Grants Issued by YouthPartnersNET

Rehoboth Christian School was founded in 1903 as a ministry to the Native American peoples of the Four Corners region. They serve children living in America’s 3rd poorest county, nearly 50% of the students come from low-income and poverty-level income families. A Rehoboth education helps students develop confidence, competence, and compassion. Rehoboth is committed to building students up not only intellectually, but also spiritually and emotionally, helping them grow into mature Christians who approach the world with a healthy perspective and the skills necessary for living in it.

YPN is honored to provide another grant from our Native American/Rich Mullins Fund to Rehoboth Christian School for their Tuition Assistance Program which serves the students with the greatest financial needs. This year, 72% of the students need financial assistance due to the economy and soaring unemployment.  Their family members contribute the remainder of tuition costs, often at great sacrifice.  (Some students travel more than an hour each way to attend school)

Pine Ridge Ministries joined our network in January 2010.  Their primary focus is with the six Native communities near Wagner, SD.  This grant will go toward their All Tribes Fellowship Youth Program which provides after-school and summer programs for 20-45 children/youth two days per week.  The staff, children and youth together determined they would like the facility to be open three days per week and have more games and activities available to them.  This grant was funded through our Native American/Rich Mullins Fund.

Christ Community Baptist Ministries serves the University Avenue area of Flint, MI. This high-risk community is filled with violence, drug and alcohol use and distribution, high domestic abuse and a high rate of mobility change. Its neighborhoods are filled with condemned or empty buildings that have become crack houses and havens for drug dealers.

The Summer Safety Net Program is designed to target young people between the age of 5 and 13 who live in this area. Many of the young people are disadvantaged, living in homes that are victims of persistent violence and pervasive poverty. This program provides a caring, loving and safe place for the youth to gather during the summer evenings, a nutritious dinner, and skills that will help them live a positive and productive Christ-centered life. Their goal is to have 70 young people enrolled throughout the summer.

In response to the massive Haiti earthquake last month, YPN has prayerfully decided to issue our monthly grant to WINN Ministries for “Mile High for Haiti”.  This urban ministry is working with the Haitian Timoun Foundation, Project Cure and 23 Walmart stores in Colorado to collect medical supplies for Haiti. 

Local churches will be volunteering at each collection site on 2/6/10.  100% of the supplies go to the Haitian people in need and medical staff on the ground in Haiti.  And the items they are collecting are ones that doctors in Haiti are asking specifically for and can be easily purchased at Walmart or other grocery stores.

The Agape Community Center (also known as Here's Life Inner City-Chicago) was established in 1979 with a mission to serve and mobilize the Church to live out God's heart for the poor so all can grow in Christ and spiritually multiply.  In additional to providing trainings for inner-city churches thru HLIC, Agape Community Center provides several programs for youth and teens including the S.A.Y. Yes! program.

S.A.Y. Yes! meets two days per week after school where the youth are provided with a healthy snack or meal, homework assistance, Bible lessons, turoring in math and reading and recreational time.  Each year Agape Community Center hosts a Christmas Outreach where the families of the S.A.Y. Yes! participants are invited to dinner and the children provide the "program" and the gospel message is shared.  Though a local vendor usually provides turkeys and a local church purchases gifts for each child in the program, this year they are expecting 200 people on December 16th and this grant will cover help to provide a wonderful program to celebrate the birth of Christ.

A long time ministry partner, we are excited to provide a grant to Crossroads of the Rockies for their Christmas Joy program. They expect 150 children from their after-school and summer programs to attend this celebration along with their families.  The goal is to provide each child, 18 and under, with two gifts and a Bible.  They will serve a special dinner with the families that night, share the Christmas story, and celebrate the spirit of the season.

The Community of Adsideo in Portland, OR is a new YPN ministry partner that provided wonderful outreach projects for our CityConnexx groups this summer.  Throughout the year they have two children and youth programs that serve the at-risk kids in their neighborhood.  The House of Ramah is a youth advocacy house where those that live there volunteer to work with the neighborhood kids on a weekly basis through activities that provide opportunities to reach out relationally and spiritually.  Adsideo Kids is another program that includes Sunday gatherings and daily mentorship activities.  We are excited to provide a grant for both of these community outreach programs.

