Polar Bear Weekend

A few weeks ago we rallied 7 of our high school teens and headed to to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for our first Young Life camp experience.  We joined 400 other Chicagoland high schoolers for a fall retreat called Polar Bear Weekend.   As you can see by the pictures, we had a great time.  Some of the teens we took, who are new to Sunshine, had some of the blinders fall off and began to hear and experience the gospel.  Pray that seeds will continue to be planted in their lives as we invest in them on a daily basis.  

One of my favorite moments was when Devonte, one of our seniors, volunteered to pray at the closing session with our group.  Not only did everyone's jaws drop, but he proceeded to go around the circle and pray for each of us individually.  God is truly moving.                                                     

As we got home another one of the boys asked one of the leaders about summer camp.  He was very persistent about knowing about the price.  Our leader responded, "Well before your Sunshine scholarship it is around $300 for each of you."  Our student said, "Ok.  Well then I'm going to get a job now, and save money for my spot.  How many other spots for teens do you think that I can save for by then?"  Clearly this one young man experienced the amazing things God can do at camp.  

Sunshine Christmas Store

Dear Friends, 

    The Sunshine Christmas Store is an annual opportunity to empower low-income families who otherwise may not have been able to afford quality Christmas gifts for their children.  Donations allow our parents to purchase gifts for $0.25 on the dollar that would otherwise be too expensive at most department stores. Our main goal is to share the love of Jesus Christ and the gift of salvation that he offers to the world. However, the Christmas season can be a painful time for parents who are not financially able to give gifts to their kids.  Our Store is just one of the many ways God has given us to show Christ’s love in a tangible way. 

     This is made possible through the generous support of churches, and individuals! We are asking for your support of our 2011 Christmas Store. We are asking for new, unwrapped items for children ages 0-18. Shopping for our store could easily become an annual church Christmas tradition.  We only ask that the gifts reflect sensitivity toward the African-American community we serve and that each donation would cost no more than 50 dollars.

    We have tried to make this as easy for you as possible.   As an option, we have registered as a Target List so for you who are out of town, a gift bought online can shipped straight to us at our building. (Address Below)  Our Target LIST name is: First Name: “Sunshine” and Last Name: “Gospel”, List Name: “Sunshine Christmas Store” and be accessed online or in stores. Of course, any other purchases can be sent to us or delivered.  Items needed include:

-Toys     -Games     -Clothes     -Baby Items     -Sports equipment     -Books     -DVDs and Electronics     -Wrapping Supplies

Final Drop–Off Date: Monday, Dec 5th 2011 9:00a.m.-4p.m.

Location:  Sunshine Gospel Ministries 500 E. 61^st Street Chicago, IL  60637

Christmas Store Date: Sat, Dec 10^th 2010 from 10:00a.m.-2:00p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact me at brost@sunshinegospel.org or 773.493.0656

Sincerely,

Brittney Rost

                                                        Christmas Store Coordinator

Education

Education has been on my heart and mind.  As we work with the kids in our neighborhood, the inadequacies of education flood every aspect of their lives.  As we sit in tutoring we see many of their scores behind, yet the real wake up call as struck me as I have stepped into their schools.  Over the past year I have been volunteering at Hyde Park Academy: our neighborhood high school.  As I have developed relationships there, spent time in classrooms, the lunchroom, or built with students, my eyes have been opened.

This is Hyde Park:
-It is ranked as a level 3 school, the lowest standing a Chicago public school can receive and is currently on probation
-Out of 1,800 students enrolled, the attendance rate is 73%
-Students meeting or exceeding testing standards: Reading 20.3%, Math 7.4%, and Science 8.4%
-The graduation rate is 47.1%

I'm sure that after you read these stats you feel the same way I do, a bit hopeless, yet concerned as to the changes that need to happen.  My weekly involvement in the school seems to just be a drop of water in the vast ocean.  Yet as I build relationship on top of relationship I pray that God will give me the wisdom and guidance as to best point these kids, who seem to be lost in the system, to the hope they have in Him.

As to the kids in our programs, we have started to be proactive in their education.  High schools in Chicago work different than most places.  Kids naturally go to their neighborhood high school, which in our case is Hyde Park.  Yet, if they score well enough in their 8th grade testing, they can apply for selective enrollment schools, which are the ones outside of our neighborhood and throughout the entire city. This requires testing, applications, and parental involvement, much like what most know as college applications.

By the grace of God most of our 8th graders have scored above the bar for their 8th grade testing and have met the minimum for selective enrollment applications.  So the fight begins.  We have begun to attend selective enrollment high school's open houses.  Our first was this past weekend at Walter Payton high school downtown.

Please be in prayer for our kids who are both in the rough schools and trying to find a better option.  With a lot of prayer and a lot of fight, we pray that we can begin to change lives from victims of the systems to victors.

6:8 at Cornerstone University

3 of the guys from Sunshine have partnered together to form an artistic group called "6:8".  Mike Avery who dances, CW Allen who raps, and Pete Blodgett who is the DJ, have put together an amazing show.  Two weeks ago they had a show at Cornerstone University's Missions Week.  We went as a Sunshine Staff and took teen girls who sold shirts at the show and experienced a college visit.  Not only were we able to support our guys but the girls are beginning to get their eyes opened to what their next step of education may look like.

Here is a video of Mike doing one of his new dances at the perfomance!

Ms. Smith

As I become a part of this community and seek to build relationships, I have been so encouraged by the amazing people that have accepted me.  One of the relationships I cherish most here is that with Ms. Smith.  Ms. Smith helps out faithfully every Monday night in our Awana program for 1st-8th graders.  The kids love her, and so do I.

Ms. Smith's smile and jokes are always contagious.  I am so thankful for this relationship and all that she is teaching me.  I recently gave her our Young Life U-Turn shirt and she wore it proudly for all to see! She joked- "I know I'm going crazy.  Brittney's got this old woman wearing a shirt that says, 'Young Life'".  She surely is young at heart!!

Chicago Half Marathon

I crossed the finish line once again!!  3 weeks ago I finished my 2nd official Chicago Half Marathon!  After a few months of training and lots of cheers, I completed the race and even dropped some time from last year!  It wasn't easy.  The sun was burning my cheeks and shoulders, though it was nothing compared to the burning muscles in my legs.

I cannot begin to thank the people that came out to cheer me on! I had over 15 people at different spots in the race.  Close friends of mine, the Hamernick family, and my softball team all shouted loud and proud!! Below is a video of the girls jumping in a running a bit with me!! 

Nassi Gets Baptized

One of our teen girls, Nassi, got baptized last month at our monthly church service at Sunshine.  We headed to the beach and she publicly declared her commitment to Christ.  We have been walking with her since she was a baby, as a lasting relationship from Cabrini Green.  As she moved to the South Side a few years ago she got back in our programs.  We are excited for all that God is doing in this high school freshman!!  Pray for her and her continual growth.