Lifelines At Life Church

This is the first in a special series of Bright Spot Reports called Lifelines. A Lifeline is a place, a person or group of people who act as Lifelines to folks who are drowning in the seas of life. A Lifeline is the Way, the Truth and the Life of Christ.

          Lifelines can save your life in many ways. Imagine yourself underwater in scuba diving gear and your air tank becomes empty. Hopefully your diving partner can assist you by sharing some of his air until you both can get to the surface. Your partner is giving you a Lifeline that saves your life. Imagine a Church full of folks whose common desire is to be Lifelines to a drowning world. That's Life Church in West Seneca, NY.
          Invincibility is not a human trait. We all need help sometimes. Life Church has a circle of leaders. "Circles are better than rows," says Pastor Pete Jankowski. "Rows of people focus on leaders, circles of people foster relationships." Pete delivered a great teaching about Lifelines last week (9-11-16.) He held a life preserver in his hands as he shared God's heart through his words.
          Friends are made quickly at Life Church. The Worship Team lead by Meg Roberts is Holy Spirit driven and energizing. There is a fresh wave of God's love flowing through Life Church. The Worship Team and the Pastors are unified and it shows. Even the guys in the sound booth are in tune with the wave.
          Everyone on the Staff at Life Church has a common goal - they don't want you to be alone. They are a church community with the common purpose of reaching common people with the life-changing message of the Gospel. 

Who Are Some of These Folks?

          Pastor Loren Sperrey shares his heart in a way that demonstrates unbridled honesty and humility. He's like a "Gatherer" who helps folks gather their minds in preparation for a deeper wave.  Loren's wife Janie is a model of Christ-like sincerity. She is so appreciative to God for what she's been given, that she says thank you by showing lovingkindness to everyone she meets.
          Pastor Craig McLeod and his wife Carol are the cornerstones of a ministry that's throwing Lifelines worldwide. Craig is moving into the next season of God's calling on his life. He's passing his leadership role to Pastor Pete. His style of transition is a beautiful lesson in Holy Spirit leadership. He's handing over responsibility while letting go and yet supporting Pete by lifting him up. Carol McLeod is the Founder of Just Joy Ministries. Her life is a testimony that says; "I will love the race as I run with perseverance in teaching others about God's never ending grace." All women will experience greater peace through Just Joy. 

          Pastor Pete Jankowski is the new Lifeline in the wave of the Spirit moving at Life Church. He brings a unique and Word-studied brand of teaching that combines life stories with Lifeline Truths. Pete's wife Kelly can smile and give hope in the middle of a storm. She's an encourager who believes that all ground is holy ground - that's her attitude!

          Life Church is full of many people who are Lifelines. They greet you, serve coffee, clean the building, run the nursery, serve as Youth Leaders, act as Receptionist, facilitate small groups and pray for you. If you visit Life Church and somehow feel lost in the wave, ask for a Lifeline. There are many people drowning, but God desires that none should perish. He loves you with an everlasting love. God has established the work of Life Church as a Lifeline to common people. They're all about making close connections and supporting one another in the experiences of daily life.

          Learn more about Life Church by reaching out for a Lifeline. 716-675-LIFE
4928 Seneca Street,Buffalo, NY, email: office@lifechurchbuffalo.com
https://www.facebook.com/lifechurchbuffalo/?fref=ts
http://www.lifechurchbuffalo.com/#life-church-buffalo

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.

          Bob Kuebler is the Founder & Director of Youth With A Purpose. Bob has spent the last 15 yrs. learning about pain and perseverance from inner city young people and their families. Healing starts with love and encompasses compassion and empathy. Our mission at YWAP is to inspire inner city young people to develop as God's leaders who overcome the mindset of poverty and gang violence. We help them build their own personal Lifeticket. 

          The Author of five books, several blogs including The Bright Spot Report, Bob shares with audiences how God is redeeming our cities through young people.
Bob can be reached at 716-830-8240, ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com. www.youthwithapurpose.org

#DROWNING #LIFECHURCH #LIFELINE #LIFETICKET #JLYASDW

Talking Matters - Owen Steed Creates A Bright Spot In Niagara County

            Citizens and community leaders from the City of Niagara Falls got together for a "heart-storming" session. They gathered at the Trinity Baptist Church for some deep soul-searching. "How can we help each other create a city that looks more like a family?" That question would be a good way to sum up the quest for unity in solving the problems of violence, drug addiction and poverty that plague most big cities. The event; "Talking Matters" was organized by Niagara County Legislator Owen Steed.  

