Topic at ILA making an Impact

The high school boys are really taking to heart this topic of sex and dating. A few weeks back I shared a highlight with all of you about the high school boys giving up their turn to go through the line first at our Thanksgiving meal. For the past few weeks the high school boys having been hard at work putting together a rap to share with all the girls of ILA. Tonight we got to see the finished piece of work, and boy was it good!

See the boys had spent a lot of time writing a rap after Romans 12. VaDoll has a gift for playing the drums and so he held the beat for the other boys who rapped. Tyree started them off, and then TJ and Victor jumped in. Lastly VaDoll read the last verse. This rap was centered around Romans 12:9-12 read below to hear how it went.

I had the opportunity to ask Tyree what one thing he hopes the girls will take away from hearing this tonight. “For my verse you should not like evil things like the devil and then God is what is good so cling onto him wherever you are at.”


“Tyree- Listen up girls this is something you should hear. Romans 12:9 says your love must be sincere. Hate what is evil cling onto what is good even if your at church ILA or in the hood.

TJ- yeah we stompin on the devil like you cant see me Romans 12:10 says love each other deeply

Victor- Listen up girls this is something that is real Romans 12:11 says never be lacking in zeal.

VaDoll- read Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

It was so fun to watch the boys and the girls just loved it! I am so proud of the high school boys and their passionate hearts and their willingness to take to heart what is being taught.

Opening Up

For a while now I have been picking up TT and CC (twins) for ILA every Sunday and it has been a struggle for me to connect with the girls on any sort of personal level. It is awfully awkward in the car on the way to and from ILA and it’s a great desire of mine to connect on a level where the students I come in contact with feel comfortable with me. Though we may have not gone through the same life experiences, I know that in many ways the trials God has walked through with me were not suffered in vain and that I get to share those with teenagers.

On my way to pick up the twins I began praying asking God to open up doors to share and discuss with the girls. I was not asking for anything specific to talk about; just to talk and get to know the girls. As I was almost to their house I could feel myself getting a bit nervous wondering if they were going to talk or if it was going to be another awkward car ride. I knew that I just needed to lay everything in the Lords hands and just trust him.

I pulled up to their home and waited in the car for a few minutes. Finally, I saw TT walk out of the house first and I noticed that she was holding something in her hand, something blue. I was wondering what it was, but then again I thought it was probably just her devotional folder. Both girls got into the car and we exchanged hellos and I asked them about their weekends and we talked about the three snow days that they had last week. Then the silence came, but I was not about to settle for a long silence so I asked TT (who was sitting in the front with me) what the blue notebook was. She told me it was her notebook of poems, which she was bringing to share with the writing team tonight. Freely she shared that the poem she was planning to share that night about self esteem. I asked her if she liked to write often and she said that she really did. I was so impressed with how open she became and how much and fast she began to talk about her passion to write.

I was hooked on asking her more questions, I wanted to keep this going as long as possible! We began to talk about the poem she was sharing tonight and how it was about self esteem. She shared with me that she does not like the way she looks. I was just gasping and so quickly began to tell her how beautiful she was as I was thinking to myself “how can she think this?” I asked her why she did not like the way that she looked and after a bit of hesitation she shared that “it is basically my head that I don’t like.” She said that she does not like her teeth, and said that she will soon be getting braces. I was giddy as I shared that she was lucky that she was able to get braces so young, because I had to wear them in college and I remember how embarrassed I was! Then she shared that she did not like her hair and I asked why and she said because it is too thin, well there you go another thing we had in common. I asked her if it was hard to think about liking herself when it is so apparent these days that looking good is very important to this world. She didn’t seem to think that was case and I just know that being a teenager can bring about a lot of those thoughts of not liking yourself. I was then very privileged to talk to TT about what God thinks about her and how beautiful God knew she was going to be when he created her just the way she is. I was so thrilled to talk to her about these important things and I told her I could not wait to hear her poem. Our conversation stopped when we arrived at the church and I was hoping that would not be the end of it!

After ILA was over and we were walking to the car I asked TT how it went reading her poem to the writing team, she shared that she did not read it out loud but typed it up on the computer. She told me that the writing team is thinking of putting a book together of all their poems and short stories. I was just so excited to talk to her again and especially about something I knew she loved.

Earlier in the evening on the car ride to ILA TT told me that she does not ever let anyone read her poems she only reads them because she thinks that someone might not understand what she is writing about. Well to my sweet surprise TT turned to me and said “you can probably read it if you want.” I felt honored and told her that I would love to hear it but she would have to read it to me because I would be driving. While on the way home TT read her poem to me and it was beautiful, she is really a talented writer. I can see the buds of a relationship beginning and it really makes me excited!

