unfortunately this is the change to the new zola based website

content/staff/_index.md

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----
-title: "Staff"
-date: 2017-03-02T12:00:00-05:00
-featured_image: "img/staff.jpg"
-groupByYear: false
-cascade:
-    showWordCount: false
-    showReadingTime: false
-    showEdit: false
-    showTaxonomies: true
-    showSummary: true
-    showBreadcrumbs: true
-    showTableOfContents: true
-    sharingLinks: ['facebook', 'instagram', 'email', 'reddit']
-    showHero: false
----
-Staff are what make TFC happen. These people give their time, energy, and money to making sure TFC happens and are constantly following the Lord to His purpose for the communities they work in.
-
-> If you'd like to check out newsletters written by ALL the staff [click here](/newsletters "newsletters").

content/staff/april-teves/index.md

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----
-title: "April Teves"
-date: 2022-10-28T15:25:50-05:00
-tags: ["Staff", "Logan", "Wakeeney"]
-featured_image: ""
-description: "Arnie and April moved to Logan, Kansas in October of 2009."
-layout: "simple"
-summary: "Arnie and April moved to Logan, Kansas in October of 2009. April’s grandfather’s family homesteaded south of Logan and she grew up coming to Logan every year for family reunions."
-weight: 70
----
-![April and Arnie Teves](featured.jpg "April and Arnie Teves")
-
-Arnie and April moved to Logan, Kansas in October of 2009. April’s grandfather’s family homesteaded south of Logan and she grew up coming to Logan every year for family reunions. So, when they moved here, it was like moving to her hometown, although she was raised in Colorado. Shortly after they moved here, April joined TFC staff and eventually became the leader of the Logan TFC group. They now co-lead the Logan group with Lewis and Susan Smith from Phillipsburg and they love being part of the community of Logan, getting to know the families and the teens, and teaching the teens about Jesus! April also leads the junior high group in Wakeeney in partnership with the Church of God.

content/staff/billy-cayou/index.md

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----
-title: "Billy Cayou"
-date: 2022-10-28T15:25:34-05:00
-tags: ['Staff', 'Phillipsburg']
-featured_image: ""
-description: "Billy grew up in Oxford, Nebraska and was a part of Southern Valley TFC throughout Middle School and High School."
-layout: "simple"
-summary: "Billy grew up in Oxford, Nebraska and was a part of Southern Valley TFC throughout Middle School and High School. During college..."
-weight: 80
----
-![Billy Cayou](featured.jpg "Billy Cayou loves disc golf!")
-
-Billy grew up in Oxford, Nebraska and was a part of Southern Valley TFC throughout Middle School and High School. During college, Billy was a summer intern for a few years and in the fall of 2021 he began his year long internship. During those years God placed a desire in Billy to serve in the ministry where he loved so dearly, then he joined staff in the fall of 2022. Billy handles our social media and helps lead the Phillipsburg Group with Brian and Julie Fischer.

content/staff/brian-and-julie-fischer/index.md

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----
-title: "Brian and Julie Fischer"
-date: 2022-10-25T14:00:50-05:00
-tags: ["Staff", "Executive Director", "Phillipsburg"]
-image: "img/brain.jpg"
-description: "As a teenager Brian was a part of the Golden Plains Youth For Christ ministry at Northern Valley and he participated in events like Bible quizzing and monthly rallies."
-layout: "simple"
-summary: "As a teenager Brian was a part of the Golden Plains Youth For Christ ministry at Northern Valley and he participated in events like Bible quizzing and monthly rallies."
-weight: 10
----
-![Brian's Family](featured.jpg "Brian's Family")
-
-As a teenager Brian was a part of the Golden Plains Youth For Christ ministry at Northern Valley and he participated in events like Bible quizzing and monthly rallies. During his high school years he was also a part of the first mission trip teams and attended some of the first years of TFC Camp. In 2010 God called Brian back to Phillipsburg to become the Executive Director for the ministry now called Teens For Christ Connection. God is doing some great things within TFC and he continues to lead us forward into the future as we strive to do whatever it takes to help teenagers become fully devoted followers of Jesus. Brian’s wife Julie is the Office Manager for TFC and she does a great job keeping all of the finances in order. Brian and Julie also help lead the Phillipsburg TFC groups and they are the proud parents of Nathan and Natalie.

