My adventures started in June at CYIA, a CEF training program for teens interested in children's ministry. There I learned how to present the Gospel to a young child and to do 5-Day Clubs. It was very intensive and hard, but I learned many things. I'm glad I went and I hope to go again next summer. I encourage any Christian teen to attend. It is well worth it. I did my first 5-Day Club there and it was alot of fun. Two weeks later I did two clubs in my home town. The first club was at Mrs. William's house and seven children attended. The second club was in the Tiger Park with eleven children attending. Please pray for the children whose lives were touched this summer. My last mission adventure took place in La Barge, Wyoming. I went with the Westside Baptist Church youth group. It was awesome. Please pray for Kayla, Ellen, and Jeni as they begin their new life in Christ. There were nineteen who attended this club. When I got back in August we had a Watermelon Party at the Brookview Apartments with 25-30 in attendance. The Lord truly blessed my life this summer.

Yours in Christ,
Erika

P.S.-When doing children's ministry remember: Matthew 18:14 and thanks for your prayers.

As a former CYIAer, I'd like to share with you the effect that it has had on my life. I attended CYIA for two consecutive summers after I graduated high school. Those two summers had a dramatic effect on my Christian life. First of all, I was only a Christian for a year when I first attended CYIA. The intensive training that I received taught me how to share my faith with others. With the training, I led my first person to the Lord! I was estatic to realize that God would use me to bring someone to His saving grace! I do not remember how many that I personally lead to the Lord that summer, but I do know that I was so excited at the work that God had used me to do, that I did not want to leave Warrenton, where the training had taken place! By the next summer of CYIA training, I had already surrendered my life to the ministry and God prepared me with more training from CYIA and more opportunities to share His love to many people.

Nine and a half years later, I am still effected by the training that I received from CYIA. As a youth and children's minister, I incorporate what I learned from CYIA into the lessons that I teach the kids.

The memories that I have from those two summers continue to bless me as I think of the wonderful Christian friends that I made, some I am still in contact with. Off the top of my head, I can think of six people (about 20% of the students), inculding myself, in my CYIA graduating class, that are still involved in some sort of ministry. CYIA is a great ministry, not only for reaching children with the Gospel of Christ, but for equipping people to spread the Good News!

In Christ,
Lewis