Dear friends:

First of all, let me bring you warmest Christmas greetings from Aslan Youth Ministries.  I apologize that the tremendous rush from Thanksgiving to the New Year has prevented me from getting our monthly letter to you sooner.  Please know that your prayers for us and your support is greatly appreciated!  I often feel that life at Aslan Youth Ministries operates at the speed of light.  It is difficult to ever have time to slow down just a bit and reflect.  While things are relatively quiet around our office today, I want to take the time to do just that.

I begin by thanking God for the multitude of blessings He has showered upon us during 1998.  Most of all, I thank Him for the children we are so privileged to serve.  As I sit here, I see in my mind the smiling faces of some of our youngsters - Freedom, Tanaya, Stanley, Shakeria, Jessica, Jonathan, Diana, Juan, Jaquell, Lynn, Charles, Tyshawn, and on and on and on.  They smile because they have hope, and it is Aslan that brings them hope.  Others come and go in their lives.  It is Aslan that provides the avenues through which their lives can be changed over the long haul.

A couple of days before Christmas, we held a party for our mentor/tutorial students.  Spirits were high and lots of fun was being had by all, when a shoving match took place between George* and Rashad,* two of our ten-year-olds.  George's tutor pushed Rashad away (a little too hard) and Rashad stumbled and ended up on his seat on the floor.  In a flash he was up, throwing a chair at the tutor and ready for a fight.  After being disrespectful to Claudia Ackerman (Aslan's Tutorial Director), Rashad stormed out of the building towing his Aslan Christmas presents behind.  When I caught up with him a few moments later, it was truly amazing how quickly his bad attitude changed.  He had a simple choice:  immediately apologize to Claudia, or return the bag of presents he had just received!  He wisely chose the apology.  On the way home to his grandmother's house, I had a great opportunity to talk to him about how and how not to deal with anger, regardless of who is right or wrong.

To my knowledge, Rashad's dad wasn't home for Christmas.  He's still in jail on drug charges.  His grandmother is pretty much the only one besides Aslan that he can count on right now.  He and all the children of Aslan know that we are in this with them not to the "bitter end" but to the "better end."  They trust that we will always be here for them - when they are good (and not so good); when they are happy (and not so happy); when they are cooperative (and not so cooperative).  They also know that we will challenge them to, with God's help, become the very best they can be.  Rashad and all the rest send their love.  They and we know that without your help there would be no Aslan.  Merry Christmas . . . God bless us every one!

Sincerely in Christ,
 
 Craig

Craig Bogard