The Impact Learning Center is Expanding

By Jenna Gerstenschlager

Not long after the students trickle into the Middle Cross Church, a line of volunteers enter the building. These people are the most vital parts of our program as they are the ones that essentially keeping it running and have made it the success it has become. During the course of a typical day there are two tutoring sessions that happen, each forty-five minutes long. Just a few months ago the ILC R.E.A.L. room had a mere four stations set up for tutoring on a daily basis. This quarter, however, up to eight students receive tutoring at a time, with anywhere between nine to fifteen students receiving one-on-one tutoring every day. This quarter there was an incredible increase of the number of voluneers helping at the ILC either as a book buddy or tutor, up from 33 people to currently 48. What a testimony of God's graciousness as he continues to provide for our needs. I only look forward to what the Lord has planned for this program in the upcoming weeks, months, and years.

The ILC gets a visit from the queen!

By Anna Zach

What? The queen? Yes, that is Miss Pre-Teen Queen of Nebraska. This week our kids had a visit from Hannah Duncan- who is Miss Pre-Teen of Nebraska. The kids were so excited to meet her – and to see that crown. After an introduction everyone had the chance to ask her questions and the girls even got to try her crown on! They were really precious as they each had a special smile come over them when the crown was placed on their heads. The biggest blessing of all came as Hannah explained to them that part of her responsibility as the queen was to find a good home for some books that had been donated by all the pageant contestants – and that home would be at our very own ILC. The kids took some time to look over the many books she donated and spent some time reading and investigating their new treasures. Thank you Hannah for being such a blessing to the ILC!!!

Students Zodell, Ian, and Sophia take a peek at their new books which include stories of funny characters, books with interesting animal facts, and chapter books for the older kids.
Sophia smiles like a queen while trying on Hannah's crown and sash.

Making connections

By Jami Spaulding


Lately, I've been really excited to hear the kids make connections between the ILC and Bible Club. It first started with them using the SOS method to change their own behavior. One day someone was acting crazy and another student said, "Hey, SOS, remember?" The kids then reminded the student what it meant and that chosing to do what is right is like chosing to act like Jesus. It was cool to see them own it and apply it in a different situation outside of Bible Club Tuesday nights.

Last week, the kids were really into the Bible Club lesson. We've been talking about Christmas Schema during reading time and ever since last Wednesday all the kids have had daily connections to the books we were reading and with what they had done at Bible Club. I get so excited when the kids are excited about the lesson and able to use them in other contexts. I'm praying that the more they talk about them, the more natural it will become for them to use these ideas to make better choices and ultimately to give their lives to Jesus. What fun to be a part of this process with them!

Meet Ashley Larson-Read room grades 4-5

By Ashley Larson

My name is Ashley Larson. Although I was born and raised in Lincoln, NE my eyes have been opened to a different side of our city over the past three years. Recently, I graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a bachelors degree in social work. Throughout my life I have had the opportunity to be exposed to numerous urban communities through short-term missions with Jr. high and high school students. In college I did a three month internship with Urban Impact in New Orleans and my heart for urban youth and families was transformed. It took an experience one thousand miles away for me to really question what I was doing in my own community. Therefore, I decided to do my final internship with City Impact, right here in my hometown. God blessed me to serve at City Impact this summer with the Teen Job Club and the Summer Program and I was able to get to know many of the youth, of all ages, quickly.

This fall I came on staff as the Impact Learning Center’s 4th-5th grade R.E.A.L Room and Reading with Meaning Coordinator, in addition to leading the Jr. High Girls Teen Bible Club Classroom. I feel very humbled and fortunate to be working under such a great staff and for all that I have learned since coming on board at CI. My amazing husband, Mark, is a reading teacher and basketball coach at Lincoln High School and together we have loved seeing how God has intertwined our ministries over the past six months. I look forward to watching God transform more kids and families here in Lincoln as CI continues to reach out and strengthen our community.

Becoming a Kingdom Kid

By Bethany Larson



What does a Kingdom Kid look and sound like? This is the question that City Impact students have been exploring in their Bible Club classes. We have learned that Kingdom Kids say encouraging words to one another like “Please” and “Thank you” and they forgive one another. They also listen when someone else is talking, perform random acts of kindness for one another and participate in all the activities we do.

Being a part of both Bible Club and the ILC programming, I get to observe a few students in two different atmospheres. Although the expectations for the students are the same for both Bible Club and ILC reading program, I am seeing the biblical, Christ-like behavior we are teaching in Bible Club carry over into the ILC. I am getting the chance, when talking about a student’s behavior, to ask the question, “Are you acting like a Kingdom Kid?”

A Kingdom Kid is a part of God’s heavenly family, and these students who understand that are not only worried about following the rules that are in place at Bible Club or ILC, but they are also concerned about acting in a way that would please their heavenly father. I find it much easier to explain the purpose of rules when that purpose is to represent Christ. I am glad to see the students are not only choosing to represent Christ at Bible Club, but the ILC and hopefully school and home as well. That helps motivate me to continue my purpose of glorifying God by teaching and encouraging these kids.

