January 29, 2004

Dear Friends:

Greetings!  With this New Year, Aslan begins our twenty-ninth year of ministry to disadvantaged, urban youth!  I cannot think of a more wonderful or appropriate time to “cast the vision” of where God is taking us, but I first want to share a wonderful Christmas story. 

Leneita Fix is Aslan’s Long Branch, New Jersey Director, and through her love and perseverance over the past year attendance has jumped from 50 to 75 children.  Every day children are bringing little brothers, sisters, cousins or friends to see if they may join Aslan.  Just before Christmas Jimmy* (one of our new ten-year-olds) misbehaved on the bus and was told by a volunteer that he couldn’t come back.  Leneita wasn’t there when this happened, so she was surprised to get a call from the boy’s mother - very upset that we’d kicked Jimmy out of Aslan and wouldn’t give him another chance.  Leneita quickly explained to her that we don’t ever kick any child out permanently.  In a moment, the mom went from angry to telling Leneita about all the wonderful things other parents were always saying about Aslan.  Even though Jimmy joined the classes to late to be added to our Christmas list, Leneita searched through extra toys to pick out some special things for him.  Jimmy and his mom were thrilled – for the toys and for the second chance.  Second chances is what Aslan is all about.  In fact, we’ve had to give some children so many chances that they can’t be numbered!  Aslan is a work of love and second chances. 

Over the past six years we’ve experienced unprecedented growth – not only in Long Branch – but in Red Bank and Asbury Park as well.  Reaching more children with God’s love is wonderful, but there is a cost involved.  That cost is the need for increased financial resources, more volunteer help and more staff.  In Leneita’s case, she is valiantly serving 75 children with 2 volunteers and part-time help from 2 Aslan staff!  Our Red Bank and Asbury Park programs are equally understaffed. 

In the midst of needing more people and more resources, our individual donations to Aslan dropped by 20 percent this year.  This translates to a whopping and significant $42,000 less that we received from individual donors in 2002!  Although this is discouraging, after 29 years of faithful service to these children we aren’t about to give up.  The Scriptures say that “Faith is the essence of things hoped for . . . the evidence of things not yet seen.”  Faith tells me that Aslan has only just begun the work that God has for us.  There are thousands of children – right here in Monmouth County and far beyond – who need to experience God’s love in the personal way that only Aslan Youth Ministries can give it. 

As I was deep in prayer a few nights ago, I felt the Lord speak the following words to my heart:  “Cloud by day, and fire by night!”  Several thousand years ago when God spoke to the children of Israel, He told them that He would lead them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  When the cloud (or fire) moved, they were commanded to move.  When the cloud (or fire) stayed put, they were to stay put.  God is leading the work of Aslan, and I believe from the depths of my heart that He is calling us to more, not to less!  The resources are out there.  We just have to find new ways to locate them. 

With the “cloud by day and fire by night,” all of us at Aslan will continue to follow God in reaching these wonderful little ones with the love of Jesus Christ.  We do ask for your most fervent prayers as we walk through 2004; and, with God’s leading, we ask for your continued generous support.  Jimmy and a whole lot of other boys and girls are breaking down our doors every day hoping for a second chance.

Grace and Peace!

Craig

Craig Bogard

We have purposefully changed Jimmy’s name to protect his privacy.