Thank you Owen Steed for creating a Bright Spot in Niagara County!

            The Director of Youth With A Purpose was present with the hope of speaking about a successful program for 18-30 yr. old young men in Buffalo. Due to the large number of speakers, many folks weren't able to speak. Those who did were very passionate. Each speaker was given a three minute time limit. We feel that it's important to share what God is doing in Buffalo as part of His answer in teaching young men how to build solutions to poverty and violence. What follows are my three minutes and the words that I would have spoken. Maybe they were meant for such a time as this.

            My name is Bob Kuebler and I'm the Director of Youth With A Purpose. For several years I've had the privilege of being a speaker in the Niagara City Schools. Just three weeks ago I was in the Niagara Falls High School Health Classes. When I'm asked to come in and speak to the students, they ask me to speak about violence, drugs & alcohol abuse and bullying. What I actually teach the students is how to embrace the hard times of today as tomorrow's diamonds.

            As the Director of the Holy Cross Youth Center, I've witnessed the heartbreak of young boys killed in the streets over drugs and gangs. I've had my hand on the chest of 14 yr. old boy as he took his final heartbeat caused by the bullet that passed through his brain. I have over fifteen years experience in helping families deal with the tragedies that accompany violence, drugs, and abuse - physical, verbal and emotional.

             As an old-head, my time is growing shorter, we need to help young men mentor the younger generation NOW. We have a plan to do that and it's called BWAP or Basketball With A Purpose. The name can be a bit misleading. We could just as easily call it Music With A Purpose or Cooking With A Purpose. Find something that young people, boys or girls of any age like to do and use the BWAP format to from life-changing relationships with them. Learning labs can be constructed through a multi-faceted approach that incorporates athletics and academics.

            Basketball is simply a relationship building tool. Each week at a BWAP site, young men 18-30 yrs. old play basketball from 7-8:15 pm. At approximately 8:15pm, we call halftime and the young men move into another room to listen to a Life Devotion/Direction Speaker. The guest speaker gives a 9-minute talk that's usually a life story of perseverance and overcoming hardship - we all have them. The speech is called a 9MD - 9 Minute Devotion or Direction.

          Possible speakers include: Business owners, Police, former addicts, millionaires, former alcoholics, Pastors, former gangsters, Teachers, Judges, Lawyers, women who've overcome abuse, College and Military Recruiters, Professional Athletes and young people who've been a part of the BWAP Character Program. In the event that a speaker does not use a Bible verse as part of his 9 minutes, the BWAP Team will always give God credit through the Gospel after the Speaker is done.
            Last year in a Buffalo School, some of our young men became YWAP Coaches and mentored in an after school program. In 45 minutes, we combined literacy teaching, social/emotional learning and physical education. Who says education can't be fun?

            The last thing I would like to share with you is the YWAP LIFETICKET. We help young men build their own personal LIFETICKET. We ask them a few simple questions as a means of building a relationship with them and discovering their needs. We ask if they need prayer for anything. (If I had been able to speak at the Forum, I would've asked the crowd if anybody needed prayer and urged them not to go home until they had somebody pray with them. We need to serve each other in a more immediate way.) We ask about education, employment, housing, community service or if they need help for any other reason. http://www.youthwithapurpose.org/ywap-life-ticket.html

             We've had discussions with the Niagara Gospel Rescue Mission about partnering with them and starting a BWAP Program. Please keep us in prayer as we look to expand God's territory through BWAP in other cities including Niagara Falls, NY, Huntington, WV, West Seneca, NY and Buffalo, NY. Please contact us to learn more.

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.

Jesus loves you and so do we.

          Bob Kuebler is the Founder & Director of Youth With A Purpose. Bob has spent the last 15 yrs. learning about pain and perseverance from inner city young people and their families. Healing starts with love and encompasses compassion and empathy. Our mission at YWAP is to inspire inner city young people to develop as God's leaders who overcome the mindset of poverty and gang violence. Bob is the Author of five books, several magazine articles and blogs including The Bright Spot Report. He regularly shares with audiences about how God is redeeming our cities through young people.
Bob can be reached at 716-830-8240, ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com. www.youthwithapurpose.org