Bubbles Are Everywhere

November Family Update

Alon — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:13:10 +0000

I hope you are doing well and that you are reminded daily of God’s grace in your life.

Ministry Update

It has been quite a fast paced time at NNYM for me recently. I have been going into the office on Monday’s and immersing myself into all the acronyms you can imagine.

In October a new CEO was hired at NNYM. It is an exciting time to be at NNYM as we get ready for the future and continue to charge ahead knowing that God desires youth to know him and that to be truly effective we need to work together.

As with most non-profits we are working on year-end fund-raising. We are praying for a great response that people are excited and committed to seeing youth workers and youth ministries networked in order to minister to the youth.

Family Update

Life has been moving pretty fast lately. I cannot believe it is already November. Now looking forward to Thanksgiving.

The kids are doing well and are enjoying school. It is amazing to see them do homework together and have Easton help Madison in Spanish.

Devon is working a lot and is looking forward to wrapping up her semester at Point Loma Nazarene University. There seems to always be little scan-tron forms or papers to be graded.

Archie, the dog, has recently been sprayed by a skunk. So, at 9:30 at night we had an impromptu bath time. Everything is back to normal and I’m just thankful that he didn’t get inside and spread the smell around.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for our support raising. We are still at about 1/3 of our goal and have had some partners need to modify their commitment because of their financial situations. Pray that we can be introduced to those who have a heart for youth and would be available to financially partner with us.
Please pray for our marriage. As Devon is working a lot we don’t have quality time with each other. Pray that we purposefully take time to shut out distractions and spend time with each other.
Please for our individual time with God. We are in the middle of an interesting situation that could be a great entry for Satan. pray that Devon and I continue to grow closer to God and seek his wisdom.

David Crowder Band

Recently my mind has been distracted and I have been tempted to try and do things on my own.

I struggle with letting go and keeping control. I think it stems from not TRULY knowing/experiencing how much God loves me. And in that love he desires nothing but the best for me and my family.

I was blessed with a gift card to buy music. I decided to buy Church Music, by David Crowder Band and have listened to that album so many times now it’s all I hear.

One of the songs that has spoken to me is called How He Loves.

Take 5 minutes and listen.
Watch the video here.
You can find the lyrics here.

How He Loves

Alon — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:54:33 +0000

How He Loves
by David Crowder Band

Listen

Verse 1:
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

Pre-Chorus:
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Chorus 1:
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

Verse 2:
We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

Chorus 2:
He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

Verse 3:
Well, I thought about You the day Stephen died,
And You met me between my breaking.
I know that I still love You, God, despite the agony.
…They want to tell me You’re cruel,
But if Stephen could sing, he’d say it’s not true, cause…

Chorus 3:
Cause He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us.
Whoa! how He loves us.
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

October Family Update

Alon — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:32:07 +0000

I hope you are doing well. It has been a while since we sent out an update, I can’t believe it is October already.

September was a busy month traveling for me. I had the opportunity to travel to Rome, Georgia and spend three days with a group of people who are committed to the National Network of Youth Ministries and listened to them share about their dreams and ideas for the future of NNYM. It was a very encouraging time and spurred me on to begin working full-time in my role as soon as possible.

Devon and I also had a chance to travel to Michigan to share about the ministry and hopefully find some new ministry partners. We were blessed to stay with some great friends while in Michigan and they introduced us to their friends. The trip was a good time of sharing with new people about NNYM and being introduced to some new ministries, but hasn’t produced any new ministry partners.

See You At The Pole took place in September and NNYM was responsible for promoting the event. It was the 20th year of the event that encourages youth from elementary age through college to pray for their schools, communities and nation at student-led events around flag poles on their campuses. This year we followed the news on Twitter and it shed some light on the impact of the event. Paul Fleischmann, President of NNYM, shared a quick thought about this years event on our website.

The kids started school in September and Madison is loving Kindergarten and learning Spanish while Easton is enjoying the new challenges of fourth grade. The nights are much busier now that they both have homework. Devon and I divide and conquer everything from coloring in the lines to helping proofread a report about a Native American Tribe written in Spanish.

