Your investment in Aslan Youth Ministries will make a real and lasting diffference. Will you help us help there children in need?
Aslan Youth Ministries was founded in the snowy winter of 1975, when Bill & Dusty Neergaard and Craig and Lynn Ann Bogard arrived in Monmouth County, New Jersey. During 1971-72, Craig and Lynn Ann had devoted a year of service to disadvantaged, minority children through Camp Shiloh, Inc. (a Mendham, N.J. based Christian social service organization). Unfortunatly the Shiloh program experienced financial problems and was unable to continue. Having fallen in love with the work, the Bogards desired to return to Monmouth County. In January of 1995 they did just that when, together with the Neergaards, they pooled their few earthly belongings and followed their hearts. Craig & Dusty are brother and sister, so there was a definite family connection to keep the couples going through the hard times. The four shared everything together . . . even for many years a place to live. The early years were very difficult ones, with few individuals supporting the work. However, the couples basic needs were always met. During one particularly bleak period, a local pastor coincidentally asked if the four liked granola cereal. Upon their enthusiastic reply, he produced a huge box with a three month supply of granola cereal packets. This occurred without their making anyone aware of the fact they had completely run out of breakfast food! click for photograph
It took an absolute and undying commitment on the part of all four individuals to see Aslan grow from a dream to a reality. That is why it is so very difficult to say goodbye to Bill. For those of you who did not so very difficult to say goodbye to Bill. For you who did not have the privilege of knowing him, words are not adequate to describe what a truly wonderful and caring individual he was and how much he will be missed.
Throughout Billís courageous fight against a disease we know so little about, his attitude remained exemplary. He was concerned for the needs of others above himself. Bill, your laughter, your love and your smile will surely be missed, but your memory lives on each day in this important work you helped begin.
Bill Neergaard 1943 - 1995
My first thought was what a privilege it is to be able to help this fine young man. Jason has fought against great odds to reach the level of success he has already achieved. Fortuitously, a scholarship fund was set up in November through First Presbyterian Church in Red Bank! I told Jason that money from this fund would definitely be used to help him with his expenses for school in England. He assured me he wanted to volunteer at the Aslan office during January as a way of saying thanks. The last thing he said to me before hanging up was, Craig, I don't know how I would have made it without Aslan. You people have done so much for me.
The work of Aslan is tough! There is a lot of discouragement, and it pains us greatly when we see a young person quit trying and give up. However, there is wonderful reward in watching someone like Jason succeed. Believe me. We have not done it for him. We have been a willing tool in God's hand, but Jason has made the decision to fight the good fight and succeed! We will keep you posted on his six months in England. Aslan truly is changing the world . . . one child at a time!
During 1995, Tonya has greatly increased the effectiveness of the program. With her excellent ìpeople skillsî she has increased our food & clothing volunteer base from 2 individuals to 30! Through her efforts, Aslan has also expanded the number of families we are serving from 99 families to 170. Additionally, Tonya has also been responsible for obtaining 750 bags of donated foodstuffs from area post offices and businesses.
Few of the children in our programs are inspired with vision. Most of them are taught from the earliest ages to accept the lowest common denominator in every situation. When they come to Aslan, we try in every way to inspire them. We push them to look beyond the many problems surrounding them and see the possibilities just beyond their reach. However, that in itself, is not enough. Aslan must have the vision to help our children realize those possibilities. It is precisely because of Aslan's vision that among our alumni are a nurse, a commander in the Navy, a world-class martial arts expert, teachers, a top AT&T systems analyst, a Masters level mathematician, a professional singer, a nursing home director, a computer expert, a missionary and an electrical engineer (to name only a few).
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80 percent of the people unemployed and an illiteracy rate of 60 percent. The average Haitian makes $150 per year! The majority of Haitians continue to live in thatch-roofed houses and cook with charcoal. Even in the capital city of Port-Au-Prince, electricity is rarely turned on for more than a few hours each day.
The Aslan team of youth and adults will most certainly receive as much or more than they give through their efforts in Haiti. For our Aslan youth (themselves disadvantaged) to bring a small amount of joy and assistance to a country in such need will undoubtedly build character in them and prepare them as leaders here in our own country.
Project Haiti '96 will open new windows and doors of opportunity for our young people. Aslan remains on the cutting edge - an organization with true vision!
"Someday after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And then for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire", Pierre Teilhard De Chardin