content/staff/chris-and-abbie-cochrun/2023-08/index.org

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----
-#+TITLE: True and Better 🔝 - August 2023 Newsletter
-TITLE: True and Better 🔝 - August 2023 Newsletter
-#+DATE: 2023-09-18
-DATE: 2023-09-18
-#+AUTHOR: Chris Cochrun
-authors:
-  - chriscochrun
-tags:
-  - Chris & Abbie Cochrun
-  - Northern Valley
-  - Lessons
-  - True and Better
-newsletter: true
-showAuthor: false
-showAuthorsBadge: true
-showTaxonomies: true
-showReadingTime: true
-showWordCount: true
-showDate: true
-showHero: true
-layout: hero
-showTableOfContents: true
-featured_image: "featured.jpg"
-description: Well, we ran out of food! That was the situation for our first night of TFC! It's a problem for sure, but a good problem!
-summary: Well, we ran out of food! That was the situation for our first night of TFC! It's a problem for sure, but a good problem!
-newsletter: true
----
-
-* True and Better
-Well, we ran out of food! That was the situation for our first night of TFC! It's a problem for sure, but a good problem! And that's kind of how TFC has gone recently, let me share with you some of our plans for this year, and what we need your help in praying for!
-
-[[file:kickball.jpg]]
-
-Our plan for teaching this year, is to talk through a lot of the same stories we shared last year in the Old Testament, however, this time, we are going to share how all of those characters in the stories, point to Jesus. In so many ways, the biblical authors have crafted such a powerfully unique story that is linked all throughout to point to the one and most important person in all our lives, Jesus.
-
-That's why we've named our theme True and Better. Timothy Keller shared a sermon once with a series of statements of Jesus being a True and Better completion of many characters and stories throughout the Bible. And Tim Keller ended it with, "The Bible's not about you."
-
-[[file:trueandbetter.jpg]]
-
-Think on that for a moment, it's not about you, because all of it points to Jesus. It's about Jesus. It always has been and always will be. He's the one who lived a perfect life when I couldn't, He's the one who died under the weight of my sin when I should have, He's the one who stands before God forgiving me when I don't deserve it. It's all about Him, not me.
-
-That's our hope and prayer this year, that as we share all of these stories of how Jesus perfects all of these characters, that we will see ourselves in those characters and how we need to adjust our lives to point to Jesus better. Ultimately, we want the teens this year to better understand their role of how they too can point to Jesus, to share Him in new and unique ways by being a light in their schools, families, and communities.
-
-I was praying through these lessons at the beginning of this year and thought, what if I make a point to ask the kids over and over, how do you point to Jesus? If we can find ways to do that each and every day? What would our communities look like? Our schools?
-
-If you see the kids out and about sometime, ask them, “How do you point to Jesus?” And maybe too, do it with us, ask yourself, “How can I point to Jesus today?” It's a powerful question that really changes the way we ought to work and act in life?
-
-[[file:allthrow.jpg]]
-[[file:pitching.jpg]]
-[[file:kicking.jpg]]
-
-* Cochrun Happenings
-So, school has started and TFC has started, but our families biggest change has been that Josiah is now going to school! He has been really enjoying it, but boy does it tire him out! Luke misses him, but is really cute playing so well by himself! Finally, Ty has been such a sweet little baby! We've been incredibly blessed by the world's best baby! He rarely complains and sleeps 12 hours a night!
-
-[[file:family.png]]
-
-* Thank You
-Thank you all so much for cheering for us, praying for us, and supporting us! Continue to pray as the start of a new year of TFC is a difficult thing!
-
-#+begin_quote
-Remember that you can help by contacting me about helping out at TFC through either food or being part of the team on Wednesday nights! Please let me know if you or someone you know is able to help! Also, if you haven't, consider donating to helping us out by going [[https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z772/campaign/C-12WG5][here]]!
-#+end_quote

