Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Another amazing YoungLives Club Night. As we took a moment to sit back and enjoy the company of our family and  friends and give ourselves to those we met for the first time- the teen moms , teen dads and their beautiful children and new volunteers . It was such a joy to sit around the dinner tables to share a great Thanksgiving meal of the traditional turkey, mashed potatoes , cranberry sauce, salad , dinner rolls with melted butter (yum) and the wonderful assortment of holiday pies for dessert.

Thanksgiving dinner provided by Albertsons at the Newland Center and prepared by a life group

The tables were so beautiful with the harvest flowers , pumpkins and candy treats. While sharing in great conversation with the teen moms and dads, catching up on their lives. I could see so many smiles and laughter across the room on everyone’s faces. I couldn’t have had a better time! What a blessing to be apart of YoungLives. Hanging out with Yessie and meeting David , Gracie’s dad for the first time was such a pleasure. Amber looked so beautiful with her long braided hair. Yessie, Cheridan and Aylin put a smile on my face to hear they were working so hard at their jobs for their babies.

As Cooper played guitar, my heart soared! With everyone singing along and swaying to his voice of the song “Lean On Me”, reminded me that we need to lean on Gods promise when we get down and are going through hard times. Cause our Lord and Savior will always be there for US ALL and we can always call on Him because HE IS always around. Now that’s an awesome thought! As for the oreo cookie game? Not quite sure what to think , but Britney did a great job of making those cookies stick to her body! Who knew licking the inside of an Oreo cookie and sticking it to your body would work? Too funny absolutely too funny. What fun it was cheering on the two teams

Oreo game!

After a fun game, “Chick” shared a great message about hurt and forgiveness . “We can always choose to forgive others , pray everyday for them and encourageeach other. After “Chicks” message , Cooper finished up with more beautiful songs “Grace Wins” and “My Savior My God”. Next the moms would move over to arts and crafts where they would create beautiful Christmas wreaths with gold rings, yarn , colorful beads and greenery, Tracy always comes up with a great theme for the night! The teen dads would spend quality time with the men . What another amazing Club Night! So much to be thankful for. Blessings to everyone!

Sandra I. Calvillo- Hendren

Yessie and Sandra before prom 2016

This morning I got to stand outside a local continuation school with my hands in one of our beautiful mentors’ hands and pray for each of the girls that sat on the other side of the school walls by name. We prayed for them and many that sat in those seats before them. We prayed that they would feel the Lord’s undeniable presence in their lives, that God would speak to them and give them wisdom as they make decisions for themselves and their children. We prayed that they would be surrounded by people that love and support them in their day-to day lives.

 Some moms at one of our first clubs

One thing that has been on my heart for a few years now was to do more with those graduated moms. After many years of being a part of YoungLives, being mentored, invested in, etc I have always felt like it didn’t make sense for that to end simply because the number of days they’ve been on this earth no longer ends with “-teen.” Many of them have stayed connected and even volunteer at club but I wanted to go deeper- to see them continue to be poured into and discipled. Hence the name for our new group YoungLives Going Deeper that was started at the beginning of the school year.

YoungLives Going Deeper October 2016

A few of the Going Deeper moms- November 2016

I have been involved with YoungLives since the inception, a little over four years ago when Myrna and Yousef started this awesome ministry.  I have had the pleasure to watch and see the incredible fruit that God has done to minister to these young moms, their kids, and some of the dads. 

I want to give a shout out to not only the young moms who have had to make such difficult decisions to raise their children under very difficult circumstances, but also a big shout out to the dads who have hung in there and are being there for their kids and their girlfriends.  I have had the pleasure to watch some of these YoungLives dads grow into becoming a better father and boyfriend.  When I attend Club in Huntington Beach and Santa Ana and see the dads show up, it brings a big smile to my face.  It makes me realize these young men are eager to not only get their lives right with God, but also to learn how to become the best father and boyfriend they can be.

It is also encouraging to see some of these dads, who have been hardened by their upbringing in crazy family situations and gang involvement, do a 180 degree turn, turn their life over to God, and begin to try to follow His path, no matter how bumpy and crazy it may be.  By talking to some of these dads, they really don’t want to repeat the same crazy upbringing they had with their father.  Many of these young men had poor relationships with their fathers, or no relationship because their father was never around.  And that is a big step for these men to realize they want to be a different kind of dad, one who is more loving and compassionate and giving and able to provide as best as they can for their child. 

I want to encourage all YoungLives moms to invite their baby’s father to club in either Santa Ana or Huntington beach, even if they are not in relationship with them.  We have a group of men who wants to love and support these young dads by just hanging out, eating, and sharing about our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and watch Him do His work. There are many men involved in the program who are excellent role models and fathers for this young dads.  We have time to kick the soccer ball around and share and pray for these young men as they face some incredible trials of trying to be the best Dad and maybe the best boyfriend they can be for their girlfriend.

So my invitation is for all the YoungLives dads who may have heard about Club, but never thought it might be a good fit for them, I would like you to come and check it out.  We have some great men who help volunteer and love to just hang out with you guys.

And for anyone who may read this blog and may be interested in checking out YoungLives as a volunteer or financial support, come lend a hand at our Annual Christmas Boutique for the teens on Friday, December 16 (email northocyounglives@gmail.com to sign up).  We are always looking for new faces to be involved as little or as much as you want to pour out God’s word and his blessing to these incredible YoungLives moms and dads and their babies.  And when you show up or financially support this ministry, you will not only be blessing these young parents, but you will be incredibly blessed by God.  I know I have been so blessed being a part of this Ministry.

Fred Cianciolo