July Update

Four-square!

Connect Middle School Program - Together, 2nd Mile's high school program, BLOCK (building leaders of Christ's kingdom) and the Connect Middle School program went to one of our volunteer's house last week to enjoy a cookout, video games, fellowship, and outdoor fun. It was the first time that these two age groups intentionally got together to just have fun with each other. Hot dogs, burgers, chips, fruit, water, soda, Sonic racing, four-square, football in the street, watching movies, it was a great time! No lesson plans, no agenda, just quality time together.

BLOCK - Although I am not as involved with the high school program, they have been doing some exciting things the past few months. The high school students started running our open courts. Open Court has been every Friday from 4-6pm this summer which has loud music, basketball, concessions, and indoor games for anybody who wants to come hang out. We've been seeing some new and familiar faces on Fridays and it's been encouraging to build these relationships.

In a couple of days, students in middle school and high school will be driving to New Orleans for a week to either help out a ministry with their summer day camp or, weather pending, helping with some storm relief projects. Pray that students would grow closer to God, each other, and would grow in character, even if just a little bit in this next week.

Chassidy playing basketball with 4th grader Jabarie

Summer Intern - I came to 2nd Mile back in 2010 as a summer intern, after I had graduated from the University of Wisconsin. There were nine other interns that summer, including my wife. Since that year, there has been a spattering of interns here and there throughout the years. This summer, we have Chassidy. She will be a sophomore in high school and she has been a part of 2nd Mile since she was six years old. I've talked about her in previous blogs, but just wanted to express my admiration for how far she's come in knowledge, maturity, and leadership qualities. If you search for 2nd Mile Ministries on facebook, you can see her in one of our Pray, Collect, Act videos. She's helped with field trips, some office organization, and has had weekly Bible studies and book readings to help her mind grow even more. She has also been shadowing the various staff members and their ministry roles to see how a non-profit Christian organization operates. I can't wait to see how God uses Chassidy in the years to come, in whatever He would have her do.

As summer vacation slowly approaches its end, our staff members prepare for the long school year ahead. Please pray for the right students to be in our programs (not in our eyes but in God's), for the planning period to be well-thought out, and for God to be moving in the hearts of the students, volunteers, staff, and even in your own hearts as August fast approaches.

Book Highlight - I don't read much, but I read a book (easy easy read) this summer called Kai'Ro: The Journey of an Urban Pilgrim. I've been told it is similar to Pilgrim's Progress but with more of an urban theme. If you are looking for new books to read, I'd recommend this book. It's target audience is more for people living in neighborhoods like Brentwood, but anyone can find deep conviction and meaning in Kai'Ro's difficult journey through life as a new believer in a fallen world.