content/staff/chris-and-abbie-cochrun/2023-09/index.org

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----
-#+TITLE: Father to Many - September 2023 Newsletter
-TITLE: Father to Many - September 2023 Newsletter
-#+DATE: 2023-10-06
-DATE: 2023-10-06
-#+AUTHOR: Chris Cochrun
-authors:
-  - chriscochrun
-tags:
-  - Chris & Abbie Cochrun
-  - Northern Valley
-  - Lessons
-  - True and Better
-newsletter: true
-showAuthor: false
-showAuthorsBadge: true
-showTaxonomies: true
-showReadingTime: true
-showWordCount: true
-showDate: true
-showHero: true
-layout: hero
-showTableOfContents: true
-featured_image: "featured.jpg"
-description: God is referred to as our father in the Bible many times.
-summary: God is referred to as our father in the Bible many times.
-newsletter: true
----
-
-
-* Chris - Father to Many!
-By Abbie Cochrun
-
-God is referred to as our father in the Bible many times. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, He had them start their prayer by saying, ““Our father in heaven…” Clearly the role of father in an important characteristic of who God is!
-
-But what if you don’t have a great example of how God leads and loves you in your dad on earth? Sadly, this is where many of the teens who come to Northern Valley TFC find themselves. Yet, I see God using Chris to fulfill this role in some small way. When Chris was at camp for two weeks this past summer, I got a text from another staff member that said, “Thanks for sharing Chris this week - these kids desperately need a Christian dad!”  He picked on and encouraged and loved those kids for a solid week at camp, and the work didn’t stop there!  
-
-This past week at TFC Chris noticed a few of the boys making fun of and laughing at another kid. Rather than just ignore it or sternly tell them to knock it off, he pulled them aside, and spoke to them about how Jesus loves us, challenging them to think about their actions and whether what they were doing was reflecting Jesus well. He actually came home quite frustrated with these guys because they really should know better! But even in his frustration I saw him fulfilling this “dad” role for these kids. He loves them and wants them to know how to live life according to what the Bible says! This is a hard task when you only have a few hours with them a week so please pray that God would use what He’s doing and multiply it greatly! 
-
-He has also started meeting with a few of the older kids for a Bible Study on Friday mornings again.  I know that it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that lives can be changed, so I’m praying that God would transform hearts like only he can, and that these kids would see how God loves them through the work Chris is doing! 
-
-This brought me to our Bible study group. I asked them to read through Luke this summer. Then I told them it isn't much. Just half a chapter a day. Mostly just 20 verses a day. And if they ever wanted to read through the whole Bible it'd take 12 pages a day and you'd make it in about 3 months. Then Josie flipped through her Bible and asked if I could help her figure out how long it'd take her to read through the entire New Testament, I think I got her convinced that it doesn't take much, just consistency.
-
-That was my final point in our last night of TFC too. Let God's Word change you. So with that, I invite you to do the same! If you'd like, read half a chapter of Luke every day this summer, and you'll get through it just a couple of months! And as you do, pray for our little group! I told them I'd be checking in with them over the summer to see how their reading is going, so pray that they'll keep it up and that they'll be changed!
-
-[[cash.jpg]]
-[[colt.jpg]]
-
-* Jesus - The True and Better
-Our theme this year has been True and Better. A deep look at how Jesus completes so many of the stories we encounter throughout the Old Testament. So many times, we read the Old Testament and feel disconnected to the stories because they seem old and strange and the practices people have in them seem barbaric, but Jesus completes so many of the incredible themes we find getting started in the OT that if we don't read it, we miss out on incredibly cool things Jesus does!!
-
-
-The stories we've talked about already:
-Jesus is the True and Better Adam. While Adam failed in the garden and brought death into our world, Jesus passes the test in the garden and brings us life.
-Jesus is the True and Better Abel. While Abel died innocent his blood cries out to God for vengence. Jesus also dies innocent, but His blood doesn't cry out for our vengence against us for killing Him, but for our forgiveness.
-Jesus is the True and Better Noah. While Noah succeeded in being blameless in God's eyes for a time, he was only able to save 8 people and still failed in his own garden. Instead Jesus was always blameless, and saves all who turn to Him.
-Next week we talk about Abraham. Jesus is the True and Better Abraham because while Abraham was the father to many and that one day someone would save the world through Abraham's line, Jesus was that savior and fulfills that promise!
-
-* Cochrun Happenings
-We have had a good September! Josiah has been doing great at school and enjoys learning new things and playing with his friends! Luke has adjusted well to being the “big brother” at home while Josiah is gone.
-We also celebrated Ty’s baptism at church this month. It is so cool to have him fully welcomed into the family of God! We’re excited to see how God will use his life for His glory!
-Life has just been really sweet lately with these three little boys! :)
-
-[[family.png]]
-
-#+begin_quote
-Remember that you can help by donating [[https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z772/campaign/C-12WG5][here]]! We love how God provides so we can serve this community!!
-#+end_quote