The Oglala Re-Creation and Worship Center in Pine Ridge, SD reaches out to the children and youth living on the Lakota Reservation, one of America’s poorest Native American reservations. In addition to providing open gym Monday through Friday for safe, skill based activities, lunches are provided every day during the summer for kids and their parents, and they have the AllStars for Jesus, Royal Rangers and Missionettes programs to share God’s word with these kids on Sunday and throughout the week. Their largest outreach is at Christmas time where AllStars for Jesus perform and the ministry feeds and provides gifts to all that attend. Many in the community are blessed by this one outreach. The center is also used for tribal meetings, birthday parties, wakes, funerals, yard sales and to bring the community together. YPN is honored to provide this grant for their many outreach programs that serve the children and youth in their community.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Long Island Teen Challenge for their Rock the Block Outreach Ministries. Levant Wesleyan Church from Falconer, NY served this ministry and program during their summer break in August 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based evangelistic program reaching at-risk children and youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant Crossroads of the Rockies for their Summer Program. First Baptist Church from Santa Fe, NM served this ministry and program during their summer break in August 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based program reaching at-risk children and youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Oglala ReCreation and Worship Center for their Summer Program. Greeley First Church of the Nazarene from Greeley, CO served this Native American ministry and program during their summer break in August 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based program reaching the children and youth from the Lakota Reservation, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Restoration Community Inc. for their Camp Imagination Day Camp. Yreka Church of the Nazarene from Yreka, CA served this ministry and program during their summer break in August 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based summer day camp program reaching 150 at-risk children and youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Mission Possible for their Summer Program. Marysville Church of the Nazarene from Marysville, WA served this ministry and program during their summer break in August 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this ministry that serves the homeless and impoverished living in Vancouver, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Long Island Teen Challenge for their Rock the Block Outreach Ministries. First United Methodist Church from New Castle, PA served this ministry and program during their summer break in July 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based evangelistic program reaching at-risk children and youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

Amador Street Hope Center in Vallejo CA serves children K-12 from their high-risk neighborhood during the school year with their Say YES After School Program.  This youth program touches so many lives.  The children participate in fun activities, bible study and receive homework assistance.  Their parents receive peace of mind that their children have a safe place to hang out until they return home from work.  And the church members volunteer their time and money and see how God is working through this program to change the lives of these families.  This past year they served 30 children in their Say YES program, most coming from Hispanic homes and culture, and are looking forward to another successful year.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Edgewater Baptist Church for their SAFEPLACE Day Camp Program. Central Baptist Church from Winchester, KY served this ministry and program during their summer break in July 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based program reaching at-risk children and youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Long Island Teen Challenge for their Rock the Block Outreach Ministries. College Church of the Nazarene from Bourbonnais, IL served this ministry and program during their summer break in July 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based evangelistic program reaching at-risk children and youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Tha Myx International for their Urban Impact program. College Church of the Nazarene from Olathe, KS served this ministry and program during their summer break in July 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based intervention/prevention program reaching at-risk adjudicated youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

I25 Alliance is a network of Light-minded leaders whose purpose is to network, empower and train urban youth workers in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado.  With 25 active members from 10 different ministries and local churches, they meet monthly and correspond daily to support each other, plan outreach events and develop strategies on how to better serve the youth in their at-risk communities.  YPN is pleased to provide this grant for the Colorado Springs Network meetings.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Tha Myx International for their Urban Impact program. Our Father Lutheran Church from Centennial, CO served this ministry and program during their summer break in June/July 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based intervention/prevention program reaching at-risk adjudicated youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Long Island Teen Challenge for their Rock the Block Outreach Ministries. Grace Fellowship Church from Johnson City, TN served this ministry and program during their summer break in June 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based evangelistic program reaching at-risk children and youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Edgewater Baptist Church for their SAFEPLACE Day Camp Program. Evangelical Free Church of Hastings from Hastings, NE served this ministry and program during their summer break in June 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based program reaching at-risk children and youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant toTha Myx International for their Urban Impact program. East Fairview Church from Milford, NE served this ministry and program during their summer break in June 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based intervention/prevention program reaching at-risk adjudicated youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant Crossroads of the Rockies for their Summer Program. First Church of the Nazarene from Kankakee, IL served this ministry and program during their summer break in June 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based program reaching at-risk children and youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Little Lights Urban Ministries for their Homework Club After School Program. His Love Fellowship from Denver, CO served this ministry and program during their summer break in June 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this academic and faith based program reaching youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN provided a grant to East Central Ministries in Albuquerque, NM for their Kids Club Summer Camp.  This unique program trains 40 neighborhood teen interns to lead this nine-day summer camp that serves 110 younger campers.  All of the teen interns and campers live in their low-income community, many of which come from families who are out of work and homeless.  Kids Club is an example of ECM's strategy to minister in culturally sensitive ways as well as to raise up indigenous leaders.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Tha Myx International for their Urban Impact program. Grace Bible Church from Dallas, TX served this ministry and program during their summer break in June 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based intervention/prevention program reaching at-risk adjudicated youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Tha Myx International for their Urban Impact program. Crossroads Church from Thornton, CO served this ministry and program during their summer break in June 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this faith-based gang intervention/prevention program reaching at-risk adjudicated youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

