Month April 2009

Everyday Evangelism NOW

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

On Monday I decided to boldly wear my brand new Youthmark sweatshirt!  We launched our apparel line at the first Spring Retreat.  So, back to the sweatshirt… One of our shirts is bright yellow with “SENDME” embroidered  as a logo (it’s quite sharp if I don’t say so myself).

Like FoF (Faith on Facebook), this shirt caused people to question me.  I wore this shirt to my three office places on Monday (Burien Starbucks, Panther Lake Starbucks and Fairwood Starbucks), in all three places (and at Bank of America) I was able to share about Jesus because of the shirt.  Each place I was asked, “What is Send Me?”  Very cool!  In each of these conversations I was able to share about our mission trips, the call of Isaiah and the call on my life to be a witness for Jesus.

So, the cool thing about this shirt (and the other apparel), it gives us (Youthmark and the Aabys) our practical way to give to Charity Water (which I posted about yesterday).  All of the proceeds we get from these shirts we are giving directly to Charity Water and 300 Voices (the specific partner of Charity Water that Elisabeth is involved with).

Would you like the opportunity to support drilling wells in Africa and everyday evangelism in your Jerusalem (by simply wearing a shirt)?  Shoot me an email (brian@youthmark.com) and we’ll get you a shirt.

T-Shirts ($12) are navy blue with a Youthmark Mission Ventures logo.

Screened Hooded Sweatshirts ($25) are navy blue with the same logo as above.

Embroidered Hooded Sweatshirts ($30) are Gold with a black/white SENDME 2009 logo in a diamond on the front.

If you’re in the Seattle area we can arrange for a pick-up/drop off (as to not have to ship), but if you’re outside the area and want one let me know and we’ll figure out the shipping.

Let’s spread the great news of Jesus to all people!  Let’s be Jesus in the flesh by drilling for water in Africa!

Grace,

Brian

Everyday Evangelism and The Uttermost!

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

If you read my blog entry yesterday you’ll understand a little of my philosophy of student missions. I love sending students out on missions, but I’d much rather see students living out the mission here.  Both are important and should not be separated.  In Acts 1:8, I believe, an “order” of witness was established.  The Lord said we (Christians) will be His witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the Uttermost (ends of the world).  

As you read Acts, we see that this is exactly what happens (and in that order).  So, application time.  We ought to be witnesses in our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.  It starts where you are.

So, the FoF (Faith on Facebook) challenge was issued.  

Another thing that was “launched” this weekend was our support (mainly through Elisabeth) of charity water.  We want our participants to know/understand that missions is not just here (our Jerusalem).  I’ll probably make a separate post on this later.  But please check out the website and educate yourself and/or check out this video below (note: this is just one country in Africa).

We want to give you the opportunity to support charity water and the efforts of Youthmark at the same time… this can lead to Everyday Evangelism!  I will share about that in tomorrows post!

Grace,
Brian

What a Weekend!

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

Praising the Lord for our first YMV Spring Retreat!  I was so blessed by the students, staff and my volunteers who made the camp what it was!  

We ended up with about 95 total people at Lake Retreat for the 24 hour retreat.  Some of the highlights to me:

The Volunteers:  Ricky, Joe P., Frankie, Nathan F., Alex, the Schlauds, Miki, Fuego, Josh, Aaron, Wescott and my wife did the things behind the scenes and on the platform to make the weekend go so well!

The Youth Leaders: The 20 (or so) youth leaders (pastors and volunteers) came willing to learn and lead.  The enthusiasm they brought to and for their group certainly spilled over into each of the training sessions.  I think each of the leaders came away encouraged!

The Students: This group came ready to worship!  Worship is so much more than singing and I sensed this was something the already knew!  The did, however, come ready to sing too!  Joe and the band led us to the foot of the cross in worship.  

The Camp:  I am so thankful for Eric and his crew at Lake Retreat.  They had the camp ready for us and served us.  

FAITH ON FACEBOOK CHALLENGE

The Challenge:  As some of you may have already seen and hopefully you will see more of in the future, the students were given an FoF challenge.  Briefly, the students/staff have been challenged to donate their “status update” on Facebook for a given period of time (some choose a week, month or all the way until the mission).  For those familiar with Facebook, you know what this means.  For those not, the status update is simply a statement on their Facebook page that many update what they are doing.  For example, mine has said, “Brian Aaby is looking forward to lunch with his wife!” or “Brian Aaby is enjoying a daddy/daughter date with Halle and Audrey.” 

So, in this challenge, students were invited to type, “Ask Me About My FoF.” When the facebook friends do ask about it, the FoF participants are then given the opportunity to ask for prayer requests and to be even more bold in explaining that their FoF challenge is to find out what all of their friends on facebook think of Jesus.  For example:

You read my status update: “Ask me about my FoF”

You write to me: “what is your FoF?”

I reply: “It is a challenge I took (Faith on Facebook) this weekend… I want to know where each of my facebook friends are spiritually… so, friend, what do you think of Jesus?”

The goal is to enter into spiritual conversations with facebook friends, using this platform to introduce our friends to Jesus!

I can’t wait for the training events I have in TX, CA and CO before concluding with the May retreat at Lake Retreat with the other Western WA participants in YMV’s!

Pray for our witness now and in the communities this summer!

Grace,
Brian

YMV Prayers

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

Pray for the 100+ who will be attending the first of our Youthmark Mission Venture Spring Retreats this Friday/Saturday.  I still have many last minute details to work out, but feel like we’re just about there!

Pray for receptive hearts to the Word of the Lord and the Spirits movement in all of our lives as we prepare to reach our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth!

I have updated my Youthmark blog, if you’re interested in checking that out or any of the other church blogs here!

Grace,
Brian

Gotta See This

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

As I prepare for my Spring Retreat and all the “hype” that surrounds it I have to take a second and reflect… and avoid trying to be bigger and better than some national conferences.  This video captures exactly what I am trying to NOT do!

Click Here for the Video (may try to embed this later, but gotta get back to it)

I think I’ll stick to the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit!

Grace,
Brian

P.S. After receiving an email from one of the readers I will say this; this video is a spoof, unfortunately there are ministries that take their eyes off of Jesus and their programs may look a little like Ignatius.  The point at the end is the point I want to make.  It is about relationships!  Not program, not being cool.  Being real and not putting on a performance and simply following Jesus!