For Him and Them by Dean Cowles, YPN President

A monthly message from YouthPartnersNET President Dean Cowles.

For Him and Them by Dean Cowles

April 2007

Easter

For Christians this April is one of the highlights of the year. It's Easter. It's a time for the celebration of our Lord's resurrection. Because of Christ's death and resurrection from the dead all of us have reason to rejoice.

And yet there are still millions upon millions that don't share that joy we find in Jesus. They are still lost in the darkness with very little hope. But that will change for many this Easter due to the outreach ministries of our partners around the country.

We will be rising up early for a Sunrise Service with our Denver ministry partners and invited guests at the Confluence River, the founding site of this great metropolitan area. Jude Del Hierro, founder of Confluence Ministries (one of our Denver ministry partners) and composer of the popular chorus, "More Love, More Power, More of You in My Life" will be leading worship with the Confluence Band. I wish all of you could join us.

If you're not from Denver, check our list of Ministry Partners and find a ministry near you to share this great occasion. You or your church might want to help out with hundreds of Sunrise and Morning Worship Services taking place for those raised in our at-risk communities.

One of our newest ministry partners, Cottage Grove Compassionate Ministries in rural Oregon, is hosting its first Easter Brunch, Service and Egg Hunt for the children. YPN has been working with Pastor Cindy to launch their outreach to one of the highest concentrations of poverty and meth labs in the state. Cottage Grove doesn't get much attention or funding since it is so far from the big urban areas but the needs are great. They can provide a full meal and family day of fun, community building and Christ sharing for just $5.00 a person. Cheryl and I are going to sponsor a family of five for $25 and you may want to join us. Simply send your gift to YPN (note CG Easter on your check) and we'll pass it along.

Would you please join us with a special Easter love gift to encourage Pastor Cindy in this call the Lord has given her to reach "the least of these." She spends a lot of her time ministering to the growing homeless population of families camping out by the river with no adequate shelter or services. The church is an oasis in this spiritual desert.

Thanks for caring and sharing. Because He Lives,

For Him and Them,

Dean Cowles

PS: I sent this thank you letter to Pastor Cindy right after drafting it to be sure I had the details right. 30 minutes later she sent back this email which you need to read. God's timing is always "on time".

"WOW! What an unexpected surprise! This letter of recommendation from Dean means a lot to me and our Cottage Grove Compassionate Ministries. Today already held unexpected blessing. At Rotary Club, I was awarded the Distinguished Service Citation for my work with youth in our community as foreign exchange students.

Also last night was my night to cook the meal for the approximately 45 people attending. My helpers in the kitchen? Two formerly homeless men, one a father of three and the other a newly employed felon. Brand new creatures in Christ!

Last week I was discouraged, and poured my heart out to the Lord. He saw my desperation and answered in such unexpected ways. It is humbling and exciting all in the same breath.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Cindy

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