YPN is excited to provide another grant for Restoration Christian Fellowship's summer Hoop Scoop Basketball Camp.  For the past seven years RCF has provided an opportunity for the inner-city children (K-8th) of their neighborhood to participate in this one week program.  It provides an outlet through sports for their children to experience positive role models and learn life skills to help them become a positive asset to sociey.  Every child receives a trophy, t-shirt and breakfast and lunch every day along with daily motivational speeches to teach them how to make better choices in life.  Due to funding, this camp is offered totally free enabling all who wish to attend an opportunity to do so.  Last year they served 200 children with more than 25 accepting Christ.  They are expecting 250 this summer.

YPN provided a grant to Youth Resources to support an Urban Youth Workers Network Lunch in Minneapolis that has met for the past two years. This group consists of full time youth worker professionals and these meetings provide teaching, fellowship, support and prayer.

Additionally this grant will go toward a new training cooperative venture which will provide much needed training for urban youth workers to support their efforts in serving at-risk youth. Partnering with four educational and mission organizations, they will develop and teach a training syllabus each quarter specifically for the Youth Resources Training Cooperative. With 20 youth workers already signed up, training will start in May.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to Restoration Community Inc. for their MAPS After School Program. Fremont Community Church from Fremont, CA served this ministry and program during their spring break in April 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this academic and faith based program reaching homeless teens living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

Confluence Ministries serves the West Colfax Neighborhood in Denver, CO and is the host of our YPN Denver Ministry Partner meetings. In appreciation from our Denver Network, YPN is pleased to provide a grant for their Baseball In the City program. This summer program serves children ages 8-12 and teaches kids how to play baseball. The purpose behind the program is to give neighborhood children a constructive, safe activity during the summer. It calls forth a passion for sports while educating kids on how to be a part of a team and builds relational skills. It is also a vehicle to preach the Good News to those who might not otherwise have an opportunity to hear it.

His Love Fellowship is one of our Latino urban ministries whose mission is to love, help and train the family of God in west Denver. This community has extremely low income and education levels which lead to alcohol and drug addictions.

This grant will go toward their Summer Program for children K-12. Their summer program includes several weeks of outdoor camps, sports camp, Vacation Bible School and a mentoring program to help the children in math and language arts. And for the second year, they will be attending CityConnexx and serving another YPN ministry partner in Washington DC in June. Missions and community service is an extremely important aspect of their youth ministry as their kids learn by serving that they don’t always have to be on the receiving end – they always have something to give of themselves to others.

SAFEPLACE is a ministry of Edgewater Baptist Church that reaches youth and their families on Chicago's North Side.  SAFEPLACE has two main components, their afterschool program which runs September through May and their Summer Day Camp program that is six weeks in June and July. 

This grant will go toward their afterschool program which provides holistic mentorship and homework assistance for about 80 kids per week.  The majority of the youth they serve are from low income, Hispanic immigrant families.  This program trains local youth with the gospel of Christ and equips them to grow as believers.  Over the years, they have seen hundreds of children saved and grow in their ability to truly follow Jesus.

YPN provided a CityConnexx grant to La Villita Community Church for their Si Se Puede After School Program. North Oak Community Church from Hays, KS served this ministry and program during their spring break in March 2009. In addition to the valuable volunteer hours they provided for this academic and church based program reaching children and youth living in their high-risk neighborhood, a grant was provided as a result of their service and the CityConnexx program.