Meet Nathan Fries, Van Driver

By Nathan Fries


My name is Nathan Fries. My hometown is Dannebrog, NE (a little town 25 minutes Northwest of Grand Island). I am a student at UNL and majoring in Mechanical Engineering and plan to graduate in December 2009. I accepted Christ in March of 2004and have been on a wonderful ride ever since. I am the Van Driver for the ILC and Bible Club on Tuesday Nights.

Meet Jennifer Harrington, Program Coordinator

I was raised on a cattle ranch in Montana, where I lived until I left for college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I graduated from UNL in August 2007 with a degree in psychology and a minor in education. I plan to attend graduate school next fall to obtain a Ph.D in clinical psychology. I would like to work with children who have been abused and neglected.

In my spare time I like reading, painting, running, going to movies, and spending time with family and friends. I am currently involved in post-graduate research for the pyschology department at UNL. I am also actively involved at my church; I volunteer as a leader for the high school youth group and have had the opportunity to participate in a mission trip to Haiti over the summer as part of our missions team.

Hopes & Dreams-A Place At The Table

By Todd Bowman


In 2006, I was the featured speaker at City Impact’s annual Hopes & Dreams fundraising banquet. I spent over twenty minutes casting vision for the creation of a strengths-based after school program called the Impact Learning Center which we were hoping to unveil in early 2007. During my speech, I communicated a dream I had that City Impact students would be so engaged in their communities through the avenue of their strengths that they would one day both join me and even replace me at the podium. I didn’t want to just talk about the students in our programs; I wanted our students to speak for themselves.

This dream became a reality on Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007, when five City Impact students were the featured speakers for this year’s Hopes & Dreams banquet titled “A Place at The Table.” Over 400 people packed into the Cornhusker Hotel banquet hall to attend this wonderful event and they responded with a standing ovation at the conclusion of the student led presentation.

These students spoke about their experience this summer in City Impact’s Teen Job Club program developing a beautification painting project at Hartley Elementary School. The names of these students are—

Alejandro – 7th Grade
Takeela – 9th Grade
KaDijah – 8th Grade
Addison – 7th Grade
VaDoll – 8th Grade

As City Impact moves into the future, we remain committed to developing youth leadership in all of our activities in order to truly fulfill our calling of providing a place a table.

The Lord has BIG plans for the kids at Bible Club

By Anna Zach

Over the past few months we have been planning and planning for the new Bible Club year. There has been this deep desire in me to help make Bible Club a really amazing place; a place where these kids know that we see how amazing they are, how much they are capable of, how talented they are, and how much potential is inside of them just waiting to be unleashed. I just know these kids are wonderful and I want them to know it too.

In October I went to St. Louis for the Annual CCDA conference. As a first timer I didn’t really know what to expect, but I was expectant. I found myself encouraged and affirmed in all the planning and thought that we have been taking for Bible Club. I was encouraged to sit in on speakers who passionately shared about God’s expectation for our young people. God has been in the habit of using young people to do amazing things- David, Josiah, Esther, Jeremiah – they were all teenagers when the Lord called them to insanely huge tasks for His kingdom. Does God still have amazing and huge things for teenagers to do? Does He have heroic works for our teenagers at Teen Bible Club? Do I believe it? Absolutely, one hundred percent, you bet your bibby He does!!! I am incredibly excited and expectant to be a part of what He intends to do as He reaches into the lives of our young people. These kids and teens have so much in them that God has wonderfully placed there. They have a power that He has given them, and we, if we allow it, have the chance to see it come to life. I am so excited for Bible Club to be a place where young people have a place to learn and use all that God has gifted them with.

Bible Club starts up for the 2007-2008 year

By Jami Spaulding


The first week of Bible Club was super exciting, but also a bit nerve wrecking too. Could 14 preschoolers really last in the auditorium for an hour? Would they understand the new routines in class? It turned out to be a great night indeed. The kids were so excited to be back. The LOVED the worship and talked and talked about singing and dancing for Jesus with the big kids.

The best part, however, was dinner. The preschoolers were fascinated by the idea of a host table. The kids chosen took each of their jobs so seriously and were thrilled to have a job. Those being served were very polite as they went through the line. It was darling and inspiring all at the same time. How cool, that they can learn to serve and to eat in a way that is pleasing to God. They loved the dinner questions. We took lots of rabbit trails, but I think they just loved being heard and were willing to listen so others could be heard too.

We are so excited about this new year of growth and structure in Preschool-Kindergarten class. I know God has big plans for the hearts of these little friends.

Kids' Enthusiasm Grows

By Jennifer Harrington

As the first session draws to a close I look back with fondness over the last nine weeks. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to interact with each student at the ILC. It was exciting to watch the kids bond with each other as well as with the teachers. I feel like I had the chance to get to know each student fairly well, and I enjoyed visiting with them about school, sports, friends, etc.

