The end of the 2015

Routon Family update:

Have you seen the "Life is Good" clothing brand? The company prints clothes with a scene of a stick man doing something enjoyable (like playing Frisbee or sunbathing) and the caption "Life is Good."   When I am doing the things I enjoy I do feel that "life is good" and I wish the enjoyable times to  go on forever.  It seems that "good" translates to enjoyable, pleasant, and fulfilling. In the Christian world there is similar phrase that has been growing in popularity and that can often be understood in the same manner. The phrase "God is good" sounds nice but recently I have been forced to reconsider what it means. 

Some of you have been following the birth of our son Ezra and followed our blog that detailed our journey http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/babyrouton. Ezra's surgery was a success and he is a healthy baby boy.  During the past three months of our medical ordeal I have been in contact with a close friend who also had a little baby with a life threatening condition. Their baby is one month older than Ezra and will most likely not survive. The couple love and serve God and daily they must go through heart breaking events.  Not a day goes by where I don't think of this family multiple times.

Baby Ezra two days ago

Having a good life does not mean ease or comfort. If we think that God is good only when our circumstances are favorable, then does that mean that God is not good in hard circumstances such as death, poverty, starvation and war?  God promises us abundant life and recent events have reminded me that abundant life doesn't mean a life of ease, comfort and favorable circumstances. I am growing convinced that the life Jesus promises doesn't have to do with riches or pleasure, but rather- it has to do with experiencing God's presence. Experiencing his comfort and power, his holiness and love, his justice and forgiveness. Not being pain-free realizing that he is with us and knows what we face.  Being confident in his love for you, the love that motivated him to go through the pain of human life and death. Abundant life is life with him.  Now when I hear people say "God is good," I don't confuse his goodness with the ease or pleasure of my circumstances. He is just as good when we are in deep waters as when we are high on the mountains. 

Sitka Young Life Update

This year marks the 20th year that Young Life has been in Sitka and wow- ministry is booming.  Our attendance in campaigners is at an all-time high.  We have four weekly high school Bible study groups involving over 50 kids and 15 adults. Our weekly outreach club meetings averaging over 80 students, many of which have no knowledge of God. Fifteen high school students are being mentored through a student leader program as they serve other students.  Sitka Young Life is also reaching other rural communities in Alaska and helping them start youth ministries: 4 villages are actively starting youth ministries and another 6 communities are interested. It is awesome to see God answer prayer as people are coming forward wanting to know how they can help.

 Some of our guys Bibles study breakfast crew after a weekend camping trip to a cabin

Young Life is also growing around the state and this September we had our largest all-state ever Young Life conference in Anchorage.  It was during breakfast at this conference that I had the chance to meet two women who had come to learn how they can help the youth of their community.  Weather had prevented them from making it for 70% of the conference yet they persisted and came to the last few hours. It was at breakfast on the last day of the conference that I had a chance to sit down with them and hear their story. Two weeks prior to the state retreat, one of these ladies lost her son to a drug overdose and so she and her sister came to the conference to learn how they can reach the other kids in their community.  They wanted to be able to do something to help the kids of their community. That weekend the hotel conference room was filled with people who have a conviction and passion for the youth in their communities. Thirteen villages were represented and we had a great time to listening and encourage one another.

The all-state Young Life conference takes a lot of prayer, time, and resources, but it was so worth doing in order to encourage and equip people as they headed back to their homes. We want people to find hope in God and we want the light of Christ in as many villages and homes as possible. Our vision is to continue to raise up, train, and support native youth workers in rural villages as they shine Christ's hope in dark places.  To make this happen it takes prayer, time, and resources.

Over the past years Sitka Young Life has had a grant to help jump start my position.  2015 was the last year of the grant and now we raise additional funds in order to continue this position.. It has been extremely valuable to have a Young Life staff position dedicated to rural Alaska and currently we need additional funding for this position. My goal is to raise the an additional $15k to make up for the grant. Please prayerfully consider becoming a monthly supporter of the ministry. Monthly gifts or one-time donations can be made by sending in the enclosed envelope or by logging on at sitka.younglife.com and clicking the “Give” tab. Also- if you would like to share any of these emails with friends or family you can find all my past emails on a blog at ruralalaskayounglife.blogspot.com.  Thank you for your support.