Welcome Mike,

We have a new addition to the MidStates team, Mike Thompson!   Mike started this week as the full time Area Director overseeing the communities of: Duluth, Duluth/Superior, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Benton Harbor, Sault Ste. Marie, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, & Denver.  Mike graduated from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN last spring with a degree in political science.  Mike served as a Site Director for our Chicago 1 site in the summer of 2012 and is passionate about continuing to invest into communities through this role at YouthWorks.

A few other fun things about Mike: He played college football at Bethel, he loves fishing and he is adventurous and loves trying new things.

Welcome Mike!

30 Words

Our friends at Reverb Magazine asked students who came on YouthWorks trips last summer to describe their experience in 30 words.   Below are some statements that youth made after visiting our MidStates communities.    If you want to read more of these stories check out Reverb at www.reverbmagazine.com.

I learned what it’s like to worship Christ in EVERYTHING I do – how to love with the love of Christ – and that loving His people reflects my love for Him.
–Kiesha, Triumph Lutheran Brethren
YouthWorks Site: Chicago, Site 1

 

The experiences and intense interactions I had with the community and my peers was of a magnitude of which I am truly blessed. Jesus loves you and so do I!
–Zach Atzen, Lutheran Church of the Cross
YouthWorks Site: Benton Harbor, Michigan

 

While on my mission trip in the Quad Cities my faith was strengthened and perspective was widened. My surroundings became more important than myself. I understand what God is doing.
–Anna Schornack, Zumbro Lutheran Church
YouthWorks Site: Quad Cities

 

Being unsure about college, God showed me the way. After spending each morning at Camp-Wil-O-Way – a camp for disabled children – I want to teach special education.
Name: Becky Rutkowski, St. John’s
YouthWorks Site: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 

My first Youthworks trip. I enjoyed making new friends, and meeting and serving the needs of the community. I especially enjoyed Club and devotions. We had an awesome YouthWorks team.
–Andrew Roland, Emmanuel
YouthWorks Site: Minneapolis

 

This week I went to Milwaukee with my church youth group. When I was there my perspective on things changed. I learned that it doesn’t matter what color skin you have, but you are the same as the people around you. I also learned that I’m getting better at talking to people and not being as shy as I used to be. That’s what I learned this week in Milwaukee, WI.
–Lydia Westberg, Salem Lutheran Church
YouthWorks Site: Milwaukee

 

Building relationships was very interesting. Being at Project Renewal and Intouch was spiritually rewarding. I got closer to God because I realized he knows what is best for everyone.
–Morgan Bredeson, Trinity Lutheran
YouthWorks Site: Quad Cities

 

Yea God

• Adullum community cookout in Milwaukee continues growing each week!

• INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY COOKOUT in the Barrio Obrero neighborhood in Puerto Rico!!!! We had phenomenal turnout from the community.  Participants were warm, welcoming and engaging with the community. Everyone enjoyed their time as we broke bread together.

• A church on site this week in the Quad Cities took up an offering and raised $124 to buy bread, peanut butter, and other supplies for a food bank that we work with and the ministry partner was overjoyed!

•  One older couple in the community of Kokomo has been resistant to talk about matters of faith for many years.  Their daughter-in-law is the outreach director at one of our partner churches and she asked us to help them weed their property as they are in failing health and cannot do it. After two days of youth working there and chatting with them, this couple finally showed interest in their daughter-in-laws work at the church and asked about her faith.  Yea God!

Milwaukee

This week I (Jason) had an Adult Leader call me who was in Milwaukee the week of 6/10.  He called just to say what a great job the staff team did and how much he and his youth enjoyed the experience in Milwaukee.   Calls like this help me remember why I do this job!  It was such a blessing to hear him talk about the life change that happened in his students and the ways they saw God moving throughout the week.  This adult specifically mentioned how much he appreciated serving at Adullum outreach throughout the week and how special the cookout was with Adullam at the end of the week.   We are blessed by great ministry partners in Milwaukee and it is great to know that youth and adults get a change to meet these wonderful people!

Milwaukee | Sweet Water Organics

“There grows the neighborhood”
Sweet Water Organics
Milwaukee, WI

This mural is from an urban aquaponics farm here in Milwaukee. The farm is growing produce, fish and harvesting honey from bees all in the center of the city. Their innovative methods and approach to agriculture contribute to and represent the cultural shift in the way we traditionally grow and understand our food, of which Milwaukee is a significant leading voice.

-David

Milwaukee | Gingerbread Land

Milwaukee, WI

Gingerbread Land is a grassroots organization that provides shelter and care for displacements children and youth on the northside of the city. There are several homes on the same block that are all in collaboration together to transform the neighborhood and provide a safe place for those it reaches. Turning onto the street you are greeted with brightly colored homes, children playing and then you sit down with one of the neighborhood moms, Sister Clara or Miss T, expecting to chat for five or ten minutes and a couple of hours end up going by. It’s that kind of place with that kind of warmth.

-David

YouthWorks Promo | Featuring Milwaukee

Is that Milwaukee…..

Yes, that is a glimpse of Milwaukee in the new YouthWorks promotional video.  I am very excited that the video was shot in Milwaukee and that so many of our community friends were featured.  I was in Milwaukee last week and it was a blessing to hang out with Pastor Kevan and have him show us around the Bayview neighborhood.  Anyone headed on a YouthWorks trip to Milwaukee this year will be overwhelmed by the hospitality of this community.