Friends for LIFE

By Adriaan Overbeeke, pastor, Cody Alliance Church, Wyoming, and LIFE sponsor

Youth groups in Alliance churches across the United States are ramping up fund-raising efforts so that they can join thousands who will attend LIFE 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky, July 6-10.

I will never forget the incredible giving that took place to bless ministries in Africa at LIFE 2007 in Orlando. An entire shipping container was filled with helpful supplies, while the offering of more than $100,000 included iPods, engagement rings, and other gifts that spoke loudly of the deep-hearted commitment to the cause of Christ.

Many MKs (missionary kids) would love to attend LIFE 2010 but face overwhelming obstacles because of where they live. Your district or church youth group can help remove those financial challenges for the teens of our global C&MA staff.  How about adopting a couple of MKs to come with your church youth group so they can make some friends for life? 

That’s what the Rocky Mountain District is already doing on behalf of several MKs and their families. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to connect MKs with their peers at home. We want to do all that we can to help them get to LIFE 2010. 

Sponsoring MKs for Years

“Community Alliance Church (CAC) has been privileged to actively participate in bringing MKs to LIFE since the 2001 conference,” says Pastor Denny Kracijcik, whose wife, Connie, was the force behind the original idea. “Connie is an Alliance official worker and CAC’s children’s pastor. As we have served over the past 30 years with the LIFE Conference, we have seen the impact it has had with teens.

“Every C&MA church that sends missionaries to the field needs to include their MKs in their LIFE fund-raising efforts. The investment may be somewhat significant, but the dividends far outweigh the expense. Watching the interactions of the largest contingency of MKs at LIFE 2007 in Orlando was a picture we’ll forever retain in our minds and hearts and so will many of them.”

Forever Grateful

An MK from Asia, who was sponsored by an Alliance church in Indiana, says his life was changed forever at LIFE 2007. “God was able to speak to me in a way that was more profound and impacting than anything I have ever experienced. This was possible because of the [gift] that was provided, and for that I am forever grateful.”

While only eternity will show the full impact of this investment, we believe that we can help these teens experience the joy of building lifelong friendships as they engage in the activities of LIFE 2010. I hope your district and church will step up to the challenge of opening the door to impact teens for LIFE.   

Learn More

Read about a LIFE 1998 church plant that is a thriving congregation today. 

What You Can Do

If your church would like to sponsor an MK for LIFE 2010, contact Edna Mapstone, Life Impact Ministries, at [email protected].

Pray for LIFE organizers and youth leaders as they oversee nearly 5,000 teenagers for five days. Pray that God will pour out His Spirit on the young people, and that they will commit their lives to serve Him faithfully.

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