As the Program Coordinator I had the unique opportunity to observe each student in the various aspects of the program. I hung out with the kids and played games with them when they first arrived and monitored them while they had snack. After the students were in their classrooms, I got to pop in and out and observe the lessons. At times I acted as a listener for the older students as they worked to master stories, while other times I was a reader for the younger students during free reading time. Often I observed the students as they interacted with adult volunteers from the community.

It was exciting to watch the students' enthusiasm for reading grow as the weeks wore on. As they learned new techniques for reading and comprehension, I could see their confidence increase. I feel certain that every kid at the ILC has been greatly benefited and that they have been set on the right path to achieve academic success, which will help them use the strengths God has given them to improve their world.

Confidence and passion for learning

by Bethany Larson

On any normal day I am the Reroute Coordinator, but the past couple of weeks, I will be honest, I have not been working too hard during programming. Very few students have entered my room due to conflict. Believe me, I am not complaining!

When I enter the Read rooms taught by Miss Jami and Miss Ashley, I begin to understand why the students would not want to leave. Both teachers have done a wonderful job of engaging their students in reading activities and instruction. I have enjoyed stopping in and observing their classrooms.

This past Friday was the last day of the first quarter, which both classes took time to celebrate their accomplishments. I snuck into the 4th and 5th grade classroom, where they were reading Halloween poems. Each student picked a poem, practiced it, and read it aloud to the rest of the class. Student after student proudly read their poem with excitement in their voice. Though part of the excitement was due to the fun poems, another part was the students’ growing love and improvement in reading. Students, who a month ago were apprehensive about reading, stood confident in front of their peers. This made me realize that this reading program was much more than literacy. Here reading is a life skill that evokes confidence and a passion for learning. That’s exciting!

Reflections

By Ashley Larson

As we near the end of our first quarter of the Impact Learning Center it is quite obvious God has been working here. I have spent the last 8 weeks in the 4th and 5th grade classroom, and I’m excited to announce that almost all of my students have advanced at least one grade level in their reading packets! Even now as I write this blog I’m sitting in class watching the students quietly reading books of their choice, completely immersed in whatever adventure their book is taking them on. Anyone who has worked with this age knows how tough it can be to get them focused and quiet for long periods of time, especially on books. It has been our class goal though to make reading a fun experience, and these last few weeks these youth have been begging for extra long independent reading time! Each kid is unique in the books they like to read and it has been fun for me as their teacher to have book discussions with them. Quincy and Garett, two boys in my class, both love non-fiction books about volcanoes, snakes, sharks, and other animal and weather topics. They have been teaching our class a lot of interesting information in those areas during our weekly book discussions. Jocelyn is one of my favorite readers because she uses so much expression and does a great job acting out different character parts. Tabitha raises her hand many times during quiet reading to share all the connections she has with the books she reads. These are just a few of the students who have really started to take a personal interest in reading.

Besides reading, I feel as though these kids have really grown in other areas too. For instance, we have really pushed putting others first in our classroom and it is amazing to see them respect one another by listening, complementing, and encouraging each other during program time. There have been much fewer conflicts these last couple weeks. Instead I’ve actually had more issues of kids wanting to talk and laugh with one another during class time! That is a problem I have taken some joy in dealing with. Overall, the first quarter of ILC has been very rewarding and I look forward to meeting with a new set of kids next session.

Experience in the R.E.A.L. room

By Jenna Gerstenschlager

I had the opportunity this past week to work in the R.E.A.L. room and experience first hand what being a tutor is all about. I had the opportunity to work with both Madison and Simone. My first tutoring session was with Madison. I had a few jitters to begin with, but as soon as we started there weren’t any problems and the lesson ran very smoothly. I was really impressed with not only how well Madison read, but also her enthusiasm. The next day I worked with Simone. Once again I was taken back by how eager these girls were to read. At the beginning of our time together Simone read a story she had been working on for a few days, and to her delight she mastered it. Anyone could tell by the smile on her face that she was pleased with her work. She happily took the story out of her binder and placed it in the “stories mastered” section. With just that one success, Simone’s confidence grew as we continued to read.

Initially I was a little afraid that some of the kids wouldn’t enjoy the tutoring experience; that they would think it was too much like school. Instead I found that the kids have really developed a love for reading. I think that in the kids with the achiever or competition strength this program works really well because the challenge of trying to master a new story and move up levels keeps them going. For others, it’s just fun and has become a normal part of their everyday afternoon activities.

Appreciative Inquiry

By Anna Zach

This past spring was when I first heard the words “Appreciative Inquiry.” Intrigued and curious I began searching out what this concept was all about. As spring became summer and the ILC began to wind down and the summer programs were gearing up, we began to wonder about using this “Appreciative Inquiry” concept for the development of a summer project with our Teen Job Club. After a successful debut utilizing AI, the hunger to know more began to rumble.

