2009 - A new year, new opportunities, new ministries, new challenges and a new President!

I'll get to the new President part in a moment but first I just need to say an extra special thanks for your donation to help us start off this new year. With all the economic bad news, your gracious gift on behalf of America's kids is very good news for YouthPartnersNET and our partners around the country.

One of those partners is La Villita Community Church near the South Side of Chicago and recipient of our grant last month. It's a hispanic congregation led by Pastor Victor Rodriguez. I've been there many times. Pastors Victor and Zach have served this predominately Spanish speaking neighborhood for many years now, not far from another community organizer of recent fame, our newly elected President Barack Obama.

I visited the South Side of Chicago in November when the election had just concluded. It was quite a memorable trip which I wanted to share with you. Please don't take my reflections as a political statement but rather as a hope and a prayer that President Obama will indeed bring change to so many of our very depressed and at-risk communities like La Villita and the South Side. YPN is doing its part to bring change as CityConnexx groups serve this summer at La Villita in Chicago and other ministry partners around the country.

I've driven down Cicero and 55th Avenue many times on this South Side of Chicago, but never one week after an historic national election.

As you might imagine, dark blue Obama yard signs were everywhere along the city streets. Most of them were next to low income housing that had no grass growing in the postage stamp sized yards. I was driving through the hood that sent a community organizer to the highest office in the country.

Along the way I had to reflect that here we have a President who understands the poor and disenfranchised like none other. He walked everyday along these row houses and projects. He sat in hard wooden chairs at countless community meetings in deteriorating schools watching five gallon buckets slowly fill up from leaks in the roof like the ones I was driving by. Everyday he saw the tall poles with blue lights indicating emergency call boxes on nearly every corner. He saw the corner liquor stores and crack houses more numerous than churches. He saw and worked in a part of America that few of us ever see.

He grew up in it, single mom, racial diversity, discrimination, never knew his dad, searching for identity. It's been a very long time since any President was forged in that kind of furnace. And I think it will serve him well.

There's one common denominator between the white house and Wall Street, between Capitol Hill and Chicago sidewalks -- it's the hustle. I think this President has some good "street smarts". He can see and smell a "hustle" a mile away. And let's face it, we've got a bunch of politicians on both sides that have been hustled for too long. Let's pray Obama can break that down and clean it up.

My hope is that he will take what he has seen and experienced on the South Side to the South Lawn of the White House. When he wakes up in that place and palace of power, he will be reminded of all those dark blue yard signs that represent so many hopes and dreams. My prayer is that he will not stray from these roots. Some criticized him for his lack of experience but they haven't driven down Cicero or 55th Avenue.

Hop a plane to Midway. Drive around that community for awhile as I did. I think what you see and experience might be an eye opener. In fact, you can do that this summer. Bring a group on one of our CityConnexx custom designed urban mission trips and see what our new President saw. Serve in the City - "Come & See".

For Him and Them,

Dean Cowles
YouthPartnersNET
President

LIVE COMPASSION!

Your Donations at Work:

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.

Prayer Request:

All plans that are made are made according to the will and direction of the Father and Holy Spirit.  Please pray for clarity of thought for the planning team.

Also pray that true commitments will be made and renewed to live for Christ at this conference where they hope to serve 1000 youth.