Blog Archives - Youth With A Purpose

Melissa Franke, Gaskill Prep & A Rubber Chicken

4/29/2015

The word spread quickly in the hallways of Gaskill Prep today in Niagara Falls. The students were sharing news about a speaker in Mrs. Franke's Health Class who tossed a rubber chicken.at sleeping students. Actually nobody was sleeping in Mrs. Franke's Class. In a phenomenal display of respect, all 5 classes were among the best audiences that this speaker has ever had.

The rubber chicken is simply an attention getting tool for laughter. I didn't need to try and get anyone's attention, these students were busy getting my attention with excellent class participation. Several times it was the students who were teaching the class. We covered drugs, alcohol, gangs, abstinence, risk, self-control, earthquakes in Nepal and riots in Baltimore. We discussed cause and effect. We explored the idea of embracing conflict as a means of personal growth. I was amazed, these 7th Graders were more like college students.

The atmosphere at Gaskill is a very good one that's conducive to academic achievement and character growth. Melissa Franke is an excellent Teacher who helps her students do their best by helping them set their own expectations. They respect her and the people she brings into her class. When I reflect back on my day spent in her classroom, here are the words that come to mind: cordial, polite, respectful, kind, self-control, willing to learn, eager to participate, helpful, encouraging, intelligent, compassionate, empathetic, eager and happy.

Thank you, Mrs. Franke, for all you do on behalf of children. What happens in your classroom is making the world a better place.
The photos here were taken by students who shared the camera. Thanks guys for your nice work.
JLYASDW

If you are interested in bringing YWAP and the rubber chicken to your school, please let us know.
ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com
716-830-8240
http://thebrightspotreport.blogspot.com/2015/04/gaskill-prep-great-teacher-rubber.html
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1008964649131210.1073741935.111808805513470&
— with Bob Kuebler.

LISTENING, LEARNING & LAUGHING at ALOMA D. JOHNSON CHARTER SCHOOL

4/26/2015

It was a Cub Scout Meeting and we covered many subjects. We learned about water filters used in Africa and the Adirondacks. We learned about "Doing a good turn daily." We learned about redirecting our anger. We learned that it's okay to laugh when you are learning.. The Aloma D. Johnson Charter School is a great place to be!
#JLYASDW

March for Life

4/26/2015

A few weeks ago I spent some time on city sidewalks with a "Prayer-Walk Warrior" - Pastor Craig McLeod from Life Church Buffalo. Yesterday I followed in his footsteps along with the footsteps of another "Prayer-Walk Warrior - Pastor Fred Naedele from My Father's House Ministries. Both of those Pastor's have taught me about speaking and walking the "truth in love." Pastor Fred is now a member of the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us. Pastor Craig is still casting Christ's shadow on the neighborhoods of Buffalo. ‪#‎JLYASDW‬ — with My Father's House Youthgroup.

The Avalanche of Abortion
The earthquake in Kathmandu caused avalanches on Mt. Everest - the world's tallest mountain. The ripple effect of ripping a child from the womb casts a shadow on the hearts of all children causing heart-slides of violence. The undercurrent of selfishness attacks rather than esteems human life.
Eph 4:15 "Speak the truth in love."

Pastor Fred Naedele is Still Saving Lives From Heaven

4/21/2015

The Bright Spot Report
This is a place to share the bright spots in our world. If you have a bright spot to share, please do. I'm glad you're here! I hope your day is filled with extravagantly abundant blessings that exceed your imagination.

Bright Spots can grow in dark places.

The Bright Spot Report is a place for success stories
as well as a place for tips on how to create Bright Spots.

If you have a Bright Spot Story, please share it with us,
so we can create a world with more Bright Spots.

Tuesday April 21, 2015

Pastor Fred Naedele is Still
Saving Lives From Heaven

As a Youth Director for many years, my heart easily breaks for wounded kids. I reached into my desk drawer earlier today, the Holy Cards (from funerals) of several deceased kids caught my eye. I hate it when kids die - on both sides of the womb. Pastor Fred Naedele and I had that in common - we love kids on both sides of the womb.
On Saturday, April 25, 2015, I will be prayer walking the streets of Buffalo. There's an 8 am Mass at St. Rose of Lima, 500 Parker Avenue in Buffalo. Following the Service, there's a Prayer Walk to an abortion chamber at 2500 Main St. for anybody who's interested. Pastor Fred had a heart for children who were victims of abortion. Sometimes his prayer walking lead him to a jail cell. He demonstrated commitment in the most persevering manner. Fred was all about saving lives and making disciples. We've been trying to follow in his footsteps at Youth With A Purpose for the last 12 years. My prayer walk for children on both sides of the womb will follow in Fred's footsteps.
Another young man who was like a son to me would have had a birthday on the day of the prayer walk. DeMario (Spizzy) McCain would have been 24 years old on April 25, 2015. He died because somebody decided to shoot him. Children die in many ways and it's always a tragedy. I miss Spizzy and I miss Fred. I'm walking in prayer, crying out to God on behalf of kids and folks like Fred who cried out before me. Fred taught me how to cry.
On Friday, April 24, Pastor Fred would have been 83 years old. One of my favorite past times is associating numbers with Bible verses.

Psalm 83:1-5 A song. A Psalm of Asaph.
1 Keep not silence, O God; hold not Your peace or be still, O God.
2 For, behold, Your enemies are in tumult, and those who hate You have raised their heads.
3 They lay crafty schemes against Your people and consult together against Your hidden and precious ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be in remembrance no more.
5 For they have consulted together with one accord and one heart; against You they make a covenant"

Psalm 119:83 "I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, exhausted with waiting. But still I cling to your laws and obey them."
Song of Solomon 8:3 (To the Daughters of Jerusalem)
"His left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraces me."

