Aslan Newsletter of March 22, 1997
I had an interesting experience as I was beginning the bus pickup for our afternoon Bible classes last week. We were stopping for a little girl we affectionately know as "Nanu", when her Aunt Neecy flashed her trademark smile and gave me a big wave as she came backing out of the driveway. Since Neecy was a part of Camp Shiloh, the program that brought Lynn Ann and me to New Jersey from our home in New Mexico in 1971, a flood of memories came back to me. Seeing her caused me to reflect upon the far-reaching effects of Aslan's work. Here was a young woman in her early forties standing next to her ten-year-old niece - both of their lives having been significantly touched through the ministry of Aslan.

Neecy's children and many of her nephews and nieces have also participated over the years in our Bible classes, basketball, mentor/tutoring and other programs. Neecy and her sisters have also been a part of our food, clothing and Christmas outreach programs. As important as all this is, the most important thing Neecy and Nanu represent is Aslan's focus on the building of relationships. Aslan is effective precisely because we have resisted the temptation to allow "programs" to take the place of relationships. Programs are merely a means to the end: relationships.

Many people would have written Nanu off long ago. Raised in a home where drugs and alcohol were all too commonplace, she has seen far more suffering in her young ten years than any child should have to. Her mother died a dreadful death four years ago. Her sister lives with a grandparent. Her 13-year-old brother moved to Minnesota last August. As impossible as it may sound, there is so much love in this full-of-life little girl that it bubbles over. The first thing I see when I open the bus door is Nanu bounding up the steps and lighting up our bus with her joyous smile.

Nanu is an excellent example of why Aslan's approach is so different (and vastly more effective) than many government-financed and other programs. It is not our purpose to watch a group of latch-key children until their parents or guardians have time to pick them up. Every program we provide and every activity we offer has a singular purpose - to help children understand their true worth as a child of God.

Thank you for playing such an important part in this through your prayers and your giving. Nanu is one more illustration of God's love in action through Aslan Youth Ministries!

Most sincerely,