The opportunity to dig deep came in the form of the International Appreciative Inquiry Conference. So this past week, I found myself in Orlando, Florida exploring a wide range of workshops about AI. One of my favorite breakout sessions was about Appreciative Intelligence. As I considered things like the ability to perceive the positive potential in situations, reframe stories, and appreciating the positive, I realized that many fellow saints of old have been experts so to speak in Appreciative Intelligence. Paul was able to see the good in the thorn the Lord had allowed in his flesh. It was God’s gift to him. 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." Corrie ten Boom, a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp, was able to see the good even in the fleas that occupied the straw mats they slept on (these fleas were the reason the guards would not come in their bunk houses). So, even though I was interested in all that was shared in the conference about Appreciative Intelligence, I have become even more encouraged by it as I have seen the spiritual side of it. I find myself now challenged to look for the good and hidden treasures in all the circumstances that the Lord allows in my life. I am learning to appreciate even the shadow.

God made me and loves me

By Jami Spaulding

Daddiz, Milandra, Madison, and Grace have fun dressing up and reading books.(Picture above)

I was so encouraged this week to hear the younger kids talking with the older kids as they waited for their rides to come. Sometimes you wonder if they are really understanding the things we talk to them about, or even if it's making a difference in their world. I heard them saying things like, "We're talking about schema, it's what you know," and "Our schema is getting bigger and bigger. We're really smart." It's exciting to see them begin to apply what they are learning and to embrace the potential God created them with.

On Friday, we finished up our mental image week. We ended with a lesson on God's mental image. We read from Psalm 139 and then a poem by Jack Pretulsky. The kids were a bit restless as the Psalm has a lot of vocabulary in it, but as we started to talk about each word and what it meant the kids started getting into it. Daddiz blurted out, "God's mental image of us is good!" It was like he finally understood that God made him on purpose and is crazy about him. The kids used that comment to have a discussion about how they know God loves them. We then looked at the illustrations in the poem and talked about how God made them each different and unique. As we did the art project afterwards, it was fun to hear them saying things like,"God made me responsible, he made me caring, he made me creative...." When we came together to share our projects the kids made the connection that God made them and loves them. Milandra said, "We should add that to our schema and then when people are mean to us we don't have to get mad becasuse we know what God thinks about us is true." Mickela said, "We cause our schema and remember God's mental image of us and then we'll remember to act like him, like be kind and respectful to everyone." Madison talked a long time about how God made her special and how He will help her reach her dreams.

It was exciting for me to hear my students using the language of reading and to apply it to God and their everyday lives. How I pray it will take root in their hearts and help them to love Jesus and choose His truth over everything else in their lives.

Seeing Progress

By Jennifer Harrington

I recently came on staff with City Impact as the ILC Program Coordinator. Although I have been with the ILC less than a month, I have already been so blessed by my short time here. Each day I can see God at work in the hearts of both the children who attend and the adults who are there to teach them. The smiles and laughter of the students remain in my mind long after we have all gone home for the night, and their hugs bring a smile to my face even on the worst days.

I have been blessed by my interactions with my coworkers. They are incredible, beautiful men and women who have welcomed me and helped me transition into the position. I can see their love for children in the gentle way they interact with the students, and I can see their desire to follow Christ in the love that flows freely from them.

I have been encouraged by the success that City Impact has seen in the past, and I firmly believe that we are making a difference in these children’s lives. I am excited about the progress that the students are making in their reading skills as well as the opportunity we are creating for them to have positive interactions with adults and with each other. The combination of these is setting the students on a path of success for the future.

Working through it

By Bethany Larson

Working in the Reroute room may not always be the most popular job, but I have found it rewarding and encouraging in my own life. For a few days in the past week, I have dealt with a couple students who seem to have a reoccurring issue. When they get upset or flustered about something, they tend to get angry. Many times we talk through their anger and brainstorm ways that they can deal with their anger in a way that doesn’t disrespect or distract others.

I enjoy working in Reroute because you can track the progress of a child and their growth. I am daily praying for these students because I know that their anger may not always be rooted from what happens at the ILC. Their anger may stem from other sources that they may have not let go of. Recently, I was discussing anger with one student. I asked her, “Does being angry help the situation? Does it make you feel better?” She knew that it didn’t.

More and more I am aware of the spiritual warfare we are in. Our human nature and the human nature of these students is to be angry and hold grudges. But because God forgave us and has accepted us for who we are, we can let go of our anger and learn to forgive others. I continue to pray and ask you to join me, that God will continue to soften the hearts of these students. Pray that they will learn how to give their fears, worries and anger over to God, and that they will learn how to love and forgive others the same way God did for them.

We promise

By Ashley Larson

Each afternoon I look around my classroom and I see eight intelligent looking 4th and 5th graders. Each are either snuggled into a comfy chair, spread out on our fuzzy rug, rocking gently on the cushy rockers, or sinking into a giant purple bean bag, completely consumed in their favorite book. Some like to read about great storms and exotic animals, while others laugh along with the adventures of Skippy Jon Jones or Wodney the Wat.

On our wall hangs a very important promise that each child takes very seriously, as they should since they wrote it and committed to follow it. Their promise reads:

We promise to make our read room a place where we are all kind, respectful, helpful, polite, and good listeners. We vow to have good attitudes and to treat everyone fairly. We will also participate in all activities and we will not hurt others or get mad.