Over the past 10 years, Urban Youth Workers Institute (UYWI) has been hosting its annual conference in Azusa California. This event draws thousands of urban youth leaders from across the country every year. In an attempt to further their reach and give youth leaders a boost in the middle of the year they developed RELOAD, one day training events that focused on 23 cities throughout the country.

The current economic crisis has become a catalyst for UYWI to make the transition now by shifting away from their single west-coast national conference in May to multiple national events in several regions. Denver is the hub for one of those regions.

This event will be led by Life Development Institute, one of YPN’s ministry partners. We are excited to sponsor this year’s event as it will be the first “RELOAD” to take on a regional focus as they market the event on a national level. They are using this event as a catalyst to launch out a regional RELOAD tour to smaller cities in the region as well as to launch several Learning Communities. This regional event will expand to two days and is scheduled for May 22-23 where they expect over 400 leaders to attend.

Rehoboth Christian School was founded in 1903 as a ministry to the Native American peoples of the Four Corners region. When it opened, six Navajo children were its first students, and now Rehoboth continues its ministry by educating 443 students in grades K-12. 

Rehoboth's student body is both ethnically and economically diverse - 69% are Native American students, 10% Hispanic, Asian or African American and 21% Anglo make it one of the most diverse, private Christian Schools in the US.  They serve children living in America’s 3rd poorest county, nearly 50% of the students come from low-income and poverty-level income families.

A Rehoboth education helps students develop confidence, competence, and compassion. Rehoboth is committed to building students up not only intellectually, but also spiritually and emotionally, helping them grow into mature Christians who approach the world with a healthy perspective and the skills necessary for living in it.

YPN is honored to provide another grant from our Native American/Rich Mullins Fund to Rehoboth Christian School for their Tuition Assistance Program which serves the students with the greatest financial needs.  This year, 67% of the students need financial assistance due to the economy and their family members contribute the remainder of tuition costs, often at great sacrifice.

The primary mission of Little Lights Urban Ministries is to strengthen and enlighten the hearts and minds of some of Washington DC’s most underserved children and youth by providing a caring place of emotional, academic, social and spiritual growth. 

YPN is providing a grant from our Summer Camp Fund for Camp Heaven.  Camp Heaven is a seven week academic and recreational summer camp for children ages 5-13 from the Potomac Gardens Public Housing Complex and surrounding neighborhood.  Expecting 100 children this year, Little Lights will provide these children with a safe and enriching environment that will deter them from engaging in at-risk behavior while encouraging them to pursue their dreams and develop their natural talents. 

More than 90% of the Potomac Garden children live in one-parent, female-headed households and a number of the children’s parents are incarcerated.  Over 50% of the adults in this housing facility are involved in illegal drug use.  And most of the children are two grade levels behind in their academics.  Without intervention less than 2% of the youth growing up in Potomac Gardens will attend college.

Camp Heaven incorporates an academic curriculum plan to improve their reading, writing and math skills in addition to games, meals, creative development activities, enrichment field trips and ends the summer with a talent show and community barbeque.

YouthPartnersNET is excited to co-sponsor Droppin’ the “L” Conference in Denver which is hosted by our ministry partner Old Landmark Ministries in Aurora, CO.  This high energy truth conference will present sound biblical teaching that challenges youth and young adults to reject the lure of the world, and live out their purpose according to the living Word of God.  Shifting from “living by the world” to “living by the Word”.

It will equip youth with tools to live by the Word.  Young people will begin to think of the Bible as their life guide, a necessary and essential tool for growth and success.

The conference will feature praise and worship, main stage speakers, general group sessions, workshops, small group debriefing, community service projects, local talent presentations, open mic coffee shop, graffiti art and community concert.

The target group is churched and unchurched youth; urban, suburban and rural and culturally diverse youth ages 14-20.  It is scheduled for July 9-11 in Denver, CO.

La Villita Community Church is located on the west side of Chicago and is the largest Mexican neighborhood in the city of Chicago.  Though their economic power, traditions and determination is thriving, they are challenged to invest in human resources, especially in their youth and families. Their schools are overcrowded and under-performing; 90% of high school students test below national standards; 98% of public school students come from homes classified as “low-income”; Their community has high rates of diabetes, obesity and depression; They have 42 gang chapters with 600 active gang members.

