Mission Peoria 2010

(photography by Jeff Woods)

This has been my first year of experiencing Mission Peoria. As I joined the team here at Dream Center Peoria, I had heard an immense about what the week would entail and stories from years past. After all I had heard, I still wasn't prepared for the powerful week the Lord had planned for Mission Peoria 2010. After all the prep, God has been stepping in and doing His work which has been nothing short of astounding. My heart has been touched to watch these junior and high-school students serve.

And when I see the youth serve and interact with the community, my soul gets an overwhelming sense of awe as I stand to worship of my God, my Rock and my Redeemer. Friday night, the youth celebrated their last night at Glen Oak Park in their amphitheater. Families and adults came to worship with Mission Peoria. Pastor King gave a message on surrounding their all at the altar and how . Andy King followed with having the kids go to one side of the theater and pick of two rocks. He explained that He wanted them to keep one rock as a remembrance of the week and place the other one on the large rock at the other side of the stage. It was an Ebenezer, a reminder of God’s faithfulness. It was extremely touching to watch them walk across the stage and place their small rock on the large rock as a symbol of God working in their individual hearts that week. The youth ended their Mission Peoria week, by helping out at BackPack Peoria. Three thousand backpacks and one thousand uniform gift cards, along with free school physicals were given to all that attended. The line wrapped around the block, as a constant flow of people filled Dream Center Peoria building. As the youth left, we continue to pray that they will not let Satan snatch away what Pastor King preached of being unashamed and giving their all to the one who is Lord over their life. For He has great plans in store for each of them.

-Heather Rocke

Mission Peoria free car wash

Hey Peoria,

Today was another fantastic day for the purple team. We went to RiverPlex to wash cars, and for a time it looked like no one was going to come. Then people began to come out from their workouts and we started getting people to claim their free car wash. I was holding one of the signs in front of the plex and people would come up to me, asking me questions like...

“Who is sponsoring this?”

“Why are you guys down here?”

And my favorite...”How much does it cost?”

When I told them that it was free, people would often look at me skeptically and say, “Yeah, but you want donations right?” Shaking my head along with my friend Becka, we would smile and inform them that it was our gift to them.

One man in particular, as he came out the door, looked like he was in severe pain. Walking over to him, I asked if he needed anything. He looked straight at me, smiled and asked, “You’re with a Christian group right?” I nodded, and his grin got wider.

“Well darlin’, I ain’t much of a Christian or nothing, but I could sure use some prayer right about now. I got a whole lotta problems with my body that ar keeping me from doing everything I want to do. Would you do that for me?”

Well, needless to say I was very nervous. I don’t really have a way with words, but I persisted, remembering what I learned this week: You can’t misquote “I Love Jesus”. So I prayed along with him, praying for his health, his family, his frustration with the world. At the end he kept his head down and began to shed a few tears.

I asked him what was wrong, and he chuckled while still weeping and said, “Sweetie, would youpray with me again? I think I’d like to ask Jesus into my life now. I know we ain’t in church, so I don’t know if that’s allowed, but I really want to do it right now.”

Bursting into tears and with a shaky voice, I prayed that special prayer with him, praying with him as he accepted Christ for the first time. Still weeping, we eventually said goodbye and parted ways, but I doubt I’ll ever forget that man or why God brought him into my life. Please pray that he goes on to bring others to Christ, as his own love for Jesus grows in the future.

Signing Out,

No Name

Why me?

“Why me?” This is the question I have been asking God for the past four years now. I, for the most part of my high school career have had a home I can call my own. Luckily, there were family members and family friends who would take my mother and I in. After awhile they would soon grow tired of my mother and I and force us to move out. During a good part of this period my mother had a long term boyfriend who would take us into his house for a few months and he would also kick us out of his home, think about it, a man who calls himself the greatest thing to ever happen to my mom isn’t enough of a man to take in people he claims to love and cherish when he manipulates us and uses us for his own ways. This is something that has been pressing on my heart for the longest time and I was refusing to let go. December, my mother and I moved to my aunt’s house. In June, I decided to move out after a threat to kick my mother and I out. Ever since I have been living with a family from my church, they opened their doors to me and have been loving ever single second. There have been personal issues that I have been harming my body with and haven’t been correct in God’s eyes. They sat me down and told me their love and how they loved me too much to continue to destroy my body though this. Now that I am at Mission Peoria, during the sermon tonight I learned that God is truly using these hard time to make me into a better person. I am only half way into the story God has written for me and that if I want to finish strong in his eyes I need to trust in his word. During the end of the sermon Mr. King asked all those who had personal struggles and truly believe that God is truly using me for the best then they need to stand and join him near the stage. I stood up and walk, I felt a weight lifted off of my shoulders and listened to the music being played by the band. My baseline leader, Jared took me and prayed for me, I immediately hugged him and cried. The anger, pain, hate, and anguish was out of me and I felt like a new person. Soon, Mr. King prayed with me as well and for the first time I truly felt how powerful he truly can be if you just lay everything down for him and give it up to him. How great he really is.
written by: Rahmell Brown

