FCA Irvine Huddle Recap 2/23/2012

                                  Good Morning FCA Families!!
Here is a quick recap of our last FCA Huddle.  Once again, the turnout was incredible, the bleachers were packed.  Lots of new faces too.  We even had the Youth Pastor from New Hope church join us!!


Our speaker this week was Epi Garcia. He is the youth pastor at Bethany Church of Sierra Madre.

I asked Jeremiah Carter, one of our Junior FCA student leaders to write as short description of Epi’s message.  Here it is:

“In this weeks FCA huddle, Epi _ spoke. He talked about if we love God with a "brotherly love"(phileo) or if we really love God in the sense that we adore Him and we would do anything for Him (agape). The reason he asked this is because God wants us to love Him in a passionate way and not like "I go to church once a week and I'm cool with God" love. He wrapped his talk up speaking about a mom and her daughter and how the daughter ran away. Even though the daughter ran away, the mom told her that she doesn't care what she has done or where she's been, she just wants her back home. This was an example of how much God loves us and how He feels about us and that no matter what we do or where we go, that He will always love us and accepts us unconditionally. It was great to hear that afterwards, someone who had never been to FCA before, asked Jared for a bible. ”

As you can see by Jeremiah’s recap, Epi really connected with the kids and his message of God’s love was powerful.
Our Huddles of course could not happen with out the support of our wonderful parents:

Our Pizza sponsors for this huddle was the Nordstrom family.   
Baked Goods were lovingly provided by the Torrey & Kenney families.

Water bottles were provided by the Johnson and Chronley families.
Our amazing sound system is provided by the Alayra family.
Thank you, also to the moms who rolled up their sleeves during their lunch break to help serve water and pizza. We are so grateful for your help as this ministry continues to expand.

As you can see this club is growing and will only stay afloat with all of our help!    If you are able, in these tough times, to donate financially, please send a check made to IHS Athletic Boosters-FCA to:  Jodi Nordstrom, 9 Redrock, Irvine, Ca. 92604.  (Your donations are tax deductible!!) 
THANK YOU PARENTS for your support!!!    Attached are some fun pictures from the day!
Our next Huddle is Thursday, March 8 th!!!
Blessings.......
Jodi Nordstrom
Michelle Carter

Foothill FCA: Jana Alayra Shares How she Made Music from the Troubles of this World

Dear FCA Parents and Friends,

Thank you for supporting the Wednesday, February 22nd Huddle with your help and prayers!

Guest speaker, Jana Alayra's powerful testimony, blew away the 200 kids who crowded into Mr. Roundy's science classroom! Jana, who has three children, the youngest at Irvine High; shared the challenges she has faced and how God brought her through each one. "In this world you will have trouble"Jana quoted from John 16:33, "But take heart! I have overcome the world."Jana then shared the trouble she faced from the time she arrived in California as a teenager through her years as a young mother--unimaginable trouble including the suicide of a best friend, the death of her little sister, struggles with bulimia, an unfaithful husband who left her with two little children, and just when things were looking up, the death of her four year old daughter, Lynnie.

"It is not the life I would have chosen", Jana said, but she then shared how God used each of those tragedies for good. The songs our kids are most familiar with including "Jump, jump, jump into the light, light, light," and "Dig Down Deep" were written in response to her four year old's death. When Jana mentioned these songs, the buzz of conversation around the room increased as the "light dawned" on many of the kids who realized Jana was the voice of so many songs they had grown up listening to! They had no idea that such joyful songs were a testimony to God's ability to overcome pain and sorrow!

It was a very powerful 15 minutes. We parents were certainly as blessed as the kids!

Huddle pictures: http://bit.ly/xqLuWT 

It still amazes us that we can do this--share the truth of God's love, grace, and power--on our campus! For as long as He makes it possible, may we continue to be faithful in our prayers and constant in our support of both this ministry and the kids it is reaching!

Humbly,
Linda and Cherie
Upcoming Huddles:
March 7, 21
April 18
May 2, 16 30

Foothill: Ariele Challenges students to "Really Know" their peers

It is always a blessing for the students to hear one of their peers speak to them about something that is on their heart. After a crazy game of blindfolded musical chairs, Arielle Hahir did just that!

An eloquent and poised Arielle challenged Foothill students to see beyond Facebook and Twitter to "really know" their friends. She used Psalm 139 as her text reminding students that God has "searched and known" them, and they should be doing the same with those around them. To drive home the point, she shared some very amazing things that few people know about her, including the fact that she was adopted by a family that found her beside a river in her homeland of China!

To get a taste of what happened at last week's Huddle, check out the picture link: http://bit.ly/yWt13D and especially the video link posted by FCA student leader, Mikayla Feldman: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNfCFN6aeoc&feature=youtu.be
Thank you again, parents, for your prayers, financial support, and helping hands at the Huddle events. Foothill was once a dark place where the evil one did as he liked and the voice of the righteous was small, but years of faithful prayers by Moms in Touch groups, continued investment by local churches, and strong, Christian families have all paved the way for the privilege we now enjoy of sharing the Gospel on our campus.