Not only did the kids start school, but Devon has begun teaching her Child Welfare class at Point Loma Nazarene University. This semester her class has 13 students and is going well. By working in the foster care system she has rounded out her background and professional resume and brings a wide range of experience to the classroom.

We also got a dog…Archie. He was rescued from a shelter and has been with us since the beginning of September and is a great dog. He is 3years old, a terrier mix, and barks at other dogs…a lot. If you have any ideas or tips on how to curtail excessive barking please email me, please.

Prayer Requests

Please pray that I can effectively follow-up with our new friends in Michigan and gain new ministry partners.
As Devon adds her teaching job at PLNU to her work please pray that she is able to find time for rest in her busy schedule.
With school starting our family is becoming busier. Please pray that we can make time to enjoy life as a family.

August Banks Family Update

Alon — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:34:34 +0000

In August, I began to work one day a week in the office. My first day in the office was good, it was a stretch for me to put on shoes and socks but I did it. Being in the office has excited me about how and where I can use my talents to help NNYM support the youth workers and youth ministries. I look forward to working in the office more once the kids start school after Labor Day.

This month the National Network of Youth Ministries hosted “Fellowship Night” after a Padres game. Around 4,500 to 5,000 stayed to hear the Padres’ Adrian Gonzalez, the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols, and an umpire share their testimonies. It was a great time to hear how each of theses guys recognize the opportunity to use their stage to share the gospel. That night there were 30+ people who indicated their decision to follow Christ and another 200 people asked to know more about NNYM.

The NNYM staff also had a silent retreat that had us spending time focusing on our image of God. It was a full day of some meditation time as a group and silent time alone. After our time the spouses were invited to join us for a gourmet dinner that was AMAZING. As Devon and I dined, we got a chance to get to know the staff families better. It was a blessed day for me to spend with the staff and a great time for Devon to interact with our new ministry family.

A week ago, our family had an opportunity to visit the Mammoth Lakes area. We have been blessed for the past 4 years with an amazing place to stay and use for our “base of operations.” This year was a new time for us because we welcomed our new sister-in-law, Aunt Lora, to the family. The kids LOVE to spend time with her and Uncle Ryan, smothering them with affection.

Our week was a time of packing lunch in the morning and spending the day fishing, hiking, and exploring. We spent time visiting the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Devil’s Postpile, and Rainbow Falls. This trip, Easton caught two fish and Madison reeled in her first. Unfortunately, I did not act fast enough and the fish Madison caught wiggled off the line to freedom.

In September, we have an amazing opportunity to travel to Michigan to meet with potential financial ministry partners. We are looking for people like you to cover the $2,000 of trip expenses through special gifts. Would you please consider making a special gift of $100, $200, or some other amount and help us expand our ministry partners? Your gift will be multiplied by bringing new financial partners to our team for years to come. What a return on your investment!

To make an electronic gift please visit the NNYM website here, or if you prefer to mail your gift, please make your check out to “National Network of Youth Ministries” or “NNYM”, write my name on the memo line and mail to:

NNYM
12335 World Trade Drive, Suite 17
San Diego, CA 92128

As summer ends and school starts, we are face with additional monthly expenses, mainly health insurance. We are praying to raise an additional $1,000/month in support by the end of September. We ask that you pray specifically for people you may know who would love to hear about our ministry.

Please pray for:

Easton- Pray that as school starts he is able to make quality friends and that his teacher is a good fit for his learning style.
Madison- Pray that as school starts she is able to enjoy Kindergarten and adjust to learning Spanish.
Devon- Pray that as school starts she is able to juggle her teaching job at Point Loma Nazarene University with her three (3) other social worker employers.
Alon- Pray that he continues to take quiet time to listen for God in the midst of life.