Daniel 8:3 "Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last."

Matthew 8:3 "Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed."
Acts 8:3 "As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house,
and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison."

Romans 8:3 "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,
on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,"

Here's one for DeMario who would have been 24 years old.
Psalm 24
The King of Glory and His Kingdom
A Psalm of David.

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah

Thank's God for Fred's life and thank's for DeMario's life.
Jesus loves you and so do we.
#JLYASDW

If you'd like to read a great article about Pastor Fred, check out what Rob Palaszewski wrote in Thrive Magazine,
http://www.bluetoad.com/article/THE+MEASURE+OF+THE+MAN/143521/0/article.html

Posted by Bob Kuebler at 4:18 PM

ywap grateful for a camping donation

4/19/2015

"Hotdogs roasting on an open fire,
Mosquitoes nipping at your nose.
Black flies singin' like a buzzin' choir,
And folks dressed up with blistered toes!"

YWAP is excited and grateful to announce the donation of some sorely needed camping equipment. Yesterday after we came back to YWAP Headquarters from a fantastic morning at the "Call To Courage Awards Breakfast, a kind gentleman brought us some new equipment. We now have a 12 X 12 Dining Canopy to keep our campers dry during meals and Leadership Education. He also gave us a new MSR Water Filter which is a must when trekking in the Adirondack Mountains. We also received a new 6' resin table to help keep our camp organized. One very important item was a check for $150 to be used for gas.

So now you're probably thinking, "How much gas does YWAP use on a mountain trip?" That depends on how many beans are consumed with the hotdogs!

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
#JLYASDW

YWAP A CALL TO COURAGE & The Buffalo Schools

4/17/2015

It was a busy YWAP week in the Buffalo Schools; in school and after school. We were in several schools with our Scout Reach Program. We are also helping to plan a talent show with a theme of "NBA-No Bullies Allowed."

On Saturday morning 4-18, 2015 we'll have a a large group of YWAPsters at the "Call To Courage Awards Breakfast." We are grateful to Fred Raines and the folks from Athletes In Action for inviting us. We look forward to hearing stories from Frank Reich as well as watching Scott Chandler receive a well-deserved award. Scott and his wife are now opening up their hearts in New England. While they were here in Buffalo, they made an eternal impact.

We'll have mentors and their mentees with Tommy McClam and the Jobs For Life program at Edison Street Community Church. We are grateful To Principal Cecelie Owens from west Hertel Academy for arranging for ysome young people to be in attendance. This is a life changing event due to it's candid honesty regarding moral character. Will Coplin who was formerly with Urban Christian Ministries and is now heading up the new BWAP Program (Basketball With A Purpose) will fill a table with some young men who know how to show respect - thanks to Will.

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
#JLYASDW

BWAP - BASKETBALL WITH A PURPOSE

4/17/2015

BWAP
On May 7th, we will be starting the BWAP at Expressway Assembly of God. We are looking for mentors for guys who are 18-30 yrs. old. BWAP - Basketball With A Purpose. The goal is to train up this generation in this neighborhood to become God's leaders who will help the next generation overcome the mindset of poverty and violence.
We need folks who will pray.
We need folks who will mentor.
We need folks who will "engage in good deeds and supply pressing needs." (Titus 3:14)

For info please call: Bob 830-8240
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
‪#‎JLYASDW‬

ALOMA D. JOHNSON CHARTER SCHOOL & YWAP

4/9/2015

It was day one of our new Boy Scout Program at the Aloma D. Johnson After School Program. We got to know each other and covered some important character learning through the Boy Scout curriculum.

Most folks would not think of Boy Scouts as a gang prevention program. Here in the City of Buffalo that's exactly what it is. YWAP utilizes any program that will teach kids character and keep them in school. Social and Emotional Learning is an important part of education.
YWAP & SEL -
We keep kids in school and out of gangs.

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.

EASTER THUG CHURCH at RENOVATION 4-5-15

4/5/2015

This is one of the coolest Easter's we've ever had. Pastor Brek and the folks from Renovation Church mad it possible for some young guys to attend Easter in a special way. The T.H.U.G. (True Heroes Under God) crew were picked up at their homes in neighborhoods all over Buffalo in a Limo-bus. Rev, Gene Coplin joined his brother Rev. Will Coplin on the bus for a moving message about Jesus. Thank you everybody for making us feel special on a day of Resurrection. JLYASDW

CIRCLE THE CITY PRAYER WALK WITH LIFE CHURCH

4/3/2015

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood for a Circle the City Prayer Walk with Life Church Buffalo and Pastor Craig McLeod. We visited Steps Ministriesand spoke with Ben Tagg who is one of this years leaders for the Breakout City Ministry. We walked from the Seneca Babcock Area down to Jefferson and over to Teen Challenge of Western New York Prayer and snow are the norm in Buffalo.
These pictures only represent a small look at what Pastor Craig and Life Church accomplished thas week. each day was life changing.

Teen Challenge of Western New York was the meeting place for Pastor Craig McLeod of Life Church Buffalo on the third day of the Circle the City Prayer Walk. Pastor Mike Wing was there to talk about Breakout 2015 along with the Directors of Teen Challenge. From thee, Pastor Craig met up with Pastor Eric Johns from The Dream Center. Life Church, The Dream Center, Steps, Breakout, Teen Challenge and many more make up a great Holy Spirit collaboration in the City of Buffalo!

We visited a family in one of the programs sponsored by the Dream Center. The Holy Spirit does not have any language barriers!
JLYASDW