Highlights

We all had the opportunity to join together for a wonderful thanksgiving meal. Before we began eating a prayer was said for the food and then everyone was ready to eat. Mrs. Anna had explained to the students that after the prayer she would dismiss each table. The students were all sitting according to their classrooms and Mrs. Anna asked the High School boys to get up and go eat. After a bit of whispering from their table the boys told Mrs. Anna that they wanted to give their turn to the High School girls. Everyone “oooed” and “awwed” because that was really a sacrifice for those boys!

After the festivities of dinner, Mrs. Angela (Substitute Teacher for CI) did a one person monologue about sexual purity for all of the students. In the beginning of the story Mrs. Tasha (Assessments Coordinator) played the role of God who was creating a girl named Monica, and he was saying out loud all the things he was filling her heart with. Then, we jump to Monica on her first day of High School and followed her throughout as she gave her heart to too many boys. She ends up giving too many pieces of her heart away and when she finally meets the man she wants to marry she only has one small piece left to give him. This story told about how important it is to keep our hearts whole because God created them to be whole! And if He has called us to marriage he has already picked out that person so we don’t have to go along giving pieces of our hearts away. Mrs. Angela (Substitute Teacher for CI) did such a wonderful job and was hilarious! All the students loved watching her and gave good feedback at the end.

Meet Zach

Zach has been a part of City Impact for 4 or 5 years now and is currently in the 8th grade at our ILA program on Sunday evenings. Zach attends Culler Middle School and he has 5 brothers! His favorite color is blue and he loves any kind of corn bread. One thing he has learned about God since he has been coming to ILA is this “if you pray for it, it will come to you in some kind of way”. Zach’s favorite thing about City Impact is the GFG (Gifts from God) store because “you get to buy things for you and friends and family”. If Zach knew he only had one more day to live he would spend the day at Champions riding go- carts! I had to ask him, “Why go-carts?” He told me that he would not have gotten the chance to drive, so he would want to ride the go-carts to get that driving experience!

Devotional

TJ- On the left

Jasmine- On the right




Matthew 4:1-11

1-Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
2-Jesus ate nothing for 40 days and nights. After this, he was very hungry.
3-The devil came to Jesus to tempt him. The devil said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these rocks to become bread.”
4-Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘A person does not live only by eating bread. But a person lives by everything the Lord says.’’
5-Then the devil led Jesus to the holy city of Jerusalem. He put Jesus on a very high place of the Temple.
6-The devil said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off. It is written in the Scriptures, ‘He has put angels in charge of you. They will catch you with their hands. And you will not hit your foot on a rock.’”
7-Jesus answered him, “It also says in the Scriptures, ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’”
8-Then the devil led Jesus to the top of a very high mountain. He showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and all the great things that are in those kingdoms.
9-The devil said, “If you will bow down and worship me, I will give you all these things.”
10-Jesus said to the devil, “Go away from me, Satan! It is written in the Scriptures, ‘You must worship the Lord your God. Serve only him!”
11-So the devil left Jesus. And then some angels came to Jesus and helped him.


Day 1

1. Read Matthew 4:1-11.

2. Turn to the Bible verses on the first page and underline any repeated words or repeated phrases.

3. Who are the people in this story?

Jasmine- God, Jesus, Devil

TJ- Jesus, God, Satan

4. Where does this story take place? Be sure to write down all the places.

Jasmine- Kingdom, Desert, Jerusalem, Temple

TJ- The desert, Jerusalem, the kingdoms of the world


5. When does this story happen?

Jasmine- 40 days and nights

TJ- When Satan tempted

Day 2

1. Read Matthew 4:1-11 again.

2. Make a list of the three ways the devil tempted Jesus?

Jasmine- Tell the rocks to become bread, jump off the highest temple, bow down and worship him.

TJ- The devil tells Jesus to prove his loyalty, he tells Jesus to jump of the temple of faith, the devil took Jesus to the high mountain and told him to bow down to him

3. What was Jesus’ answer to the devil’s temptations? Or, How did Jesus respond to the devil each time he tempted him?

Jasmine- A person does not live with bread alone, he has put angels in charge of you, you must worship the Lord your God.