Today the youth have been out and about again, keeping up great attitudes and joyful spirits as they serve the Lord.

Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. - 2 Corinthians 4:6

God has chosen to use these individuals to be a light in our dark and sinful world. He is God of this city. They are a glimmer of light to the lost around them. God has unbelievable plans for each of the youth here. Great things yet to come for anyone who surrenders their heart to Christ. He doesn't want just our time, money, abilities. He wants our heart. So far the youth have been taught the truth of God's word and his desire to have their whole heart as they serve and live for Him.

Three houses in Peoria are getting primed and painted this week! The youth have been having fun and embracing the heat of this week! Please continue praying for lives to be changed, not just for this week but truly changed...forever.

Life-Changing Experience

(Mission Peoria experience thus far...)

As this being my first missions trip I was somewhat skeptical and afraid if this was the right choice for me to participate in. Sure, I love Jesus as much as the next person, but, I am not the best at confessing and showing my love to others I really don’t know. Today, I hit a turning point in my faith. Teaching to the South Side Mission Youth allowed me to get a group of three youth members and talk to them, ask them questions on what they felt God has called them to do. They may only be eight years old, but they still have ideas and thoughts that are as big as mine. By confessing my love and showing them there is truely a purpose and a reason they are on this Earth actualy showed me that maybe becoming a teacher or an actor is not my calling. It may be something even bigger. I know God is there with me One-Hundred percent. That’s something I can always count upon.

written by: Rahmell Brown

Mission Peoria!

Dream Center Peoria is now filled as 250 individuals registered and went to their living quarters! The youth arrived with their youth groups at their designated times and now are at their baselines distributing flyers for the weeks activities. The baselines are located at Taft Homes, Columbia Park, Glen Oak Church, Harrison Homes, Madison Ave., Martin Luther King Park, Morton Square Park, South Side Mission and St. Ann Church. Each day they’ll arrive at their designated baseline at 3 p.m. and play games, activities, music, and water inflatables with the youth

The youth, leaders, and staff will be posting their personal experiences, memories, funny stories, etc…. So keep coming back for updates throughout the day! Also we’ll be posting prayers requests throughout the week.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. -Psalm 19:14

check out all our Mission Peoria- "Stand Strong" blogs at www.pjstar.com

Mission Peoria prep

What a busy last couple of days here at Dream Center Peoria as we prep for Mission Peoria and summer camp comes to a close. Mission Peoria is a weeklong mission camp for youth from throughout the state to participate and give back to the community. Last minute details are coming together, and tasks are getting finished also. A BIG thank you to all our volunteers, which have helped us minimize the boxes of t-shirts, ID bagges, devotional books, and other gear for the week that have fill our office.

For a Taste of Mission Peoria youth worship (click link for video)

We look forward to a week of service with well over 200 youth all to the glorification of our God, our King, our Savior.

For all the people walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. - Micah 4:5

Summer Camp

Our first summer of youth camp is almost at its an end! Having youth ages 6-17 in the center has brought such life into the building. The kids have been in and out of the building swimming, taking trips to the fire department and air national guard, library and daily devotionals. 

God continues to show himself at Dream Center Peoria powerfully through circumstances and people. The impact of what God is doing through summer camp has been seen. We see great impact on the inner city youth, and know God is doing so much more than we may believe if told. 

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told." Habakkuk 1:5

Two boys that live on the south side of Peoria have attended the camp for the past 4-5 weeks. Two weeks ago, the families car broke down. Since the breakdown the boys have been walking 3 miles to be at summer camp. How many of us would wake up and be walking by 6:15 a.m. on a summer morning just because we want to be at a place such as Dream Center Peoria? The energy in the youth center is vibrant and addictive. 
The Word is preached clearly, seeds are being planted, and lives are changing.

Please continue in prayer as Summer Camp ends, and Mission Peoria begins.