Last but not least, each child is wearing the most intellectual looking glasses we could find, yes black plastic glasses. Now they really feel like true readers as they get lost in each of their unique stories. It has been a blessing for me to watch these students progress in just three short weeks towards our mutual goal of making reading a fun experience. They truly are smart kids, and some of them are just now discovering that reading can actually be a good experience no matter what level you are at. It is exciting for me to imagine the next six weeks as we dive into the adventures of reading even further!

R.E.A.L. life changes

By Miriam Heider


My prayer for the R.E.A.L. room has been that students would not only improve their reading scores, but develop a lifelong love for reading. I also pray that God would develop meaningful relationships between volunteers and students. Some of our students have only received 10 reading instruction sessions, and already I am seeing this happen. Volunteers come into the R.E.A.L. room anxious and excited to read with their student. Some have been amazed at the progress their student has made in the short work since they last met. It’s been exciting to see the volunteers realize what their investment means to a child.

The students are eager as well when they enter the R.E.A.L. room. I see genuine excitement when I remind them who they will be reading with that specific day. If by chance a volunteer is gone, the kids are disappointed they won’t be able to read that day. The students still have their struggles and frustrations, but they are approaching reading with a different mindset than before. Confidence is growing, and along with it their confidence, a love for reading.

Teen Job Club Community Project at Hartley

By Anna Zach



It is finished! With great joy the final touches were completed on Hartley Elementary’s playground, ending a summer long journey. Looking back to the first weeks of June when our process of creating a community project began, it really is amazing and wonderful to see possibilities become reality. It is encouraging to me as a facilitator of the process to know experientially that what I have always believed is in fact true; young people have amazing potential and fantastic ideas. They are capable of far more than I suspect most adults believe they are. Though this may sound silly to some, I am honored that I was a part of what Teen Job Club did this summer.

On a recent trip to a conference on service learning I was struck in the realization that what our young people did this summer was a truly unique experience. I realized that most service learning projects, while desiring to create youth voice, seem to fall short in genuinely allowing it. I realize that this is partially a byproduct of working within curriculums and schedules, but I believe our approach, one modeled on appreciative inquiry, truly gave opportunity for not only a voice to be heard, but gave the voice authority. These young people searched themselves for an idea, decided which idea they liked the most, and pursued the idea into a tangible and doable project. When it came right down to putting paint on the cement (and removing it when necessary), it was all them.

I am very excited that our young people, while greatly benefiting from the experience, were able to provide a greater blessing than they themselves received. Ultimately, the recipients of service learning projects should benefit the most from the experience and I feel certain that their labors did just that. There are many, many children and teachers who will, through this coming year and into the next, enjoy the beauty that the teens in Job Club created for them.

Making reading fun

By Jami Spaulding


Wow! What an amazing first couple of weeks it has been. The kids have adjusted really well to the new format at the Impact Learning Center. They seem to be beginning to see value in what we do in the read room as well as in tutoring and are enjoying getting to know the staff and volunteers. Milandra came back from tutoring the first day and taught us the sign language word her tutor had showed her. Daddiz came back to report, "I love that place, my guy is so cool!"

Things have settled into a nice routine in the read room. It's interesting to see the kids relate the books we've read to their lives. They comment on everything from, "Wow, that picture looks like my little sister!" to "Oh, he was really mean to the new kid. That's not nice at all." The kids seem to enjoy the other activities we also do. They did great thinking about what respectful words sound like and had a blast trying to come up with 100 acts of kindness.

Yesterday we talked about their own dreams and what they want reading to help them do. Madison said, "I can't read the big Bible, but I can keep practicing and read a little kid Bible and then I'll know more about God." Many kids said they want reading to help them be a doctor. Some said they want to improve their reading to do better in school.

My prayer is that the kids will understand that God made them smart and that He will help them achieve all these goals if they'll only let Him. We've worked hard setting the foundation for the essentials at the ILC and re-affirming the importance of reading well. I'm so excited to get busy with our reading strategies and see how God grows us all this quarter.

Program Changes

By Todd Bowman-Program Director


In February of 2006 the Impact Learning Center opened its doors for the first time. Overall the quality of the work, activities, and programs which happened there each day after school was outstanding. To give you a visual framework, the Impact Learning Center focused primarily on three areas:Literacy, Leadership, & Fun.

There was, however, a fundamental problem with this program, which was transportation. Despite being creative with van routes, we were only able to pick-up and transport about thirty students to the ILC. This meant the majority of students involved in other City Impact programs would never have the opportunity to participate in this wonderful program.

The major way in which we decided to solve this dilemma was to move the Strengths-Based Leadership component from the ILC to our Tuesday night Bible Club program which currently involves between 100 – 150 students. Not only will all City Impact students now have the opportunity to learn how to use their God-given strengths to make a positive and powerful impact in their communities, but this Leadership piece also fits well within the Bible Club framework. While the Biblical teaching at Bible Club allows youth to grow in their knowledge of God, the Leadership component, with its emphasis on service, provides a framework within which youth can live out their faith.

