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End of Year Giving – CTC/YF

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I happy to serve on the board of an amazing non-profit in our community.  Here’s an end of year financial appeal that I helped write.  If you’re looking for a place to give some money that makes a difference in the lives of others (besides your local church), this is a wonderful organization.

Dear Supporters,

As we near the end of another year, if you’re like us, you are probably thinking about the things that really matter.  It seems that the end of year always seems to focus us and orient us to the most purposeful and most important things in life.  And, we’re writing you because we believe that you agree with our work of increasing positive youth behaviors and helping Reno County children and youth stay away from drugs and alcohol and graduate high school.

If we were to summarize our purpose it would be: creating healthier choices for children and youth in Reno County through mentoring, substance abuse prevention, and strengthening families.  We would love for you to partner with us through some strategic programs we offer:

YouthFriends:  School-based mentoring to help increase academic achievement and high school graduation through productive relationships.

Communities That Care Leadership Program:  Our Youth Leadership Group at Hutchinson High School and Hutchinson Middle School 8 promotes positive youth development and substance prevention activities by giving opportunities to promote healthy lifestyles to elementary children, peers, as well as adults in the community through school or community presentations, a middle school summit, community service, and other intentional activities.

Parenting Classes:  These various opportunities help equip parents with tools to encourage positive outcomes as well as enable children and youth to make good decisions, including the positive choices of staying away from substance abuse.

We hear great success stories from students, volunteers, parents, and teachers about Reno County Communities That Care and YouthFriends.  Teachers report that students who have YouthFriend mentors have better attendance at school and make better grades.  Middle school students tell of the positive impact of our Youth Summit and how presentations from our youth leadership group have changed their lives for the better.  These students intend to make better decisions when they enter high school because of the positive influence of our CTC Leadership group.
 
Would you please consider giving a tax-deductible gift before the end of this year to benefit any of the above programs and to improve healthy youth and children’s behavior in Reno County.  Please indicate which program you would like to contribute to and 100% of your contribution will go to that program.  Thank you for your contribution and partnering with us in improving the future of our youth and community.

We would also like you to “Save the Date” for our annual meeting to honor all volunteers and donors who are dedicated to making a difference for youth and children in Reno County.  The meeting will be on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 from 4:00-5:00 at the CTEA at Hutchinson High School.

Sincerely,

Sondra Borth                                                  Phil Auxier
Executive Director                                          Board Chairperson
For more information, feel free to contact Sondra at 620-615-4012 or borths@usd308.com.
______________________________________________________________________________
Enclosed is my gift of $______________
I wish my gift to benefit:
____YouthFriends
____CTC Leadership Group
____Parenting Classes
____Area of greatest need
Please mail gift to:
Reno County Communities That Care and YouthFriends
1520 N. Plum
Hutchinson, KS  67501

Weekend Recap – Affluenza, Money, & Family

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Yesterday was a great day at Crestview as we journeyed together and thought about what God had to say to us about money, possessions, eternity.

In the AM service, my sermon Affluenza (2) from Matthew 6:21 is now online. This sermon sought to show how our hearts follow treasure (and yes I did quote O Brother Where Art Thou — “Do NOT seek the treasure”, thanks for wondering). Seriously, though, we must keep our hearts with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life. I sought to encourage people to check their hearts in terms of the treasure they lay up.

In the PM service, we continued examining what a Gospel centered family is by looking at Families and Money from 1 Timothy 6:17-19. We are given good things from a good God so that we can do good (be generous and ready to share with others) for a good foundation for eternity. Applications were given about instilling these virtues in our children.

I hope this short series of sermon was helpful. Glorify God in these things, they have eternal ramifications.

BLACK Friday…

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So there I was this morning, wrapped around a Toys R Us at Midnight to get in for a few “deals”. We have a set budget for Christmas gifts and Meg has worked all the deals to find the best bang for our buck. I could help noticing, though, as I waited 1 hour and 40 minutes to check out (not to get in…to check out) if something was a bit awry in the thinking of the average American.

Seems like someone said something about this…Jesus in Luke 12:15…

Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

Now, lest I call the kettle black, our society does have deals available and the holiday season is overly commercialized. If we would just guard our hearts with the same diligence we guard our bank accounts looking for good deals, we would not need this warning from Jesus on covetousness.

Black Friday is called Black Friday because traditionally it was the one day of the year that sent retailers into the black for the year (meaning they would earn a profit for the year). After my experience and reading these warnings from Jesus, I tend the think of Black Friday as a great reminder of the selfish and sinful nature of my heart without the grace of God. I want to boast in Him over any other deal.

MM – How Is Your Handling of Money?

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With stewardship on my mind after the morning service yesterday, I was wondering how you as a family are doing in attacking the money issue? Does the world get a picture of sacrificial giving, demonstrating a trust in God? Or is the world shown that you value money just like they do, you just have God “working” for you? As a couple, labor together to strive to be Godly stewards of what you’ve been entrusted with.