Thank you for your support and prayers,

July Banks Family Update

Alon — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:06:09 +0000

I mentioned last month that the NNYM offices were moving, just next door into a smaller suite, but moving. There were a lot of pieces to fit together in order to make the move a success and the NNYM team pulled together along with some amazing volunteers to complete the transfer last week. Now, the task is finding a place for all of the stuff. My desk and computer are set up and waiting for me.

Just because the office moved does not mean ministry stopped. We are in the midst of recreating our web presence and working through how to replace our printed materials in order to be cost effective. It is an exciting time for NNYM as we re-examine how we continue to provide support for the youth workers around the nation. I am getting excited to begin my role as I continue to get a glimpse into the ministry of NNYM. I love all of the possibilities of how and what my role will do to keep NNYM moving forward.

In July, we celebrated my birthday and spent some vacation time over July 4 at the house on Bay Island in Newport Beach. It is always fun to spend time there with family, swimming in the bay, making sand castles on the shore and just relaxing.

Easton attended two weeks of science camp learning about Biology, Computer Science, Photography and Chemistry. He loved it so much he is asking to go for a longer time next year.

Since it is summer, we are spending time in the pool and Madison is learning how to swim. She is doing much better and getting braver each time we go. She is also excited to attend Kindergarten next year by working on her pre-K packet full of coloring, dot-to-dot, writing letters, and cutting shapes. It is fun to see her growing up and see the excitement on her face as she learns new things.

Please pray for:

Support raising. Our financial situation will change on August 15 when my unemployment stops. Pray that I can find new partners by September in the amount of $1,000/month.
My focus. This past month it has been lacking…Although I know and feel that God wants me at NNYM, I lacked direction on pursuing finding ministry partners. Pray that I continue to rely on God and that my zeal for finding ministry partners is rejuvenated.
My marriage. It has become increasingly clear that unless I invest in my marriage it can become less than what God has intended it to be. Pray that I continue to make my marriage to Devon important and that we have times of connecting with each other and God.
A Church home. We have been attending Flood Church for a while now and feel better connected. Pray that we can continue to make connections that will benefit our family and that we are able to find places to serve.

Thank you for your friendship and prayers!

June Banks Family Update

Alon — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:16:14 +0000

The first few weeks of June gave me a chance to interact with NNYM a little more. It has been difficult not engaging with the ministry on a daily level, but I had the great opportunity to honor a man who played an integral part in the formation and growth of NNYM and to meet a few youth workers from San Diego and see the network in action.

I attended a luncheon to honor Dr. Dan Malltby as he received the NNYM Volunteer of the Year Award. I learned more about how NNYM began and how God continues to bless the organization. I also attend a screening of a movie written by Jim Britts, a local youth pastor, To Save A Life.

At both of these events, it was amazing to see how networking can unite people and is such a need when it comes to effectively reaching youth. As we strive to reach out and share the Gospel, we are truly better together.

NNYM is moving offices this month. I mentioned that the building sold and we are consolidating the organization into a smaller space. It will be a challenge, but one that God has already worked in amazing ways to orchestrate. In addition, I will be getting a desk set up for me when I begin in September!

June is always a busy month for us as a family, but this one held a milestone…Madison graduated (if that is such a thing) from Preschool. Yep, she is going to Kindergarten next year. We also celebrated Madison’s 5^th birthday by going to Disneyland and inviting one of her friends. It was a great day and everyone had fun.

Easton will be done with 3^rd Grade and celebrate his 9^th birthday in June. A Wii birthday extravaganza is being planned to celebrate Easton’s birthday. Four boys playing their favorite games for hours and eating pizza…good times!

Please pray for:

Our support raising. Pray that we can make new contacts. We are at a point that we need to expand our circle of friends.
Our summer transition. As Easton is out of school and Devon works, pray that Alon is able to balance raising support and the new responsibilities at home.
Our marriage. With both kids home from school, our time together is becoming a time to coordinate calendars and make a shopping list. Pray that we can find time to connect and keep our marriage strong.
A Church home. We have felt that as Easton is heading into 4^th grade we need to find a church that has an active youth group. Pray that we can make connections that will benefit our children.

Thank you for your friendship and prayers!