In contrast, the Impact Learning Center is now exclusively a reading program designed to produce rapid reading gains. Between thirty and forty students from four different schools will enroll in the ILC for nine week sessions. Students will receive eighty minutes of reading instruction each day with the goal being that all first, second, and third grade students will receive one-on-one tutoring every day. To meet this one-on-one tutoring goal, we will need approximately one hundred volunteers to contribute forty minutes of time each week.

In the coming weeks and months, this blog will detail stories that happen in both Bible Club and the Impact Learning Center.

This is an exciting time at City Impact. God is moving powerfully in our organization and the curriculum and materials we’ve developed over the past year are just the tip of the iceberg. Thank you for your faithful reading of this blog and your investment in youth in Lincoln’s urban communities. I pray that each of you will not only continue to stay connected through stories, but will also consider joining us as a volunteer or a financial supporter.

Check It Out!

The following link is an article from the Journal Star about the Teen Job Club's community project at Hartley Elementary School. Through the this week rain, students have been beautifying their neighborhood. Check it out!

http://journalstar.com/articles/2007/08/08/news/schools/doc46b8fb373cc34096560632.txt

and

http://journalstar.com/media/view/?mid=M46b8f35ae25c7

They've Gone Country!

Waiting for a bite, Deontrey sits by the pond while fishing today at Camp Sonshine. This week has been a week of new experiences for many of the kids. First time fishing, first time riding in a wagon, first time roasting a banana over campfire! I even introduced Gigi to a John Deere. (Sh wasn't nearly as excited.) It has been fun to be there as they discover new things, ask questions and become excited about everything going on.

There have been many times this week that the counselors have stopped their campers in the woods or by the lake to have them admire God’s creation. God created everything, but there is something about the openness and quietness of the country that makes you stop and remember that.

Each day, the campers loaded up on bug spray, caught a dozen frogs, and I think that one boy had a pound of mud on his shoe when he came home. But each day this week, the campers have had an experience that I know they will be talking about for months to come.

Ready, Set...Jump!

Camp Sonshine was the site of the Olympic frog races today. All week the students have scavenged the campsite of all the frogs that they could find and kept them in the frog tank. Today they were released in a jumping race (Only one frog did not survive the competition!)

Today was another exciting day at Camp Sonshine! With faces painted, wearing their colors, campers participated in many games in their own Olympics that encouraged teamwork and cheering each other on.

Today on the way home, one camper said, “I can’t wait until camp tomorrow. I don’t even know what we are doing, but I can’t wait!"

It's All Smiles at Camp Sonshine!

Brothers Kerry and Deontrey pose with their counselor from Camp Sonshine. Over 30 City Impact kids are attending Camp Sonshine, a local outdoor Christian Camp all this week. The past two days have been jammed packed with fun activities such as swimming, water games, tractor rides, archery, crafts, campfires and much more!! Also many of us had our first banana boat. A what?? A banana boat is a banana with chocolate and marshmallows put on the campfire…gooey and delicious!

Continue to pray for GREAT weather. Besides a couple of rain showers, it has been wonderful. The kids are doing a great job of keeping good attitudes, even in the rain. That is what Camp Sonshine is all about!

R-E-D, Jesus Died for Me!

by Bethany Larson

A field trip starting with water balloons has to be good! As soon as the students of the elementary program unloaded the vans at Holmes Lake Park the fun and games began. The warm temperatures made the kids eager to be targets for the water balloon launcher.

The highlight of the day, though, was the Challenge Circle that Miss Ashley conducted. Ashley was an intern at an urban ministry in New Orleans, where they would use team games and cheers to preach the gospel. Today the kids got to experience a bit of it.

They were split up into four teams: Red, Yellow, Blue and Green. Each team had a cheer that they would shout throughout the games. An example of one of the cheers was: R-E-D, Jesus died for me. With the most enthusiastic voices and jumping up and down, the kids were yelling their praising cheers!

Along with the cheers they played many relay and team games such as bowling pin relays and bean bag toss. They had a blast cheering on their team and the other teams as well. It is awesome to see kids having fun being kids and learning about Jesus as well.

I was thankful for such a great day for a field trip, even though it was hot! We also have great staff and volunteers that keep things fun and organized. The kids had a great time and will sleep good tonight…or at least I will!

Just Being Nice

By Ondrea Goranson

One incident that brought great pride and joy to my heart occurred several days into the week at Southwood Luthern Camp. As I entered her classroom, I immediately noticed a girl from our program sulking in the corner. At a moment we had to ourselves, I asked her what was wrong. She pointed to a little blonde girl wearing a sparkly pink t-shirt and stylish Gap cap.

"She don't like me." she stated angrily. I had noticed the two girls exchanging unpleasant looks and commentary, so I inquired further as to why she thought they weren't getting along. "She don't like me 'cause I'm black."

I wasn't sure how to respond to this, being white, I can only imagine the pain of feeling that kind of discrimination, so I gave her the best advice I could give.