La Villita was a small church planted in 1994 to holistically serve and empower the neighborhood through Christian community development. In addition to providing English classes, they have a Gang Intervention Basketball program, youth programs, small groups for their church members and in 2007 they started Si Se Puede After School Program which this grant will go toward. Currently they are able to serve 15 students from the surrounding neighborhood and have a long waiting list.  Through a group of volunteers, they provide a safe, positive and fun environment in which to enable these students for success in their schools.  Academically their goal is to come alongside the local schools and aid in their pursuits to teach fundamental reading, writing and math.  As a church based program they are motivated by this opportunity to serve Christ by serving their neighborhood.  Therefore, their response to God’s amazing grace is clearly integrated into their educational program through prayer time and Bible study.

Long Island Teen Challenge is a new ministry partner joining our network this past summer as a CityConnexx ministry site.  Teen Challenge started in Brooklyn NY in 1958 to work with gang members and eventually started programs to help those addicted to drugs and alcohol.  After obtaining a large home, they started a year-long residential discipleship program for youth and young adults to learn how to live drug-free lives offering a balance of Bible classes, work assignment and recreation.  By 2002 there were 178 Teen Challenge programs in the US and another 150 in other countries.  Teen Challenge has grown into one of the largest and most successful programs of its kind in the world.  In addition to their Rock the Block, Hoop Challenge and Vocal outreach programs, they have Super Saturday Kids Krusade (SSKK) which buses in children from the most underprivileged areas of the island.  In drug-infested neighborhoods where crime runs rampant, SSKK provides a Christian alternative to Saturday morning trouble by teaching them life skills through games, lessons, music, dance, food, homework assignments, and the love of Jesus.  YPN is proud to be a sponsor of this amazing Super Saturday Kids Krusade youth program this month.

Tha MYX International is a new urban ministry in Denver, CO with the focus of Gang Intervention/Prevention through Hoops N Raps, Music Production, and Tha MYX Hip Hop Church. They recruit youth and young adults involved with gangs, drugs and other at risk issues to participate. They currently have 40 youth enrolled in this weekly program learning social skills, work skills through service projects, and are taught about Christ’s love and the message of salvation. Many of them come from broken families, drug and alcohol addicted parents and often abusive situations. As one of our ministry sites for CityConnexx, we are very excited to provide this matching grant for their Gang Intervention/Prevention Program.

Boys to Men is a youth development and mentoring program that serves students from the low income rural communities near Johnson City, TN.  They provide a variety of services from one-on-one mentoring, after school mentoring groups, sports teams, passion opportunities, enrichment trips and summer camp experiences as well as part-time employment at their facility.  Their mentoring program reaches many students including boys and girls enrolled in their youth development program and kids in their Children of Promise program who have incarcerated parents.  These students are at high-risk for early pregnancy, dropping out of school, and drug and alcohol abuse.  Boys to Men’s executive director Mike Marion is walking 1000 miles in 100 days for the new “Impacting Kids for Life” campaign to raise funds for this mentoring program, inspire people to become mentors and bring attention to the core issues facing today’s youth.  YPN is excited to provide a grant for their mentoring program during this campaign.  Visit www.mentoringman.org for more details.

YPN is excited to issue a grant to our new ministry partner - Urban Youth Collaborative. This grant will go toward their ongoing work with "outreach lunch clubs" on inner-city public school campuses. All together, they reach 700 students per week at 18 schools in San Diego with spiritual and physical food. They provide lunch, Bible study, and a local church youth pastor relationship. This serves as the first step to other available resources such as camp, church connections, leadership development, and tutoring. This program serves high school and middle school students who often face economic disadvantages, broken family relationships, a lack of self-esteem, and fewer positive opportunities. Their students value the spiritual direction and personal healing that comes from encountering the power of Jesus Christ.

Cottage Grove Compassionate Ministries is located in a small, rural community in Oregon. Their mission is to provide positive experiences for youth and children that are high-risk for chronic homelessness and other factors that place barriers to success. Their year-round programs are committed to providing meals, activities, clothing, personal supplies and a place for their families to do laundry. One of the highlights for these kids is Summer Camp. The ability to go away to a camp that is filled with positive God-centered activity and people provides these children with a loving environment to hear about Jesus in a whole new context. Our grant will provide camp scholarships to those who would never be able to experience Christian camp otherwise. Each camper will receive spiritual direction that will strengthen him or her for the difficulties they face and the memories become a cherished gift.

