studying youth and pastoral ministry.

Creston Stophel
He is graduating from Augustine Christian Academy. This year he was chaplain of his School House Falcons and took on leading roles in all the musical productions. He will be attending ORU in the fall with a partial Whole Man Scholarship and will be majoring in Sports journalism and business.

Daniel Griffith
Has graduated from Union High School where he qualified for Regional Speech Competition 4 years and for State 3 years where he placed in the 4th in the State during his senior year. His college plans are undecided, but OSU and TCC are possibilities.

Holly Shirk
She graduated from Home School last December and is already a sophomore at Oral Roberts University. While at ORU she is majoring in journalism.

Jay Anderson
He is graduating Bixby High School where he is Valedictorian of his class. He is the recipient of the very prestigious Four Year Air Force ROTC Commanders Leadership Scholarchip for Detachment 670. He also excelled in soccer and this past fall in football. He will be attending the OSU College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology where he was honored with the Dean’s Academic Excellence Scholarship.

Justin Hiatt
He graduated Union High School where he was involved in wrestling and very involved in the worship team at AHYEAH. He will attend TCC for two years and transfer to ORU, where he plans on majoring in Worship.

Kameron Smith
He graduated from Union High School where he was very involved in the Drama/Music Department. He also participated in Jazz Choir and Advanced Theater and Repatory Theater. This summer he will be saving lives as a lifeguard and in the fall attending TCC.

Katherine Clain
She is graduating from Memorial High School where he was active in her swim team and won 2nd place in the 200 meter free style at the All Tulsa Schools Meet. She has also poured herself out in working with the Special Educations Disabilities students. She is planning on attending TCC and taking training classes at St. Frances.

Rachel McCulley
She is a graduate of Union High School. She is a member of the school's select Repertory Theater Group and its select Jazz Choir - The Union Avenue Singers. Rachel has earned a theater scholarship to Oklahoma State University.

Steven Grimm
Has graduated from Union High School where he was a member of Union Scottish Skins and played intramural sports. He will be attending OU and majoring in Aerospace Engineering.

Taylor Schuyler
He is graduating from Bixby High School. He will be attending the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on an Athletic Scholarship for football. H will be leaving in July to start summer classes and join the Bears for summer workouts.

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May 16th - A-TEAM

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Again, the youth prove themselves as a powerful force. Literally dozens of spiritual conversations were born of our youth engaging with their peers. One particular youth started a conversation with his whole lunch table about the orgin of man. Another initiated 6 different discussions all with different people. Wow!

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New Challenge - Have at least 3 God-times a week on your own. (ex. worship, bible study, time of prayer, taking a walk and praying, etc)

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May 19th - Bowling with Colton and Zara

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This was a night for remembrance. It was suppose to be Putt Putt with Colton and Zara. How small are our plans compared to God's (rhetorical question)? So, early that Wed the weather decided to be onry, so the overcomer overcame and was able to bargain us a deal at Broken Arrow Lanes to go bowling. Stormy weather + indoor activity = uneventful night . . . right? - No.

So, Colton and Zara and their band/family all arrive safely and we load up in the bus and chaperones vehicles and head over to the bowling alley.

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While at the bowling alley, one of the youth gave me the weather report that there were tornado watches for our area. That's exciting, but what am I suppose to do? . . . play on! Then my phone started blowing up with phone calls from rather concerned parents letting us know that the "watch" has now turned into a "warning," followed quickly by tornado alarms sounding outside of the building. The announcer came on, (muffled voice) "Would everyone please moving behind the railing until the siren has ended." So, we obeyed and minutes later the alarm ended. Multiple parents understandably wanted to pick up there youth pronto and were going to meet me at the church. Our game time was up and we quickly loaded everyone up into the bus for the 2.5 mile drive. By this time, I'm ready to load up Toto into the basket on my bicycle and ride home to Aunt Em. Without rain or wind, we hurried back to the church just in time for several of the parents.

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Since Colton and Zara were 3.5 hours from home and they had come to play I asked what they wanted to do. "Let's play," was the answer (I like them.) So we had the concert and slowly our group of 30 dwindled down until by 8:30 everyone had recieved fresh music and brownies and were on their way home. A wonderful ending to a great evening. Colton and Zara, their family and band, and Jacqui and I had the privaledge of watching the storm from the cafe' windows and then invited them over for bacon cheeseburgers. I love God's ever-exciting plans.

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May 22nd - First Pink Flamingoing of the Summer

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We loaded up 75 birds and 15 youth and headed out for an evening of pink sneakiness. We flamingoed two and a half yards and had alot of laughs (the blessing was bestowed on the Grays and the Juettes). I say two and a half because one house wasn't there. We drove 30 minutes to an address that didn't exist out in Coweta (which is somewhere next to Timbucktoo I'm sure.) LOL.

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May 29th - Pink Flamingoing starring the Flam-ninjas

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This evening worked out rather interesting. Our first 25 birds were actually borrowed from us from someone who will remain anonymous (sp) and placed in the yard of a Mrs. Ruth Cooper for her surprise birthday of 91 years (congratulations). Then under the cover of darkness 19 youth set out from Braums to reek pink on several unsuspecting victums. We love you guys Dayna and Paul Griffith and John and Dana Kunick.

Funny story: It was a first for us. Our first assignment was a home behind the impenetrable barrier of a gated community. Ah yes, between the target and the Flam-ninjas stood an iron gate and daunting brick wall. After much consideration, tactical brainstorming, and watching for a break in traffic, a commando team slipped under the ominous iron blockade and flamingoed Jericho.

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May 30th - AHYEAH

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Sunday morning:

On sunday morning 6 youth wore pink. Five of them ran around the building handing pink flamingoing slips to everyone they saw. Also, two or three stood at the Flamingoing booth, one playing bongos. These coupled with an announcment that morning raised awareness within our awesome church family. The congregation responded, and in that single morning we raised 240 dollars to send youth to camp!!!

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The A-TEAM:

The previous challenge truly proved challenging. Some had alot of trouble dealing with busy-ness, procrastination, or just plain forgetting. Others really took it to heart and had way more than the 3-per-week requirement. This was even a challenge for me personally and definitely made me reevaluate my priorities and time management.

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New Challenge - Promote the Out of School Bash. (ex. hand out fliers, hang up fliers in public places, create an event on Facebook.)

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AHYEAH:

Message topic - Nat led the message and discussed portions. David repeatedly worships the Lord saying that He is his portion. This theme is found throughout the bible. Then Nat showed where God calls us His portion. It would seem that with us inheriting GOD and He gets us, that He is getting the weak end of the deal. But, God in Ephesians calls us His glorious inheritance! God sees us as worth it and loves us unconditionally.

Youth - 25

Visitiors - 2

Leaders - 5

News - We have a new leader (glory to God)! Sunny Sheppard is 20 years old and has a history in youth leadership and a certification with DHS. She has an incredible heart for the youth and will be taking over our junior high girls small group.

Funny one-liner - "In worship we should give God a spiritual back massage." - anonymous high school girl