"You know what? Maybe you're right, maybe she doesn't have many black friends, but do you know that you could change that? All you have to do is show her how nice you can be." I was a bit surprised to see this girl looking at me sincerely, straight in the eye. She nodded as I continued. "If you think someone doesn't like you, just be nice to them, then you know that they have no reason to dislike you." I gave her a squeeze on the shoulder and sent her back in the classroom, hoping my elementary advice would have some impact on her. I said a quick prayer for her, that she would be able to use her strong personality to encourage rather than intimidate.

Later that afternoon I heard her talking to the little blonde girl, "Hey! Do you want to sit by me? Cute hat!" I sat back and watched the two engage in a positive conversation about the craft they'd made in class. In all honesty, I'd never seen her so outgoing and friendly to another student, much less someone who she thought didn't like her! I couldn't help but smile as the little girl looked taken aback by her compliments and the all important, female ritualistic invitation to the bathroom. Although the little girl didn't respond as positively as one would hope to her invitation, I couldn't wait to pull her aside and tell her how absolutely proud I was of her. As we stood in the hallway, I gave her a huge hug and held her hand. I asked her how it felt to "just be nice". She replied with a shy smile, as if she even surprised herself, and said "It feels good!” The rest of the week I noticed her efforts to befriend her classmate and I thanked the Lord for His loving-kindness, His love for this and how good it feels "just being nice".

Update- Part I

by Todd Bowman-Program Director

Exactly three weeks ago today, while speaking at a banquet, I shared a story about two young men who had removed from City Impact’s summer Teen Job Club program as a result of poor behavior. However, I had a plan, and I encouraged those attending the banquet to check our blog in three weeks to see if my plan worked.

Unfortunately, my plan has not worked – at least not yet. But the seeds have been planted, the soil has been tilled, and I believe it is simply a matter of time before both of them not only return to City Impact, but return successfully.

While I’m not yet ready to share my idea for these two youth with the world, I will say that it involves creating a culture of caring in our youth programs. It involves young people showing kindness and sacrificial love to one another. For a glimpse into what this could look like, I encourage everyone to read the July 7^th blog post entitled Sacrificial Love Among Teens by Erica Schmidt. It is a powerful and moving story about kids caring for kids.

Three weeks from today, I will be back with another update on the status of these two young men. I hope my news at that time is more positive.

A Change in Tune

by Bethany Larson

This week the elementary summer program has not been in session because many of our kids are attending Southwood Lutheran’s Day Camp all week. They have been busy each day learning new songs, making fishing hats in arts and crafts, playing water games outside and so much more! Each day as I bring kids home, it is a quiet ride as one or two doze off from their fun-packed day.

It has also been encouraging to see City Impact kids get along with the other classmates in their group. Some are in groups where they did not know anybody else coming into the camp. They have adjusted very well and have come to make friends with the other kids.

Wednesday night, the campers and their parents were invited to a campfire at Wilderness Park. I was honored to be able to take a couple of girls. The whole way to the park, at the park, and from the park they were singing the new praise songs that they had learned together! It was awesome to see and hear a change in tune from the hot-list songs on the radio they all know. They would belt as loud as they could, “Praise the Lord with a sounding trumpet!” Now, that is what I call praise!

Teens Enjoy Heartland Festival

Hot temperatures, long van ride and the late night were all worth it last night as some the teens from job club ventured to Omaha for the Luis Palau Heartland Festival. Arriving to see artist Jeremy Camp, we were awed by the thousands of people that came out to the Qwest Center Sunday for the event. After finding a spot to sit down and cool off, Luis Palau preached the message.

After Palau spoke, gospel artist Kirk Franklin took the stage. All on their feet, nine teens tore up the lawn last night as they danced

and praised the Lord!

On the way home, one teen described the night. “That is the best time I’ve had in a long time!” Amen!

Hearts Soften on Prayer Walk

by Miriam Heider

Tuesday we took the Job Club girls on a prayer walk. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical about how they would react. My girls in my 6^th grade Bible club are really uncomfortable praying out loud, and I assumed these girls would act the same way. However, I was greatly impressed by not only their willingness to pray, but their prayers as well. These girls are growing in their relationship with Christ. They are learning to talk to him and to care for other people, just like He calls us to.

One of our stops was the People City’s Mission distribution center. As we stopped and prayed for their specific requests, I felt that we should pray also for love and compassion towards people who are ministered to by the Mission. Christ calls us to care and love for the poor, the homeless, the widowed and the oppressed. That is where His heart is, and that is where our hearts should be as well. Isaiah 58:6-10 says,

“Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in the darkness and your gloom will become like midday.”

As I was praying with my small group, I was reminded of these verses, and how John Piper and John Perkins both refer to the poor’s need for respect and dignity. I prayed that we would learn how to show respect and dignity to the homeless.