May we continue to be faithful to support the spread of Truth and Hope in Christ Jesus!

In Him alone,
Linda and Cherie
Next Huddle: February 22

FCA Huddle Recap- Katie Coleman and Josh- Break Dancer Pictures and Video Included

Dear FCA Parents,

 

NHS students continue to be blessed with great guest speakers.  Two weeks ago, student leader Katie Coleman shared with her peers the struggles she battled her Sophomore year of high school.  Katie courageously spoke of her struggle to get perspective on a broken relationship and peer pressure.  She likened her battle to feeling weighed down by a heavy backpack she constantly carried around with her.  She came full circle by realizing she needed to put God first and Katie second.  She went on to share a video from the movement “I Am Second”.  Please click on to the link provided to check out what  Katie shared with your student about the  “I Am Second “ movement as many high profile athletes , celebrities and regular people have shared what miraculous things God has done in  their lives.

 

 I Am Second Video 

http://www.iamsecond.com/about/#.TzBYYFAl8ps.email

 

HUDDLE PICTURES Katie Coleman

http://photobucket.com/fcanorthwood1

 

Also, this past Tuesday we had a returning crowd favorite Josh, who has a break dancing ministry with a bold message.  Josh brought a few friends to bust out some moves and recruited one of our students John Hartshorne to bravely learn a few moves himself.  Thank you, John, for being such a good sport!!  Josh ended his message with an invitation to accept Christ and 7 courageous students stood up in front of their peers and repeated the sinners prayer led by Josh.  They were all applauded for their new found faith.  Parents, please be in prayer for these students as Jared works to get Bibles into their hands and to get student leaders to follow-up with them.  

 

Lastly, thank you for continuing to believe in what God is doing through FCA and Jared Hall with your time and resources. This ministry continues because of your faithfulness. If you desire to support Jared with a onetime gift or on a regular basis please contact Jared at JHall@fca.org.  Our next Huddle is scheduled for Tuesday, February 14^th.

 

Huddle Pictures Josh Break Dancer

http://photobucket.com/fcanorthwood2

 

A Big thank you to the following families for funding the last Huddle:

 

Aviles

Bowers

Pierce

Campbell

May   

 

Loving teenagers,

Torre Murray

Monica Younger

Kate Gisch

Rosalyn Reasor

Irvine Huddle Recap 2/2/12

                                  Good Evening FCA Families!!
Here is a quick recap of our last FCA Huddle.  Once again, the turnout was incredible, the bleachers were packed.  I love that each week the number of kids is growing.  We are now purchasing 30 pizzas!!


Our speaker this week was Jenn Zuelner.  Jenn has a powerful testimony, she shared about when she was burned with acid all over her face and neck and arms.

I asked Valerie Kan, one of our senior FCA student leaders to write as short description of Jenn message.  Here it is:

“Today's huddle gave me such big goose bumps! Jenn, a third-degree burn survivor, told us the story of how she got her burns and how much she's grown with God ever since. She was the first female speaker we've had at a huddle this year, but she did an amazing job. It was so awesome to hear how God worked with her through all of the surgeries and procedures she had to endure for 3 years after her accident. When she asked the students about our lives right now, and what we were willing to lay down at God's feet, I feel like she was speaking specifically to me. I am starting to visit some of the colleges that I've been accepted to, and Jenn's story influenced me to whole-heartedly leave the decision for where I should attend college in His hands. Whatever plans He has for me is way bigger and better than whatever else I had planned, and I know that I can trust in His decisions. Jenn's story helped to encourage students to believe and have faith in God even in the darkest of times, and to know that only He is the way, the truth, and the light.”


As you can see by Valarie’s recap, Jenn’s message really inspired the kids and gave them lots of encouragement.

Our Huddles of course could not happen with out the support of our wonderful parents:
Our Pizza sponsors for this huddle were the Torrey, Garmon and Page families.   Their donations helped us provide plenty of pizza for all who attended.
Baked Goods were lovingly provided by the Kenney family.

Water bottles were provided by the Johnson and Lockwood families.

Our amazing sound system is provided by the Alayra family.
Thank you, also to the moms who rolled up their sleeves during their lunch break to help serve water and pizza. We are so grateful for your help as this ministry continues to expand.

As you can see this club is growing and will only stay afloat with all of our help!    If you are able, in these tough times, to donate financially, please send a check made to IHS Athletic Boosters-FCA to:  Jodi Nordstrom, 9 Redrock, Irvine, Ca. 92604.  (Your donations are tax deductible!!) 
THANK YOU PARENTS for your support!!!    Attached are some fun pictures from the day!
Our next Huddle is Thursday, February 23rd!!!
Blessings.......
Jodi Nordstrom
Michelle Carter