You've got a Friend in Pennsylvania

It's been a long time since I visited the Center Foundation blog. Lerew e-mailed me a few days ago and it reminded me to check. As I look over my posting history here it looks like I make an annual update and then disappear. It seems that Joel is the only one posting anymore though. Is anybody else out there?

I would like to make an update with everything that has happened in the past year but it is too much to tell. Right now I am making what feels like a very big transition. I started working with my local youth group sometime last February and since then I have been devoting more and more time to youth ministries of different sorts. I guess I decided that I love people more than I love machines. I still have a strong passion for computers, technology, and programming. I was sitting in a meeting one day listening to a recording of a pastor and God spoke to me. I realized that God wants me to do something meaningful for Him before the best years of my life are over. It seems to me that this cannot be accomplished at my current job or any job where my main goal is to make money and create software or technology solutions for people who desire success. If asked to give an account of my life after a full life of work in the business world, what would I be able to say?

The problem with my change in interests is that all my youth ministry has been volunteer work up until now. I spend the better part of 5 or more days a week doing youth ministry. I have yet to see a dime for it and that makes for some other interesting problems in life...like paying bills and getting married. I work a part time job that is just enough to cover my expenses. But now I have started a new program to gradually work into a paying ministry position. A large portion of my volunteer work happens for an organization by the name of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ministries. CPYM used to be a part of Youth For Christ until there was a slight dispute over insurance sometime in the 70s or 80s.

CPYM workers are considered missionaries to unchurched and unsaved kids. This often means that the type of kids we see have a lot of problems socially, mentally, and financially. They follow a model much like a church when it comes to expanding the ministry. Each leader has a club that he/she runs in a house or public building. Usually there are a number of volunteers that help the leader. When the club grows large enough, a volunteer takes some of the willing kids and branches off to start a new club. The man that was leading the youth group at the church happened to be a CPYM club leader. I started volunteering with his club. We expanded the club from a senior high group to include a junior high group that meets on a different night. Both clubs are currently experiencing a lot of growth spiritually and in attendance.

The part about growth in number is where I come into the picture. The club has grown large enough that it is time to expand again. This specific ministry is where I feel God leading me. I am currently in the fund raising stage of branching off to have my own club. It is a strange experience for me. I have never worked a job where my entire salary depends on my ability to convince people to give donations. I think my biggest stumbling block is probably pride in asking people. However, God is teaching me that some people have the gift of generosity for matters like this.

That's where I'm at right now. I know some people are probably wondering about me since I have a tendancy to disappear. I'm not married yet even though I really want to be. As soon as I get this fund raising thing figured out it will be the first thing I do. You can all pray for me as I go into this ministry. Of course, I'll take the opportunity to ask all of you if you would care to donate. It is all processed through CPYM and I'm fairly sure that donations are tax deductible. Donation size doesn't matter to me. Even $5 or $10 a month gets things going for me. Also, if any of you know of sources of money that guys like me can tap into, let me know. Above all, I believe that God will make it happen when it is His will. I still have to do my part and try though.

On a side note, I got a bunch of e-mails from Bruce. I'll get back to you about those eventually. For anyone else who would like to contact me, there are a lot of different ways. It is probably easiest to just give me a call but you can try any of the below if you really have a desire to talk to me.

Home Phone: 717-935-5864
Cell Phone: 717-580-3188
E-mail: john_hedrick@weci2i.com or weci2i@gmail.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/weci2i
Livejournal: www.livejournal.com/users/weci2i
Xanga: www.xanga.com/weci2i