TJ-He injured him and told him whats right


Day 3

1. Read Matthew 4:1-11 one more time.

2. The devil used natural needs- like hunger (remember Jesus hadn’t had any food for 40 days!) and natural desires-like power & authority (lots of people like to be in charge)to tempt Jesus. What are the needs and desires that you have? How do you think the devil could tempt you using these things?

Jasmine- helping someone the devil would tell me not to help.

TJ-clothes, and electronics the devil tempts me by bringing new stuff out



3. What things can you do to resist the devil when he tempts you? (hint-look at how Jesus responded).

Jasmine- By ignoring him, and by asking God for help

TJ- I could try to focus more on my faith




4. Read verses 1-3 again. Jesus was sooooo hungry and at a weak spot physically. When we are at our weakest we are extra vulnerable to the devil’s attack. The devil is sort of like a lion who goes after the sick or young or old or injured – they are easy to catch. So when are you at your weakest? (its good to know so you can be aware of the prowling lion).

Jasmine- When I am tired, sleepy

TJ-When I am real sick because I don’t think a lot.

Angela's Dance

Written by Angela Pillow; ILA Dance Team Coordinator

When did I know I loved to dance....probably in heaven, before I entered my mothers womb. When I entered this world, dancing became my middle name. I am one of four children the 2nd girl. My mother was raised as a Pentecostal (that’s a religion) and as Pentecostals; we lived a life led by the law. No make up, no colored nail polish, no jewelry, and for a woman, no pants and never under any circumstances could you forget NO DANCING! The bottom line was CHRISTIANS DON”T DANCE! I got popped or pinched in church quite a few times for snapping my fingers to a favorite tune. Church was the life…4-5 days a week. We had to wear dresses to the floor and as for physical education class in school, bloomers or gauchos. Those were the days. I’m sure it is needless to say, we were not very popular with our age groups growing up and there were no Nike or name brand gauchos (Gauchos in my opinion is best described as a skirt on each leg, or in my case a STIFF skirt on each leg looking at the fact they were corduroyed). Coming off my soap box, the great news is while on a long journey of coming into the knowledge of Christ my mom soon discovered the revelation that “not wearing pants” could not get us into heaven and wearing pants could not keep us out, so at the age of 18, we were released! We were free!

Now I am on my own and older able to do what “I” wanted! I can DANCE! I faithfully went to the dance clubs in the city of Lincoln every weekend. This life of partying was not fulfilling and often led me to doors that I did not want to venture…for instance; drugs, bad men, and at one time I even met a group of girls that tried to recruit me into the lifestyle of “exotic” dancing! I know God was with me at that time because I had no money and these girls were my age and already owned a home, and they had plenty of money. The explained to me,”Black girls are really needed! They get paid MUCH more!” Now I can say, “Thank you Jesus for keeping me and for my mother teaching us to NEVER sell or bodies in any way, shape, or form.”

Back then at 21 years old I became a single mother and I had a beautiful daughter my mother named, Diamond. Now tired of the party lifestyle I lived which was dull and empty, I moved to Hastings Nebraska and went to school while working and I knew I wanted a change in my life. I wanted the “real thing.” I began the exciting journey of “seeking the truth!” I was determined to find it. Each day of the week I spent time studying with a different religion. I met with the Mormons’ one day, the Jehovah witnesses another day, I went to a catholic church with my landlord/neighbor and attended the first church you see when entering the city, Assembly of God church. I can say now I was just running an interview to see which religion fit the lifestyle I wanted to live. My focus question was “Is it still ok to listen to worldly music and ok to dance?” Then I realized I was picking and choosing the “religion or beliefs,” that I wanted. “This can’t be right. If this is the case, anyone can find what ever God they want, depending on how they want to live. That just can’t be right.” I prayed to the lord that day to find the truth and so began the journey. I remember the prayer and I surrendered my dances for the world to the Lord but praying if there be anyway I could still dance, to please allow me to do so and I would dance for him instead. This was before Kirk Franklin and LaCrae albums came out. I often think that prayer I sent up is the real reason we now have some of the praise music we have today.

