When are you Going to get a Real Job?

I am a missionary.

woah.  Those words are weird for me to say.
I never thought I would be.  I never desired to be a missionary but here I am.

My college takes the missions program to South East Asia every year.  Throughout the year, there's a lot of emphasis on this area of the world.  There's classes that talk about it, and events surrounding it, as well as a million chapel speakers/themes about SEA.  Which is great.  SEA needs Jesus. But so does South America and Africa, and North America. I could have sworn that to be a missionary meant you have to go to South East Asia...   then I thought, you had to leave the country in order to be a missionary, so I honestly had no desire to 'be a missionary' and that's the honest truth.
6 months ago I was sitting in an Earls with a new friend of mine and part way through our chats she said 'so, did you ever think you were going to be a missionary?' to which I replied "PFFT!  I'm not a missionary!! Never desired that, I'm not cut out for missions".  Then realized, I am a missionary.
Yes a local missionary. Crazy. Just like over-seas missionaries, long term or short, have to fundraise for their ministry/wage, I too must complete the task. And what I've been learning is that it's not about asking for money, it's about inviting others to join into what God is already doing.  That comes in many different avenues and obviously financial needs are in there but it's not just about that.

The mind-set I've been encountering lately has been annoying and quite offensive actually.  Whether it's said straight out or not, the question 'when are you going to get a real job' has been coming up when I tell Christian adults who are in ministry, what I do.
"What have you been up to?"
"Oh I work for Youth Unlimited in Millbourne"
"So, are you going to apply at any churches soon?  What's next on your agenda for your career?" 
What?  What is next for me?  I just got here!  Who thinks of quitting their job when they just got there?   Would you ask a missionary that after they've been overseas for two years?
"Hey, cool things seem to be happening over there, when are you going to get a real job?"  or to a young youth pastor,"Wow, your mega church youth group has really been growing! I heard 6 people got baptized last month. Are you going to start looking for a real job soon?"

How does this attitude towards my job helping to build the Kingdom?  There's a million other things you could be saying to me when I tell you about my job.  One of them is "Wow, I hear there's a lot of hurt in that area, how can I be praying for you as you serve there each day?"  That would help build the Kingdom, instead of trying to point out that my job is somehow invalid and to start looking elsewhere now that i've been graduated over a year; whether or not that's what you consciously think, I can hear it.
If you could walk in my shoes for just a day you'd understand why I stay, why this isn't just a substitute job until I 'find something better'.
I love my kids, the ones who are easy to love, the ones who drive me mad, the ones who make me crazy and question everything. The ones with two parents, one parent, no parents.  The ones who are poor, or have been abused; sexually, verbally, emotionally, and spiritually.  The ones who yell at me and sometimes make me feel worthless for the night.  The ones who call me for rides and for advice, hence making me feel like the most important person on the earth.
They all remind me that eternity is coming for us all and the need for Jesus is urgent.  This job isn't for the weak, but in my weakness Jesus is stronger; so I do not fear because He is with me.

So, ask me when I'm going to get a real job and I will tell you, I already have one.  

Blessings
Aliagirl
if you want information on how to support me in my ministry please don't hesitate to email me!
alia@yfced.com

Building a FOUNDATION

A Call to Construction:
Since first applying to Vanguard College in 2011 I have come to realize this:
God uses our stories, gifts, and talents in extraordinary ways if we let Him.
I have realized many things about what I have been called to do in my life
and in my ministry in the past four years.  While God has put a few passions
in my heart that may not actually see the light until I have more experience,
they are just waiting to burst out of me.

I have a passion and desire to work with the youth of my city.  Currently this is Edmonton Alberta.  I've come to realize over the past four years that regardless of the context of my 'job' I just want to have the opportunity to speak into teens lives and to allow them to have the same opportunity that I had by having a mentor at age 16.  The most simple definition I have come up with for my calling is this:  "I want to be a 'Laura' to an 'Alia'.
If there is a need for a teen to have a mentor, someone to guide them, or just to simply hang out with them I want to be there for that.

The more ministry I do the more I notice that social media has been and is shaping the world view and self esteem (or lack of) in our teenage girls.  My deepest desire is to help them realize their worth and potential in Christ and to hold on to the hope that there is more to life than how many 'likes' I get on an instagram photo.

Building a Foundation
As many of you know, I have been working part time with an organization called 

Youth For Christ

or in most of Canada,

Youth Unlimited.

This is a non-profit organization that desires to walk along side youth in the community as they explore potential and discover hope.  If you want to look up more info on this amazing parachurch organization check out our website at www.yuedmonton.com

YU is all over the world and we have 4 drop in centres in Edmonton. I have the privilege of working at the FOUNDATION in South East Edmonton in a community called Millbourne.  I began volunteering at the drop in center when it opened at the end of November 2014, and have been officially on part-time staff since January 2015. 

Our drop in times run Monday and Friday 3:30-5:30 and Tuesday 7-9:30 pm.  We have our own space in the basement of Millbourne Community Life Centre (MCLC) that has been custom made to suit our students. We have a games room with a play station and X box; there is a 'tutoring room' with computer access and tutoring available as well as a café, an art room, and a functional recording studio!  Our teens are into music and hip hop/rap so we are able to give them the opportunity to explore their gifts and talents.

We make over 100 contact points a week in this community. Over the year and a half I have absolutely fallen in love with the teens in this community.  They are unique and an absolute blast to hang out with (even when they are being complete punks!)!

The first time I went to the Foundation was for a college class I was in-- we were checking out 'inner city' ministries.  I had just been discussing with a friend the week before about how I didn't understand why God gave me so many different passions that didn't seem to mesh together, or that I could not seem to find in one single ministry.  The day I was introduced to the Foundation, my view of this was completely rocked.  I am now currently working my dream job.  There is opportunities for music and worship, for mentoring, for coffee, hanging out and playing video games, tutoring, speaking opportunities, a place to do Alpha and potential to contextualize any ministry we see a need for in the centre.

God has truly blessed our centre with astounding teens.  The more I get to know them, the more I love them, and the more I cannot wait to see them meet and love Jesus.  They are great kids and I feel so incredibly blessed to get to hang out with them every week!

As my Bachelor of Arts: Youth Ministry graduation has come and gone, I have made the decision to take on a full time position at the Foundation.  Due to being a non-profit organization, I need to raise most of my salary.  This is where you can help minister to these kids too!.  I am in need of partners who believe in the potential and hope for teenagers to come along side me and support me financially as I dive into this new chapter of my life!  There is definitely a 'return' on this investment as you join with me in helping our teens realize their potential to do great things.  I will be writing blogs and sending update letters to keep you up to date with how our ministry is growing and shaping at the Foundation.

On our website you can make a donation. 

It's quite simple.  just click on the link below, 

http://www.edmontonyouthunlimited.com/#!donate/tszcj

Fill out your information (You will receive a tax receipt for your donation[s] in February of the following year).
I LOVE telling stories about our students, and I LOVE coffee.. so in turn, I would LOVE to go to coffee with you, get to know YOU better and share about the students I get to hang out with every week!

This is honestly my dream job.. There is a ton of opportunity for growth here. 

My co-workers and volunteer leaders are amazing.

I am excited to be full time at FOUNDATION but this depends on YOU to partner with me to make this dream come true!  :) 

If you have questions or want to know more about the FOUNDATION

please e-mail me at 

Alia@yfced.com

Yours Truly,
Alia Evashkevich