content/staff/chris-and-abbie-cochrun/2023-11/index.org

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----
-#+TITLE: A Full Two Months - October & November Newsletter
-TITLE: A Full Two Months
-#+DATE: 2023-11-20
-DATE: 2023-11-20
-#+AUTHOR: Chris Cochrun
-authors:
-  - chriscochrun
-tags:
-  - Chris & Abbie Cochrun
-  - Northern Valley
-  - Lessons
-  - True and Better
-  - Mom
-showAuthor: false
-showAuthorsBadge: true
-showTaxonomies: true
-showReadingTime: true
-showWordCount: true
-showDate: true
-showHero: true
-layout: hero
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-featured_image: "featured.jpg"
-description: Around when I should have been writing and sending out my last newsletter, I heard that my mother was getting put into the hospital, likely with pneumonia. This started a long week of hospitals and the passing of my mother.
-summary: Around when I should have been writing and sending out my last newsletter, I heard that my mother was getting put into the hospital, likely with pneumonia. This started a long week of hospitals and the passing of my mother.
-newsletter: true
----
-
-* Missing My Mother
-Around when I should have been writing and sending out my last newsletter, I heard that my mother was getting put into the hospital, likely with pneumonia. This started a long week of hospitals and the passing of my mother.
-
-My mom was a fireball. She was feisty, passionate, always knew she was right, and if you weren't careful she'd burn you good. My mom found her joy in her kids, in her family. It was the joy of her heart to watch her kids grow up to become self sufficient, good, strong people. And she believed in the best for us. Seriously, I can remember being in junior high, she believed I could do anything. Since becoming a parent myself, I know that you often feel your kids are incredible, but my mom was far and above. If I would have told her I was interested in government, she thought I'd become the President someday, if I was interested in computer science, she was expecting me to become the next Steve Jobs. Seriously, she believed in us, and would help to plow the way for her kids too. Of course life always gets in the way, but she was optimism incarnate for her kids. And she knew how to love us.
-
-My heart hurts so much to see her gone. The night she died, I paced the hospital reading Psalm 77. This passage is a large lament over the dangers that are surrounding the psalmist.  It gives the feeling like the psalmist has even almost entirely lost their faith in God. However, after their questions and struggles, they reflect instead on all that God has done. Note too, that this psalm is written much later in Israel's history, so the events that the psalmist is reflecting on are not ones that they've even seen themselves. This means, that just reflecting on God's Word, turned their hearts to Him instead of away.
-
-I spent time with students at TFC reflecting on these passages ourselves. As I shared about this, I realized that in a lot of ways, our world drives us away from the Lord at any chance that it can. We talked about Abraham and Isaac this last week as well, and I shared how Abraham could have been angry with God because Isaac was being taken away from him just like my mom was taken, just like many of the teens in our group have had someone or something taken from them. We could all be angry at God because of the things taken from us. And that's exactly what that liar, Satan, would want.
-
-But, that's not how Jesus combats the evil in this world. I was recently given a previewing of the upcoming movie by Angel Studios (the makers of The Chosen) called "The Shift". The premise of the movie is very similar to the book of Job. There is a man who loses everything in a lot of ways, and instead of turning against God, leans into Him with everything. The movie was pretty good honestly, it takes a lot of creative liberties since I'd call it more of an allegory set into a futuristic/sci-fi world, but gets the heart of the message. What would you be able to give up and still serve the Lord? It's a hard question really. Even when everything gets taken from you, It's a lot to think about, but even so, we must cling to Him. And Jesus was our perfect example of that.
-
-{{< figure src=momanddad.jpg alt="A Picture of my parents" caption="Mom and Dad" >}}
-
-* Lots Going On
-We also got the honor of taking the kids Operation Christmas Child shopping!! Between our small group, we raised enough for 5 boxes, but as I helped send off the TFC Drop Off center boxes this morning, the TFC Office sent off 1080 boxes this year!!!!!
-
-{{< figure src=occ/older-girls.jpg caption="The older girl group" >}}
-{{< figure src=occ/boys.jpg caption="Boys group" >}}
-{{< figure src=occ/younger-girls.jpg  caption="The younger girls group" >}}
-
-We have been having a lot of fun. If I could, I'd like to ask that you pray for some of our kids by name a bit more often!
-
-{{< figure src=bryson.jpg caption="This is Bryson, he's a squirrely one, but he has a good heart!" >}}
-
-{{< figure src=jaden.jpg caption="Jaden has been coming to TFC for over two years and in a lot of ways, has grown so much!!" >}}
-
-{{< figure src=jaycee.jpg caption="Jaycee is a fifth grader, so she isn't actually in TFC yet, but she has been around every now and then and it's fun chatting with her on my bus routes!!" >}}
-
-{{< figure src=featured.jpg  caption="Jeremy teaching about the paralytic lowered through the roof to be healed by Jesus." >}}
-
-This last weekend we had another 180 Encounter! I just loved watching an alumni and now good friend Jeremy Ford teaching the teens about Jesus as they sat at his feet!
-
-* Cochrun Happenings
-The last couple of months have been so full! We’ve been busy with house projects, battling sickness, and then walking through the hardness of losing my mom. We are honestly ready for the slower pace of the winter season!
-
-But we did enjoy many fun aspects of the fall season too. Ty enjoyed his first Halloween as the most adorable lion and the older boys loved “helping” me carve pumpkins for the first time. We also enjoyed a hay rack ride together!
-
-[[family.jpg]]
-
-#+begin_quote
-Remember that you can help by donating [[https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z772/campaign/C-12WG5][here]]! We love how God provides so we can serve this community!!
-#+end_quote
-
-Thank you all so much for your love and prayers! And for the many of you who have sent and shared sympathies for the passing of my mom. We know God has placed an awesome team around us for life and for our ministry!!