Time goes by and my search for the truth continues. I eventually move back to Lincoln again and found a church. All the while this dance is still inside me. I made some good choices, some GREAT choices, some bad choices, and some worse choices along the way, but I never stopped seeking. Here in Lincoln we have a Juneteenth celebration and once a year a large group of kids from Omaha come down and dance. They were an awesome Drill team. Shortly after their performance, a swarm of children from Lincoln bombarded me stating they wanted a drill team here and they would like me to be a part of it. I already had the same idea, so of course I said I would be honored. I made it very clear to them all we MUST glorify God and they agreed. We made a sign up sheet passed around and before the afternoon, there were about 60 names and phone numbers of interested families. We quickly started the drill team and the Lord gave me the name; PREVAIL with the motto/logo ALL GLORY BE TO GOD. We were blessed to do several performances including the Lincoln Star City Pre parade pre show, Omaha Days parade and competition, and we were able to perform for a few companies. Things were beginning to thrive and flourish and I not only had practice at Malone Community Center we also met at Salvation Army with a whole new set of children. Going back to one of those bad choices I spoke about, I made it when I was 24 years old and it was an attempt of a good deed.

Along this walk I befriended a couple of young ladies that were also my neighbor, members of my church and PREVAIL. They were very dear to me so my older sister and I both took them under our wing. We even call them our little sisters to this day. I have been there for the birth of their children and we remain close even now. They were 12 and 13yrs old when I first met them. When they were attending junior high I started working with them and encouraging them in their studies. They worked very hard and as a reward I agreed to have a slumber party at my house on their behalf. The night of the slumber party, one of the girls drove to my home with her mom in the passenger seat. She had a learner’s permit, and all the girls were impressed she could drive. Later that night we needed more snacks from the store from around the corner and this young lady asked if she could she drive. I reluctantly agreed thinking it would be ok as long as I was in the front seat with her. Next another girl wanted to drive so I stayed in the front seat and we all laughed and giggled as she slammed on the breaks being that she was very unfamiliar with driving. Of course another girl wanted her turn and we did this in a in an empty parking lot. Soon, all the laughing stopped because one of the girls hit a pole. (My little sister) Everyone was ok and no one got hurt, physically. God was definitely watching over us all! I now had a child neglect charge on my record, I lost my job the next day and I now had no car (It was totaled) but we were alive and that’s all that mattered. Thank you Lord!


One day I heard of an opening at Carol Yokum Center looking for someone to run a dance workshop and I applied. To my surprise, I got the job and this would be for pay! Wow! That would be like getting paid to eat ice cream! The last step in the interviewing process was to go through a background check. Due to policies and guideline procedures, I could not be hired due to the “child neglect” charge on my record. With this happening, I knew it was important to let my peers know as well at the directors at the Malone and Salvation Army. Crash! I was devastated. I had no idea this would affect so many things. I now had no dance outlet in effect. We were all sad, but I encouraged the youth and my last words were “Through Christ…I will prevail!”

I continued seeking the truth and I kept going to church. One day, there was no church. My church was no longer a church, it basically disintegrated. My life started to take a quick dive. With all the past mistakes I made, I had learned a lot, but I still had much more to learn. I did just that, even though the bad company and drugs crept in slowly again, I still desired a peace that surpassed all understanding. I braided hair in the community and ended up braiding the hair of an old acquaintance and she was not the same. I had to know what changed her. She and told me of her love of Christ and she invited me to City impact. I started going. Just before this I met a young man by the name of Ken, a single father of 3 boys and he went also. Once again God rescued me. I heard the gospel in a way I had never heard it before; through my kids! Both Ken and I began to seek this peace together and not long after this journey began, we were married and seeking like never before. We did find a church and through the week we attended bible study while our kids went to bible club. We loved it and our kids loved it too!


Of course I still desired to dance. I volunteered at City Impact to chaperone a dance project introducing the children interested in dance to different types of dance, like ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop. We ALL had a BLAST! We were given the opportunity to see performances at the Lied Center and I had NEVER seen anything like it! I was SUPER inspired and of course, I had a record holding me back. I prayed for God to make a way to clear my name and through MUCH prayer and supplication I trusted God on my name being removed from the Central registry as “Child Neglect.” As of May 2009 my name has been cleared and I am clear to PREVAIL! Thank you Jesus! November 1st was my first day with the children at ILA with City Impact, and now we will look to the Lord to order our steps and develop into what ever God wants us to do! ALL GLORY BE TO GOD. My story is simply: I love the Lord, I love to dance, and I have danced for the world long enough. I now praise dance to and for my heavenly father and I will bless his name as I proclaim He is worthy to be praised, and I have a lot to PRAISE GOD FOR! I have no idea what God is going to do through dance at ILA and no agenda of my own. I do know I trust the Lord and my expectations come only from him, but I know he is able to do exceedingly and abundantly over and beyond anything I would ask. I only ask for his “guidance” through this new development. Have your way Lord…..Have your way.