Kim's first attempt at the blog...come join the journey!

So it’s time I write on the Blog and try write down my hearts passion and experiences. I’m going to be straight up front and honest…blogs aren’t my thing. I don’t know what it is in trying to put my experiences and thoughts down in writing … I’m more of a ‘talker’ than a ‘writer’ (also, grammar is NOT my strength). So wanna go for Coffee anyone? Haha. I promise to continually update as best I can, as I want to include YOU in on this journey of Anchored Warriors that Amy and I are on!

There has been a lot of change and transition the last couple weeks as Amy mentioned below. I officially quit my job at Billy Graham Evangelistic Assoc. (aka BG) and am attempting to go full time with Anchored Warriors. My experience at BG was great and I wouldn’t change anything about it. I believe it really equipped me in many areas to start Anchored Warriors. Prior to BG I never knew administrative work was my thing or organizational skills – little did I know I enjoyed it at BG! The support and encouragement I received from my co-workers was more than I could ask for…I’ll be forever grateful! Thank you BG/SP!

I really can’t believe this has actually started! I’ve been excited, nervous, and scared all at the same time. Excited to actually pursue my passion in this… it’s funny how God works. I never ever thought I would live in Canada – or Calgary at that! I seriously thought I would live overseas or stay put in the USA doing relief work or some type of ministry that helped people. After moving back home from Chicago, I figured it would only be temporary as I started looking at opportunities outside Canada. After months of every door being shut I felt ‘stuck’ and in a crisis of what I’m doing in life!

Little by little my heart started to change and I started to see the need of my own Aboriginal people. I love my culture, I love the people, I love the relationships and everything else – wow, it’s really what I’m passionate about! My desire to go far away overseas was no longer there and doors started opening up in Canada. Native Youth Conference has become my absolute passion and that’s where Anchored Warriors was developed. Follow up ministry, building leaders, starting youth programs/ministry in communities across Canada :) that is my dream and hope from this. God has opened doors beyond our control; it’s neat to see things come together. I’m nervous and scared about this because the future is unknown in where Anchored Warriors will go… Being scared and nervous = faith and trust in Christ knowing that I can only take one step at a time and fully rely on God as he leads the way.

With that, every day is a learning curve. Adjusting to the life of working from home (very challenging!), being disciplined, traveling to communities, building relationships, and most important is not getting caught in the ‘busyness’ of life but continuing to grow in my personal relationship with Christ. He needs to be my centre all the time and I have to learn over and over that He’s in Control…not me.

Amy and I have had many meetings and have many more to go. We met with our first community and had a great time with the leaders! They are an awesome group of believers and have big hearts. I’m excited to see what God is going to do through them in developing something for the youth in their community. Please continue to pray for us as we move forward. Pray for all the leaders in these communities. Pray for the youth. Thank you for taking the time to read our blog and for your support.

Moving Forward

Well things are almost completely in full swing now! Kim is officially done her job at BG and as soon as she gets back from her vacation/visit with her family on the res we will be doing this Anchored Warriors thing 100%. It is so crazy how all of this is happening so fast, and how so many great opportunities and connections have been happening. These opportunities and connections are such a blessing too because they are all coming from different people in our lives that are wanting to support us in this new ministry, which is so awesome.

For example, just on Friday I met with two awesome guys (Phil and Karl) from the Impact Society that work with the "Heros" program. (www.impactsociety.com - check them out!) We had lunch together and talked about Anchored Warriors and Heros and the importance of First Nations people and especially the youth and how we could partner together. Then one of the awesome guys, Phil, mentioned that he was speaking at Harvest Hills Alliance Church at their kick off because they were launching a new theme for the year about having an outside impact on the world around them. He was inviting different ministries from around the city to come and set up a booth and interact with the church family there and he asked if I wanted to come. I said yes, even though we had nothing for a booth really. lol.

Anyways, I pulled some stuff together getting help from some of my Calgary family (the Mayerles) and was at the church for both services. It was really a great time and I got to meet a lot of different people and connected with some of the other organizations. Phil gave a really powerful message that gave me a punch in the face too. He reminded all of us that it doesn't matter who we are, what skills we have or how much money we have, if we have a skill or something we love to do, we can use it to help other people. The pastor gave this equation: If you know of a need + you have the means to meet that need = a call. 

So this is my call, among other ones. I am excited to see what the next couple weeks has to bring. And I am so blessed and encouraged by ALL of the support everyone has been showing. Even just "liking" our page on Facebook or seeing how many people have been checking out our blog, or having different people give me pieces of their wisdom and experience to help us as we start out, it's so amazing!  We are not meant to do things alone, and I know that we aren't and won't be because me and Kim both have an awesome group of people we can call our family and friends that love and support us! So thanks :)

The Beginning

This is where it all started - Native Youth Conference. It is exactly what it sounds like - a gathering of First Nations youth and leaders ages 13-30 from all over western Canada. This next year will be the 18th year of NYC running. It is amazing to see so many youth come and have so much fun and at the same time be so changed from the inside out by the power of the Hope and Love of Jesus. This year we had just under 60 youth (and even some leaders) come forward to make a new commitment to live out their faith and follow Jesus. It was very overwhelming to see and be a part of as a prayer counsellor.
Anchored Warriors’ heart is for the next step for these youth and leaders. Every year I am able to meet new youth and leaders and catch up with others from the previous years, and every time the conference is over and everyone leaves, all I want to do is go out and continue to encourage and build up these leaders and youth. I have seen so many youth and young adults attend and be involved in NYC with such huge potential for leadership and for bringing change and hope to their own communities yet when they go home they don’t always have a place to do that. And so it was NYC that really was and is the beginning place for Anchored Warriors! God has been opening so many doors to make this project happen this year and we are so excited to have the support and prayers of so many family, friends and new friends behind us in this journey.
And if any of you youth and leaders are reading this - this Anchored Warriors project is for you. It’s because we see you and we see the beautiful person that God has made and gifted and we want to see you reach that full potential!
SO this is the beginning of our journey. Tuesday is my last day at one of my part time jobs, and then I will begin being a part time project coordinator of Anchored Warriors, and I could not be more excited! And Kim is officially done her job at Billy Graham Foundation Sept.10. Please pray for us as we transition to this new and amazing job, and for our finances as we are still seeking funding for this ministry. We know that God will provide as He has already been providing in so many ways! Thanks so much for your support and prayers already!
John 15:16,17 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.