content/staff/chris-and-abbie-cochrun/2023-12/index.org

@@ -1,112 +0,0 @@
----
-#+TITLE: A Year of Waiting - Christmas Letter 2023
-TITLE: A Year of Waiting - Christmas Letter 2023
-#+DATE: 2023-12-16
-DATE: 2023-12-16
-#+AUTHOR: Chris Cochrun
-authors:
-  - chriscochrun
-tags:
-  - Chris & Abbie Cochrun
-  - Northern Valley
-  - Lessons
-  - True and Better
-  - Mom
-showAuthor: false
-showAuthorsBadge: true
-showTaxonomies: true
-showReadingTime: true
-showWordCount: true
-showDate: true
-showHero: true
-layout: hero
-showTableOfContents: true
-featured_image: "featured.jpg"
-description: Around when I should have been writing and sending out my last newsletter, I heard that my mother was getting put into the hospital, likely with pneumonia. This started a long week of hospitals and the passing of my mother.
-summary: Around when I should have been writing and sending out my last newsletter, I heard that my mother was getting put into the hospital, likely with pneumonia. This started a long week of hospitals and the passing of my mother.
-newsletter: true
----
-
-#+begin_quote
-Be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. James 5:7-8
-#+end_quote
-
-I am not one to pick a “word of the year” like some do, but this year it seems like God chose one for our family and
-that would be “WAIT”. 2023 has been full of waiting, and not really a bad waiting, but one of anticipating and
-hoping and longing for things to come. The biggest and most exciting thing we eagerly awaited this year was the
-birth of our third child! This third pregnancy was no joke. At one doctors appointment, my doctor told me I had
-“about every late pregnancy symptom there was”. Thankfully there was nothing serious and me and baby were
-completely fine, but I was definitely READY for this baby to get here long before he made his
-appearance! As it was, Titus Lawrence was born on June 5, just two days past his due date.
-We chose his name because of how Titus is described in the Bible. 2 Corinthians 7:6 says,
-“But God...comforted us by the coming of Titus.” And then verse 13 says, “We rejoiced still
-more at the joy of Titus.” Before this little boy was even born I was praying that his life
-would bring comfort and joy to all he meets. And so far, that has been SO true! He is the chill-
-est, smily-est, happiest baby of all. So often people just can’t help but grin at his cute chubby
-self! Granted he is a cute baby so that’s pretty understandable, but I will continue to pray
-that God uses him to bring joy to others! We nick named him Ty, and he has been such a
-wonderful blessing to our family. I told Chris that every morning feels like Christmas when I
-get to go upstairs to get him out of bed and hug his cute self. :)
-Another thing we anticipated this year was Josiah starting school! He turned five this past
-summer, and was very ready to start Pre-K in August! He’s always been pretty shy, and I wasn’t
-sure how he would do in this completely new setting, but he has been LOVING school. He’s so
-smart and loves learning and playing with all of his new friends. It has been so fun to watch
-him come out of his shell and be more friendly and fun with people he doesn’t know as well.
-His favorite things in the world right now is all things sharks (he knows detailed facts about
-multiple varieties...far more than I do!), building things with legos, and drawing really
-impressive pictures! He’s sweet and helpful and I loved watching him grow up this year!
-Luke is 3 years old, and is our blond haired, blue eyed tornado child.
-He’s stinking adorable, which is good because he’s often a handful! The picture to the right is
-after he found the sprinkler and the grass pile...He also got so good at talking this year which
-he was quite proud of. “I can talk like Josiah now!” He’s the goofball of the family, and makes
-us laugh with his silly antics and funny things he says. “I’m breathing out my ears!” (He got
-the hiccups). “Where’s all the buddies?” (Where is everybody?) “It was mean and it was
-angry!” (Talking about a cricket on the floor). He adjusted remarkably well to being a big
-brother and having his older brother be gone at school 4 days a week!
-This is Chris’s third year driving the bus for Northern Valley. He picks up the junior high kids
-and brings them to Long Island and then brings them home at 4 pm after school is out for the day. He’s done such a
-good job building relationships with those kids, many of whom come to TFC because they know him from the bus!
-This year for TFC, we moved the group back to Almena, after having it in Long Island for a couple of years. The group
-has about doubled in size! With the arrival of Ty, I knew I wouldn’t be able to help at TFC this year, and we were
-fervently praying God would provide some new volunteers for our group! And He did! We have two wonderful
-volunteers, one who even has cooked several meals over the course of the year! Chris has some challenging kids this
-year, so pray for wisdom as he strives to point these kids to the good news of God’s word!
-Over the course of 2022, we had several trips and planned events canceled which made our anticipation and longing
-for a family vacation even larger this year! And this year we got to go on two family trips! In March we booked a
-couple nights at the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City. The boys LOVED it. We spent hours at the water park attached
-to the hotel and getting to spend time with a good friend and some family who lives there! We weren’t really
-planning on going on another trip, but after Chris spent two weeks at TFC camp,
-and I survived solo parenting 3 boys, one who was less than 2 months old, we
-needed a break! So, we booked a last minute trip to Keystone, CO in August. It
-was the BEST trip. Truly so refreshing for our whole family! Ty slept like a
-champ, and was perfectly content “hiking” in his baby carrier! The older boys
-were amazed at the mountains and loved the little short hikes we went on and
-getting to swim at the pool at our condo. They still talk about Keystone, CO
-frequently, so I think we may be back!
-An unexpected twist in our year was the sudden death of Chris’s mom, Carla. In the midst of deep sadness, it was
-good to spend time with his extended family and to grieve and remember together. We know that God works all
-things for good for those who love Him, and are anticipating how God will use this for good in the lives of Chris’s
-family and in our hearts and lives as well.
-One of the biggest thing we’ve been waiting for this year is the opportunity to
-move into our NEW HOUSE! I have been longing for a place to truly call home
-since 2014. We are currently in our third rental house since we got married,
-and have been looking for a place to call our own for years. I’m not sure why,
-but there is never houses for sale in Long Island which is really where we
-wanted to live. But we have been praying and waiting for God to direct us in
-His timing to the house for us! At the end of the summer one of my friends
-contacted me about a potential house, and after contacting the owners, and
-looking at it, we decided this was the one! Not only is it in Long Island, but it’s also right next door to my sister’s
-house! We have a large empty lot in between us, that we own, and our kids will get to play together all the time!
-Hannah texted me, “It’s like our little girl playing house dream come true!” :) The older couple living there is waiting
-for a new facility to open up before moving, and there is so far no set date of when that will be. So we
-wait...anticipating the day we’ll get to move in, hopefully at the beginning of 2024!
-Part of our negotiation for the house was that we would paint it, so that was a BIG project this fall that helped us to
-make it feel a little more ours! The sellers were avid gardeners and I am THRILLED to have a big flower garden and a
-spot for a vegetable garden too! I also planted some fall bulbs with the boys and am anticipating spring when I’ll get
-to see what’s all there. And so now...we wait...And rather than be annoyed by the waiting, I have been trying to allow
-the tension of the wait to pull my heart towards anticipating and longing for Jesus.
-How the Israelites waited and longed for the Savior to come rescue them, and how
-we too should long with anticipation for His second coming, when He’ll come to make
-all things right! This advent season has held much more meaning for me because of
-this beautiful year of waiting. Merry Christmas friends! May you find more of Jesus in
-any waiting you might have this coming year!