ZCMS continues to serve the people of Zuni, NM by providing high-quality Christian education, serving 58 students this year. Their school exists in Zuni to not only educate the children but to bring God's message of salvation to their students and their families. With more than 70% of the families making below 20,000 in annual income, the Education Fund was established to assist with enrollment fees so these children can receive a high-quality education. The gifts that ZCMS receives help keep tuition affordable for all of the families so they can reach as many people as possible. YPN appreciates their ministry and is privileged to be considered a partner.

It is a privilege to provide East Central Ministries with an annual grant for their "Juntos" Native American Youth Program. Juntos meets every Monday night during the school year. With volunteer teachers, small group leaders, mentors and activity leaders, they provide kids in Kindergarten through 8th grade with worship, Bible lessons, prayer, small group discussions and elective activities such as woodworking, cooking, sports etc. They often see graduates from the Juntos program return to be small group leaders for the younger children and have worked this into their program as well as deeper mentoring relationships with the adult volunteers.

Third Avenue Baptist Church serves the Third Avenue area of Flint, MI. This high-risk community is filled with violence, drug and alcohol use and distribution, high domestic abuse and a high rate of mobility change. Its neighborhoods are filled with condemned or empty buildings that have become crack houses and havens for drug dealers. The Summer Safety Net Program is designed to target young people between the age of 5 and 13 who live in this area. Many of the young people are disadvantaged, living in homes that are victims of persistent violence and pervasive poverty. This program provides a caring, loving and safe place for the youth to gather during the summer nights while learning skills that will help them live a positive and productive Christ-centered life. This summer their goal is to serve 70 children with 50 attending daily.

YPN provided a grant for the Camp Scholarship Fund at Camp Deerpark nestled in the mountains 80 miles west of NYC. They offer five weeks of camp for children ages 8-13 and one week for teens ages 14-17 from the inner city communities in New York. With the goal of encircling every camper with the warmth of God’s never-ending love, they offer Bible, nature, drama and art classes along with swimming, hiking, group games, soccer, basketball, talent shows, cookouts, rafting and campfires. They give children and youth the opportunity to discover their strengths and improve on their weaknesses in a safe yet challenging environment. This summer they will be providing camp to 200 inner city kids.

The Youth Retreat Conference hosted by Praise Deliverance Church in Houston, TX ministered to 70 youth from the 5th Ward inner-city community. The event from June 25-27 was a great success and included several speakers that spoke of relevant topics for inner-city youth and living a Christ centered life along with Christian rappers and a youth rap session. The final day included a youth lock-in with food, fun, games and door prizes. 12 youth gave their lives to Christ and 30 others came forth and rededicated their lives to Christ.

For several years YPN has sponsored Re-Creation Unlimited taking inner-city kids and church members to the Lakota Outreach Sports Camp in Pine Ridge, SD to host their summer basketball camp and to build a gymnasium. With their gymnasium complete in 2006, they did not return in 2007 but we were excited to hear they would be returning for their ninth year of program in August 2008! The first goal for this mission was more relational and back to basketball as they operated another high energy camp for 40 elementary school age children.  The Denver Nuggets donated balls, other churches brought up bikes, t-shirts and tons of clothes. And for the greatest impact and second piece to the program, they added a mentoring component.  Re-Creation Unlimited developed a “Mentoring Ministry” program and trained five mentors who are ready to begin impacting a Lakota child and duplicate and expand over the coming years. The third project was to re-model the old gym and transform it into a worship center, fellowship hall and dorms which will be completed next summer.