After we finished praying, my group asked how we are able to do that. “Aren’t all homeless people just lazy?” one of my girls asked. I was able to share with them some of the reasons people become homeless, like unemployment or mental illness. I also told her some short conversations my friends and I have had with some of the homeless in downtown Lincoln. As I shared, I saw her heart soften and her perspective change. God loves all of us, whether we live in south Lincoln, or on a park bench downtown. Not only that, but He calls us to provide for the needy and the oppressed. I feel like this girl’s perspective changed and that God showed His heart for the poor to her on this prayer walk.

Not I, But Christ

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

As discussed in my previous post, an impacter is one loves sacrificially, is others focused, and is one who serves.

The central question now is how can we as adults teach youth that we serve others not through our own efforts, but through dependence on God and His Holy Spirit living within us. One simple way is to change the language of our curriculum. For example, instead of a nametag saying –

I Am An Impacter –

it might be revised to read

– Impacted, Now Impacting

More important, however, than the language used on a nametag will be the discussions that happen every day between adults and youth regarding the process by which any person is truly able to sacrificially love others. These discussions will center around one of the greatest mysteries of Scripture – Not I, But Christ.

How many Christians will spend their entire lives never knowing what it means to live a life of submission and dependence on Christ? How many will never fully understand the reality they are a new creation as a result of Christ’s resurrection? This is difficult doctrine even for adults. But at the Impact Learning Center, this amazing truth will become a part of our daily language, reflection, discussion, and understanding.

Recently, during the fourth day of City Impact’s summer Teen Job Club program for 7^th & 8^th graders, I asked the students what percentage of the actions and talk among youth at their school reflected kindness. The answer was about 10%. When I asked them what percentage of the actions and talk among youth at their school reflected sacrificial love, the answer was less than 1%.

The need to help our nation’s young people become focused on caring for one another is great. The challenge in developing materials and programs to help accomplish this purpose is even greater. At City Impact, using our strengths to sacrificially love one another is slowly becoming a part of our DNA and an attitude that infects everything we do.

Sacrificial Love Among Teens

by Ercia Schmidt

One of the boys in Job Club is really struggling. He’s having a hard time adjusting to the structure and he doesn’t like the discipline system. He doesn’t like doing things he doesn’t want to do, and he doesn’t like being told what to do. Because of a previous episode, he had to spend one whole day in Reroute (2 hours and 15 minutes of program). Knowing that he was going to have a difficult time just sitting there, Mr. Todd asked if any of the other kids would want to sacrifice their time in the classroom to go sit in Reroute with him. The objective of this was that the kids would encourage their peer and let him know that they cared about him and wanted him to be a part of the group again.

So many willing hands shot up in the air! Nearly every student was willing to show kindness and sacrificial love to their classmate that day in Job Club- the very thing we’re challenging them to do. It was so awesome to see one student walk out of the room, return after 10-15 minutes, another student walk out, return, and so on. By the end of the day, many of the kids had spent a portion of the day lifting him up with their presence and minimal words. It was such a beautiful thing! These are the moments when I know we are making an impact and the Holy Spirit is penetrating hearts. May the Lord continue working in the hearts of the youth of City Impact!

CI Youth Wins Award at KAA Camp

by Ashley Larson

KAA camp was an incredible blessing for the youth and adults alike! My husband and I were in KAA 1 with the youngest group and we loved watching CI's youth interact with others their age from all across the nation. One of the most rewarding memories I bring home is watching Addison receive the "I'm third" (Jesus First, Others Second, I’m third) award. This award is only given to one boy and one girl in each camp who really understands and exemplifies putting God first, others second, and themselves third. This means that out of hundreds of youth, Addison got the attention of many leaders by being a servant of God. Addison was an example not only to the other youth but also to us. On the last day she came running up to me in tears and said, "I've been reading the bible for a long time, but I have finally learned how to hear God speaking to me while I'm in the word." Her excitement and emotion was beautiful. My time at camp was blessed by just watching her grow and also encourage others around her!

Mentoring Program in the Works

by James Pruch

This summer I'm working on the development of the new mentoring program. As I have been making brochures, interest surveys, and looking for field trip ideas, I am getting more and more excited about this program. I see all of these things coming together and I know that a child's life will be changed when a mentor invests into his or her life. We will see youth's strengths being discovered and put into practice. The results will be seen long after I'm gone from City Impact, but knowing that what I'm creating will give a young person hope is so satisfying. Knowing that God is going to use this program to change lives is comforting, encouraging, and humbling.

Taking the Plunge

by Bethany Larson

The overcast clouds and cooler temperatures didn’t damper another field trip day. While the boys bowled strikes at Sun Valley Lanes, the girls dove into the pool.

Some of the girls really enjoyed swimming and could swim well, while others were a little more timid. First grader Amara did not know how to swim, but that did not stop her eagerness to slip down the slide or jump off the diving board. Most of the time she made sure to have a teacher to catch her as she plunged into the water. In the beginning, Amara would jump into Miss Ashley’s, plugging her nose. But as she got more comfortable she became less fearless. She would jump of the diving board and emerge from the water, gasping for breath. She then “swam” to nearby teacher that would pull her to the side. Even towards the end of our time, the other girls were cheering her on and helping her get to the sides of the pool after she jumped in. It was a day, even without the sun.