content/staff/chris-and-abbie-cochrun/2024-02/index.org

@@ -1,75 +0,0 @@
----
-#+TITLE: All Kinds of Stories
-TITLE: All Kinds of Stories
-#+DATE: 2024-02-02
-DATE: 2024-02-02
-#+AUTHOR: Chris Cochrun
-authors:
-  - chriscochrun
-tags:
-  - Chris & Abbie Cochrun
-  - Northern Valley
-  - Lessons
-  - True and Better
-  - Weddings
-showAuthor: false
-showAuthorsBadge: true
-showTaxonomies: true
-showReadingTime: true
-showWordCount: true
-showDate: true
-showHero: true
-layout: hero
-showTableOfContents: true
-featured_image: "featured.jpg"
-description: What a new year! With so many new things!! This month has been filled with new changes at TFC, a newly married couple, and a new house!! What a firecracker starter to the year honestly, and boy has it been busy. Let me walk you through all that's been going on.
-summary: What a new year! With so many new things!! This month has been filled with new changes at TFC, a newly married couple, and a new house!! What a firecracker starter to the year honestly, and boy has it been busy. Let me walk you through all that's been going on.
-newsletter: true
----
-
-What a new year! With so many new things!! This month has been filled with new changes at TFC, a newly married couple, and a new house!! What a firecracker starter to the year honestly, and boy has it been busy. Let me walk you through all that's been going on.
-
-* Some Tweaks To Our Schedule
-I decided we needed to change our schedule at TFC this January. Last semester, we had been starting at 6 o'clock. This had been perfect for eating supper before starting the night. But at the end of the semester, a high school girl approached me and asked if I'd consider doing high school TFC at a different time from the junior high, so that they can focus better on the lesson without the distractions. So after praying and wrestling with scheduling ideas, we decided to shift junior high TFC to start at 5:00 and start high school TFC at 7:00.
-
-It has taken some adjusting for sure, and it’s a bit exhausting to have two lessons in one night, but honestly, the outcome has been very encouraging! We've had some high schoolers coming that haven't been there regularly at all, and it's been easier to make the lessons tailored for each group. Last week we talked about the Passover. With our JH kids, we did a small bit of the meal and learned how it fit in with Communion. With the HS, we more slowly walked through the emotion and fears the Israelites would have felt that first Passover in Egypt. Then we saw how Jesus took that meal and tweaked it as a picture of Him becoming the sacrificed lamb's blood that marks us as God passes over us for judgment. It was really cool!!
-
-Please keep praying for us as this new schedule and some new rules are a bit tricky to handle, but pray we start to have a solid group of HS students and our JH group continues to learn the core concepts of Jesus this year.
-
-{{< figure src=coltgoofy.jpg alt="Colt" caption="Colt" >}}
-{{< figure src=avery.jpg alt="Avery" caption="Avery" >}}
-{{< figure src=levi.jpg alt="Levi" caption="Levi" >}}
-
-* A Love Story I Wasn't Expecting
-I haven't shared this in my newsletters because I didn't want to spoil anything for anyone who may have been connected, but I was approached by some TFC alumni at the beginning of the fall, Cameron Hendryx and Haylee Tien (teens who've been through TFC and each had a chance to intern with us as well!!) They got engaged this summer/fall and asked if I'd do premarital counseling with them and officiate their wedding! I was completely caught off guard when they asked and wasn't sure how to answer at the time! I prayed about it and talked to Abbie asking if God thought I was the right person for this, and felt God nudging me to do it. So, after many hours of meeting with Cameron and Haylee, and praying for them constantly, they are now Cameron and Haylee Hendryx!!! It was such a fun experience to walk through all kinds of material for Cameron and Haylee about marriage and even felt God working on my heart in our marriage too.
-
-{{< figure src=goofywedding.jpg alt="Look at them!" caption="Look at them!" >}}
-
-Cameron and Haylee are such a cool couple whose story is a great example of how God can use His mission and kingdom to bring such joy and love together in two people. I'd like to share with you what Cameron said to me one night in our counseling session when I asked what he and Haylee would like folks to know about them at their wedding.
-
-#+begin_quote
-It's only through the grace and mercy of God and Jesus that we are even here to have this wedding. Through Jesus's blood that I am able to be there, that Haylee is able to be there. A marriage without Christ is without purpose. There is a greater purpose to being married in Christ than just being married, that God can use your marriage to do more. Serving and glorifying God rather than just seeking our own happiness.
-#+end_quote
-
-{{< figure src=wedding.jpg alt="This couple is awesome!" caption="This couple is awesome!" >}}
-
-What a cool picture!! Please pray for Cameron and Haylee and the journey they are now on. For those of you married, you know that marriage can be hard and incredibly rewarding, so please pray for them!!
-
-* One Story I Was Expecting
-For the entire fall semester, Abbie and I have been in the process of finding and purchasing a home of our own. It's honestly been a very long, slow process. mostly lots of waiting, but as of January 26, 2024, we are now the proud owners of 371 Cooper St. Long Island, KS!!!! We are thrilled, and a little scared! We do have a lot of work ahead of us as we need to remodel the kitchen and bathroom to make it work for our family, but we hope to figure out what is required for us to be able to make it home quickly, take care of that first, and then finish the rest after we move in.
-
-Thank you all so much for praying with us in our journey to find a home of our own. As many of you may remember, we have been from place to place quite a bit over our less than a decade of marriage, and have yearned for our own house for a long while. Well now that that's over, we are so grateful for the many of you who have been prayer warriors in that! And for the many of you who have been our financial supporters to take care of our family as we work so hard to share the gospel with the teenagers of the Northern Valley community!! Please keep praying as there will be lots of work ahead of us, but we are eternally grateful for you all!!
-
-{{< figure src=house.jpg alt="We are SOOO excited!" caption="We are SOOO excited!" >}}
-
-* Cochrun Happening's
-Our boys are so excited for our new house! It is right next door to Abbie’s sister’s house, and our boys 3 cousins! The library and a nice play ground are right behind our new house, and as we’ve been working at renovating, it has been so fun to watch all of our kids run around and play in our yards and on the playground. 
-
-We have already spent a lot of time this past fall painting our new house, and are thrilled to have that project mostly done before even purchasing the house!
-
-{{< figure src=cochrun.jpg alt="It's been a busy month!" caption="It's been a busy month!" >}}
-
-#+begin_quote
-Remember that you can help by donating [[https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z772/campaign/C-12WG5][here]]! We love how God provides so we can serve this community!!
-#+end_quote
-

