De Soto Youth Ministries Inc

A MINISTRY HUB TO MAKE DISCIPLES AND ADVANCE THE GOSPEL.

IN 2021, DESOTO YOUTH MINISTRIES (DYM) CONTINUED TO BE A CONNECTION POINT FOR TEENS (MANY AT RISK), AS WELL AS COLLEGE AGE STUDENTS. THE LONGSTANDING WORK OF DYM IS ON-GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD TO HAVE AN AUTHENTIC LOCAL AND GLOBAL IMPACT. EVEN WITH BEING CLOSED 6 WEEKS IN 2021 DUE TO COVID, HOLIDAYS, AND VACATION, YOUNG PEOPLE GATHERED REGULARLY, ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING HAPPENED DAILY, TEEN VOLUNTEERS AND ADULTS GAVE THEIR TIME AND TALENT (110 VOLUNTEERS IN 2021 WITH MORE THAN 2,500 VOLUNTEER HOURS SERVED WITH PROGRAMS, EVENTS, COFFEE SHOP, AND UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE OF FACILITY). DYM PARTNERS WITH CHURCHES, LOCAL SCHOOLS, AND THE COMMUNITY. DYM LOANED OUR 15 PASSENGER VAN AND TRAILER TO A LOCAL CHURCH FOR 2 YOUTH TRIPS. A NEW DYM PROGRAM WAS ADDED IN MARCH OF 2021 (FIRESIDE) TARGETING OLDER HIGH SCHOOL AND YOUNG COLLEGE AGE STUDENTS WITH OVER 325 ATTENDING THIS YEAR. THIS CONNECTION CONTINUES REGULARLY ALONG WITH SPECIAL EVENTS LIKE BONFIRES AND HELPS US TO IDENTIFY YOUNG PEOPLE AT RISK AND GIVES OPPORTUNITIES TO MENTOR AND DEVELOP LEADERSHIP. DYM CONTINUES TO HOST FCA STUDENTS FROM THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL. OUR FACILITY HOSTS A WORSHIP AND PRAYER NIGHT TWO TIMES A MONTH, HOSTED A MONTHLY EVENT FOR YOUNG WOMEN CALLED SOAR, AND A VARIETY OF EVENTS SERVING LOCAL SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY.

CAUSE COFFEE (WHICH IS A HUB FOR CONNECTING WITH YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL) SERVES HUNDREDS EVERY WEEK AND GIVES BACK TO NEEDS SUCH AS DONATING COFFEE AND GIFT CARDS TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL EVENTS, HOSTING TEEN GRADUATIONS, DONATED TO A SINGLE MOM WITH A COLLEGE AGE SON FIGHTING CANCER AND HELPED A YOUNG COUPLE PROVIDE CHRISTMAS FOR THEIR CHILDREN. CAUSE GIVES PASTRIES AND ADDITIONAL HELP TO LOCAL HOMELESS, GAVE A GIFT BASKET FOR MIDWEST PARENT EDUCATORS AUCTION, GAVE BLANKETS TO LOCAL NICU FACLITIES, HELPED PROVIDE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES CLEAN WATER IN INDIA THROUGH WELLS FOR LIFE, AND PROVIDES COFFEE DRINKS FOR EVERY DYM FIRESIDE EVENT. NON-CASH DONATIONS IN 2021 INCLUDED REPLACEMENT SUPPLIES FOR THE KITCHEN, NEW GUTTER AND PIPING FOR THE EAST SIDE OF THE FACILITY, SHEETROCK REPAIR AND SUPPLIES, UNDERLAYMENT AND DECKING FOR FLOOR OF BALCONY AND NEW RAILINGS. MATERIALS WERE ALSO DONATED FOR VOLUNTEER WORK DAYS, THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM WAS RE-WORKED AND AN A/C UNIT REPAIRED, LANDSCAPING SUPPLIED, AND MISCELLANEOUS CLEANING AND OTHER MAINTENANCE NEEDS.

STAFF TRAVELED TO SEVERAL YOUTH RODEO ASSOCIATION EVENTS IN EASTERN KANSAS. YOUTH AND FAMILIES WERE SERVED AT EACH RODEO, AND VOLUNTEERS ASSISTED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE ARENA. THE MINISTRY ALSO PROVIDED CHURCH SERVICES FOR FAMILIES ON SUNDAY MORNINGS BEFORE THE RODEOS.

FRESH START KC MINISTRIES FUNCTIONS AS PART OF DESOTO YOUTH MINISTRIES. DURING 2021, FRESH START KC DONATED 457 HOURS OF LABOR TOWARD COMPLETE RENOVATION OF AN APARTMENT TO PROVIDE TO HOMELESS FAMILIES. ALL RENT AND UTILITY COSTS WERE COVERED BY FRESH START.