Winter Blast was amazing!

I'm overdue for an update! Thank you to those who contributed to my year-end goals for TreeHouse support. We made a huge leap forward! I am now figuring out what the next goal will be for fiscal year end, March 31st. More on that next time....

With the plentiful snow and ice, the kids and TH staff have had some fun with fort building, snowball fights, and broomball. The Bloomington kids are going to a Timberwolves game for free this Friday night and a Swarm game next month. And we're already working on planning summer trips!

January 9-11 we took 115 teens from all 6 TreeHouses to Camp Forest Springs in northern Wisconsin for our Winter Blast Retreat. It was an amazing weekend! Our theme was Surrender, and many kids surrendered their lives to following Jesus Christ or worked through specific things in their lives that they needed to surrender to God. We even had a teen get set free from demonic oppression. God is truly loving and all-powerful! I also had a great time bonding with girls from Chaska TreeHouse and others as well.

STORY: During our Saturday night worship and prayer time, one of my girls from Chaska looked like she needed to talk. Her dad died a year ago, a man she hardly knew because he'd been in prison most of her life. She has been dealing with depression and feelings of powerlessness for a few years. I asked her what she was thinking about...what she needed to surrender. She said that she struggles to just be herself and not try to look good and act cool. It is such a common struggle, but it was hitting her so hard that weekend...wanting to be known and accepted and tired of trying to perform to earn it. I let her cry in my arms as I prayed over her to be released from the beliefs and fears that were holding her down. I told her how much God and I both love her, crying myself by that point. Then she wrote a letter to herself to remind her of what she was struggling with and what God was saying to her, a letter we will mail to her in about two months. The next day as we ate lunch on our way home from the retreat, she said in front of all her friends that she totally bawled last night, and really needed the prayer that I offered on her behalf. Gutsy girl! A first sign of answered prayer. She is a leader who needs the courage to let go of people's perception of her and do what she knows is right.

Pray that she keeps breaking free and grows strong as a young leader in a community where she is racially in the minority and has obstacles to overcome both personally and socially. Pray she keeps choosing to follow Christ and seek knowing God above all else.

PRAYER: One of my girls at Chaska has had debilitating headaches for several months. She can't go to school, and is trying to be successful with online school as an alternative. The doctors can't figure out what's wrong with her. There is clearly a spiritual element to what's happening. Pray for discernment as we seek God's intervention, and pray for her healing and release from oppression! (Luke 4...Jesus came to heal and set us free!)

One of our senior guys at Bloomington was homeless last year and has allowed us to help him find housing. He continues to need help to manage school, living arrangements, getting a job, and getting into college (he wants to go to a Christian school!); he is resistant to help though, wanting to be independent and not burden others. Pray that he will humbly accept more help and that God will lead and provide for him. Pray that he doesn't lose his new-found faith!

Thank you! Til next time...

Five Days Before Christmas...

Five days before Christmas and all through the town,
White snow flakes are falling while shoppers drive 'round.
We rush to buy presents, bigger, better, more and more,
We spend so much money; do we really know what for?
Do we give because we have to? Because our culture says "Spend!"
Do we give because we've received love, joy, and peace without end?

I know I am loved, God said so and proved
by sending His son to do what I couldn't do.
Humble beginnings were given to the Creator of all,
Come down to earth, born in a cattle stall.
He gave up his power, and gave us his life,
So that we could be set free and again be made right.

When we receive HIS gift, we have much to give,
Though not in wrapped packages, but in how we now live.
I, too, share my life so that others may know
How they're loved by God and can be pure as snow.

With me give your all, regardless of return,
To those who don't know that God's heart for them burns.
The gifts we each need are not more stuff and things,
But faith, hope and love, which our Lord Jesus brings.

When we give like He gives, our eyes regain sight.
Merry CHRISTmas to all and trust Jesus tonight.

How Are Things Going at TreeHouse?

It's been my desire to have a way to keep friends, family, and fans of TreeHouse connected to what's happening in the ministry God has invited me (and you!) into. I'm excited to start using this blog to do just that.

People often ask me how things are going at TreeHouse. This is a tough question for me to answer because there always exists a multiplicity of simultaneously correct answers. =) Here is the broad sweep of my current responses:

Teens: There are lots of teens coming to both Chaska and Bloomington locations. We would like to reach more kids in both areas though, especially at Bloomington. Please pray that the kids who need us would find us and/or that we'll find them! We are struggling with some racial tension in the Chaska area and have some kids with great leadership potential who we want to see turn the corner and 'use their powers for good and not evil.' One of our 9th grade boys has changed dramatically since he went on our fall retreat in October. He is even applying for our TreeHouse Leadership Core! Praise God.

Staff: My staff are doing well overall. We are facing a lot of transition and 'growth.' I am looking for a few more volunteer staff to help with program for teens on Tuesday or Thursday nights and then possibly branch out to mentoring some of the teens. Do you know anyone who would like to volunteer with amazing youth?

Chaska: Marie is doing well as area program coordinator but overwhelmed at times while being short staffed, Nate is going to be a dad for the first time in February, and we hired two new staff who are fundraising and should be in the area full time by February.
Bloomington: Ardath is trying to raise more funds now that she's the area program coordinator, Jamie is having her third child in January, Paul is getting married in June, and Matt just finished his initial fundraising and is full time in the area! We are searching for another full time female to hire.

Community: I have been connecting with many individuals in both Chaska and Bloomington through my involvement in both Chambers of Commerce. We partnered with the Bloomington Police this summer to identify and refer teens who need our services. I was interviewed on the Bloomington cable police show as well as the Bloomington Today cable news. Good times! =) We have met with the leadership of several schools to tell their staff about TreeHouse and to start attending school lunches to bless our kids and meet their friends. I had a GREAT time at lunch with the freshmen in Chaska last week and enjoyed meeting the new vice principal. I spoke to the Chanhassen Rotary recently, will be speaking to the Bloomington Community Foundation this week, and have more opportunities on the horizon. These are just the highlights!
FUNdraising: I am in need of much help to reach my financial target for the year. I'm behind my goal for the first time in the three years I have been at TreeHouse. This is because both my salary and financial responsibility have increased this year as a result of my growth in the organization. "To whom much is given, much is required!" =) It does create a bit of stress; however, I trust God to provide as I keep sharing the TreeHouse story with people.

Ministry Partners: Many of you minister alongside me at TreeHouse by praying and giving financially. I hope you find it a blessing! I love hearing back from you about how you feel connected to the work we're doing together. If you have ideas or requests to stay more connected, let me know.

People sometimes ask how much it costs to 'sponsor a teen' at TreeHouse. The cost per teen per year is $2,200 which includes everything from facilities to staff salaries. This cost of prevention is a lot cheaper than the correctional system which costs taxpayers more than $50,000 per person per year.

If you are not yet a ministry partner but would like to be, or if you would like to increase your giving, you can email me at arightler@treehouseyouth.org to talk further or you can donate online at http://www.treehouseyouth.org/ :
1. On the left side of the page, click on "Ways to Donate"
2. Click on "Online Donation Form"
3. Fill out the form, check the monthly payment option box (or select another giving frequency), type "Angela Rightler" in the staff name box, and write in the amount you'd like to give.

Thank you! Til next time.... I'll post some interesting stories and more prayer requests in the future. =)

Ang