content/staff/chris-and-abbie-cochrun/2024-03/index.org

@@ -1,62 +0,0 @@
----
-#+TITLE: Conversations - The Heart of Our Ministry
-TITLE: Conversations - The Heart of Our Ministry
-#+DATE: 2024-03-28
-DATE: 2024-03-28
-#+AUTHOR: Chris Cochrun
-authors:
-  - chriscochrun
-tags:
-  - Chris & Abbie Cochrun
-  - Northern Valley
-  - Lessons
-  - True and Better
-  - Weddings
-showAuthor: false
-showAuthorsBadge: true
-showTaxonomies: true
-showReadingTime: true
-showWordCount: true
-showDate: true
-showHero: true
-layout: hero
-showTableOfContents: true
-featured_image: "featured.jpg"
-description: It's been a busy couple of months! So busy in fact that I forgot to get my newsletter done last month! So, for the price of one, you get two this month! What a deal! We've been enjoying the weather slowly turn to spring, but unfortunately as I write this, the weather has decided to pound on us with snow again and maybe that's a good thing because it gave me the time to sit down and get my newsletter out!
-summary: It's been a busy couple of months! So busy in fact that I forgot to get my newsletter done last month! So, for the price of one, you get two this month! What a deal! We've been enjoying the weather slowly turn to spring, but unfortunately as I write this, the weather has decided to pound on us with snow again and maybe that's a good thing because it gave me the time to sit down and get my newsletter out!
-newsletter: true
----
-
-
-* Conversations - The Heart of Our Ministry
-It's been a busy couple of months! So busy in fact that I forgot to get my newsletter done last month! So, for the price of one, you get two this month! What a deal! We've been enjoying the weather slowly turn to spring, but unfortunately as I write this, the weather has decided to pound on us with snow again and maybe that's a good thing because it gave me the time to sit down and get my newsletter out!
-
-I want to share with you a long and fun conversation I've had with a couple teenagers just recently. One high school boy who hasn't been to TFC for years came to a 180 Encounter this last weekend, and I chatted with him for almost a half hour. It was a lot of fun to just catch up, but even more so, it was fun to see that God had used our time together when he was coming to TFC to spark a great interest in him. He knew that at TFC, we've always done our best to really teach the heart of the Bible to kids and help them to really see Jesus for who He really is!
-
-{{< figure src=max.jpg alt="Max at the 180" caption="Max at the 180" >}}
-{{< figure src=colt.jpg alt="Colt at the 180" caption="Colt at the 180" >}}
-
-Another fun conversation I had was with a young 6th grade girl I've been working with at TFC this last several months. She's always had a curious mind and this weekend decided to turn her curiosity to all kinds of inner workings of TFC and what it takes to be an intern and staff! She loved watching her peers on stage at the 180 Encounter and found that maybe she could do stuff like that some day, so I was telling her all about my experiences and how God uses those people to draw others close to Him.
-
-If there is anything that God is doing at TFC, it's through this constant desire kids have to become like their older peers they see at other TFC events. They see them making a difference and impacting others, they see how God has redeemed their friends and healed their hearts, they see how life doesn't have to be the way that they always see from their family and other friends at school. They see hope, and that's incredibly powerful to a young teenager.
-
-{{< figure src=shelby-cash.jpg alt="Shelby playing elbow tag!!" caption="Shelby playing elbow tag!!" >}}
-{{< figure src=avery-shelby.jpg alt="" caption="" >}}
-
-* Grateful For You All!
-I want to praise the Lord for the ways in which He has just provided so well for us. Our volunteers have given so incredibly much to help us on Wednesday nights and even though we are there for over three hours, they just keep giving to these kids!! And for the community of Almena being so incredibly gracious to let us use the community building and supporting us in that way!
-
-And most of all, for all of you who keep giving to us financially and praying for us continually! It reminds me of how Paul was incredibly blessed by all the folks he served and would always pray for and praise the Lord for them because of all God does through them.
-
-And so, "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Phil. 1:3-6.
-
-* Cochrun Happenings
-The last two months have consisted of A LOT of construction work at the new house and trying to get ready to move in!! On top of that, we’ve enjoyed having Easter fun and watching our little boys grow!!!
-
-I loved capturing this picture of Josiah and Luke reading bibles at church this last Sunday!
-
-{{< figure src=family.jpg alt="Fun with construction!!" caption="Fun with construction!!" >}}
-
-#+begin_quote
-Remember that you can help by donating [[https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z772/campaign/C-12WG5][here]]! We love how God provides so we can serve this community!!
-#+end_quote