His Love Fellowship recently joined the YouthPartnersNET network. They are predominently an urban Latino church whose mission is to love, help and train the family of God in west Denver. This community has extremely low income and education levels, which lead to alcohol and drug addictions. They are bursting at the seams with children, teens and young adults who come regularly on Sunday and Thursday night to hear what God is saying to them. They serve these children through Children's Church, Youth Group, Whiz Kids, mentoring, college and career planning and through community service projects. This grant will go toward their summer program for children K-12. Their summer program includes several weeks at outdoor camps, sports camp and Vacation Bible School. In partnership with Save Our Youth Mentoring Program they will also incorporate Summer Academy to help their kids come up to grade level in math and language arts. In June, a team of twelve will be going to New York to serve at Long Island Teen Challenge’s "Rock the Block" urban community outreach event through the YPN CityConnexx program. Missions and community service is an extremely important aspect of their youth ministry as their kids know by serving that they don't always have to be on the receiving end - they always have something to give of themselves to others.

SAFEPLACE is a ministry of Edgewater Baptist Church located on Chicago’s north side. Their mission is to serve this at-risk neighborhood by providing school-age child care in a creative and safe environment for spiritual, academic, emotional, social and physical development. They do this through three components. In its 10th year, the Afterschool Program offers homework assistance, tutoring, recreation and life skills learning, Bible teaching and discipleship during the school year. They currently serve 96 children, 65% come from homes where Spanish is the first language. In its 17th year, Summer Day Camp offers six weeks of fun, recreation, field trips, Bible teaching and a safe place to hang during the long summer days. Last year this program served 175 children from families all over Chicago’s north side. Then in its 6th year, Youth Leadership Initiative has been a training ground for young teens interested in serving their peers, their community as well as their world. 23 teens enrolled in this program last year and many will return to SAFEPLACE to serve as teen staff in the Summer Day Camp program. YPN is excited to once again provide a grant for these amazing programs that impact so many lives.

Restoration Christian Fellowship is a family-oriented church that focuses heavily on youth. Their service area is one of the most multiracial, multicultural and socio-economically diverse communities in Colorado. 10% of the families in this area are living below the national poverty level, the high school drop out rate and juvenile arrest rate is higher than the state average. RCF has developed several programs to combat these issues by providing mentoring, tutoring and other educational, recreational and cultural enrichment activities as positive outlets. One of these programs is the Hoop Scoop Basketball Camp. For the past four years this program has provided youth grades K-8 with an outlet through sports to experience positive role models and learn life skills that will enable them to make better choices and become a positive asset to their community. Every participant receives a trophy, shirt and breakfast and lunch on a daily basis during the camp. Through grants like the one YPN is providing, this program is offered totally free to all the youth who wish to attend. Moving to a larger park facility this year, the camp is expected to serve over 250 children and youth.

Rehoboth Christian School was founded in 1903 as a ministry to the Native American peoples of the Four Corners region. A day school now, Rehoboth continues its ministry through education. Rehoboth's student body is both ethnically and economically diverse. Approximately 70% are Native American students and 40% come from very low-income and poverty-level families. A Rehoboth education helps students develop confidence, competence, and compassion. Rehoboth is committed to building students up not only intellectually, but also spiritually and emotionally, helping them grow into mature Christians who approach the world with a healthy perspective and the skills necessary for living in it. YPN is honored to provide another grant from our Native American/Rich Mullins Fund to Rehoboth Christian School for their tuition assistance program which serves the students with the greatest financial needs.

Several local ministries in partnership with the Urban Youth Workers Institute present RELOAD: A One-Day Training Experience for youth workers. The nationwide tour stops in Denver on February 2nd and expects to serve 300 youth workers and leaders in its second year. The event includes five workshops and two general sessions presented by Soong Chan Rah and Luis Villareal and has added a teen leadership track for high school students. YouthPartnersNET is excited to again co-sponsor this training event.

YPN co-sponsored RELOAD Minneapolis, a one-day training for urban youth workers in February 2008. YPN was able to connect this past year with an existing network of urban youth ministries in Minneapolis and were invited to be a part of this national tour again this year as it returns to Minneapolis for its fourth year as 175 youth workers and leaders gather for this day of learning and sharing.

Life Development Institute serves the Westwood neighborhood in Southwest Denver which is considered one of the most impoverished communities in Colorado with staggering statistics of low academic scores, high drop out rates and incidents of crime. LDI recently joined our network of ministry partners and we are very excited to provide a grant for their occupational skill training program, SPARC Media Group. This after-school program provides advanced education to 200 youth ages 14-21 in graphic design, audio production, video production, web development, entrepreneurial training, leadership development and one-on-one mentoring.