SEPTEMBER AT VYN!

September was a really full month at Valley Youth Network and such a fun way to kick off another school year.

We had five C.H.I.L. gatherings this month, starting the year with a big bonfire to welcome everyone back. We’ve had a ton of new faces coming through the doors already this fall and have been averaging around 70 students each week, which has been really exciting to see.

We also got to do a lot outside of our normal (C.H.I.L) gatherings.

We hosted a Fifth Quarter Pizza Night after one of the football games, spent the morning after serving at our local food pantry alongside the girls soccer team, and even got out on the Stony creek River for a kayaking day. We had such a good time on the river and would love to keep finding ways to add more water-based adventures in the future.

Tanner and Kip also had a great month coaching the boys soccer team. One of the things we love about VYN is that ministry doesn’t just happen inside our building. Coaching has given them another opportunity to spend a ton of time with students, build relationships, and be present in their lives throughout the week.

One of our favorite mornings of the month was See You at the Pole. More than 30 students gathered before school to pray together for their school, community, and nation. Getting to stand back and watch that many students choose to show up and pray together was pretty special.

We also hosted our monthly FCA breakfast and have continued finding little ways to be present in the lives of students throughout the school week.

We were also very excited to host the Cross Country team for a dinner after one of their meets! It is such a great joy to be able to break bread together and serve our local teams.

It’s easy to look back at a month like this and see a bunch of events on a calendar, but that’s really not what we care about most. The best part is all the time we get with students in between—the conversations around the bonfire, sitting around eating pizza, serving together, being outside, coaching, laughing, praying, and just doing life together.

September was busy!! BUT We are really grateful for every student who keeps showing up, all the new faces we’re getting to know, and everyone in our community who helps make all of this possible.

We’re really excited to see where this school year takes us and everything that God has in store.

Blessings from the team at The Barn!!!