content/staff/chris-and-abbie-cochrun/2024-05/index.org

@@ -1,51 +0,0 @@
----
-#+TITLE: Some Very Hard Work!
-TITLE: Some Very Hard Work!
-#+DATE: 2024-05-28
-DATE: 2024-05-28
-#+AUTHOR: Chris Cochrun
-authors:
-  - chriscochrun
-tags:
-  - Chris & Abbie Cochrun
-  - Northern Valley
-  - Home Remodel
-showAuthor: false
-showAuthorsBadge: true
-showTaxonomies: true
-showReadingTime: true
-showWordCount: true
-showDate: true
-showHero: true
-layout: hero
-showTableOfContents: true
-featured_image: "featured.jpg"
-description: Well, it's been quite a big two months. A VERY big two months. But after much hard work, we are moved into our new house!!
-summary: Well, it's been quite a big two months. A VERY big two months. But after much hard work, we are moved into our new house!!
-newsletter: true
----
-
-* Some Very Hard Work!
-Well, it's been quite a big two months. A VERY big two months. But after much hard work, we are moved into our new house!! I sit here in my temporary office in my unfinished basement next to the now wall-less furnace room writing this. We've wrapped up TFC for the year and have been in full blown remodeling mode recently! We have so much we want to do with this house, but for sure needed the kitchen and the bathroom done before moving in! It's been incredibly rewarding to say that we have our own place and have made it IN TO our own place. It's an awesome feeling to be fully moved in and having lived here for a week as I'm writing this now! We agreed to buy this house last August, officially purchased it the end of January, and have been renovating ever since!
-
-That said, we are quite exhausted, ever since TFC wrapped up it's felt like a final lap sprint in a marathon and to be honest, it's actually only the first half! The house is livable and we are so excited about that. The kitchen had been completely gutted and all new everything put in. It was both fun and challenging to watch the stages of things being torn down and slowly built back up. It’s been very fun to hear family remark on how nice the changes were as we installed new walls, cabinets, and countertops. Now, we are able to have meals in our kitchen and sit around our island enjoying food together. Last night we excitedly enjoyed grilled pizza out on our patio! However, there is still lots to do in the kitchen like backsplash, trim, and more before it’s complete!
-
-The main bath had quite the make-over too! We left the walls in place, but moved all the plumbing around and reworked where everything was. It was a lot of work but ended up with a better layout with a lot more space to fit all of our children in whilst getting ready in the morning or during bath time at night. With a new bathtub and moved plumbing you can imagine the possible leaks and stress of getting things right, especially when we are doing everything ourselves, but even that has been all figured out now and we can shower and get ready in our new bathroom. Now if only we could get the linen closet built & wallpaper on. 😆
-
-It's been a lot of work and our family is incredibly grateful for all who've prayed for us and helped in small and big ways, but it isn't quite over yet. We still need to fix up the basement so there is still lots to do and we'll have projects for years probably, but we've enjoyed our new little home for the last week and will surely enjoy it for the years to come! 
-
-{{< figure src=house.jpg alt="The New House" caption="The New House" >}}
-
-Now as we breathe a sigh of relief having got in the house, it's only days away until I leave on mission trip! I'm given the incredible honor of getting to go with 14 students from all over TFC-land to Rehoboth Christian Schools in Gallop, New Mexico from May 29-June 10. It's going to be a lot of fun and a good bit of stretching our servant hearts as we do home projects and work for the churches on the reservation and many of the Navajo and Hobi people in the area! It'll be a lot of fun to use some of the experience I've gained working on my own house on these mission trips too! 
-
-Please pray for our students going on the trip as a good chunk are new while some have done this many times, so we have quite the mix and are expecting to see a lot of cool growth in the lives of our teens and hopefully are a great blessing to the folks in Gallop, New Mexico! Also, pray for Abbie as she stays home with our boys in our new house!
-
-{{< figure src=missiontrip.jpg alt="Mission trip kids!" caption="Mission trip kids!" >}}
-
-* Cochrun Happenings
-The last two months have felt like the busiest of our whole lives! But is has had so many sweet moments! One of the most exciting is announcing that we are expecting another baby BOY this fall! Adding 1st trimester morning sickness into our craziness was not awesome, but Abbie is feeling great now and we are excited for this new little one!
-
-We also enjoyed getting to help Abbie’s family with their annual cow working day. Josiah and Luke LOVED “helping”. 🙂 They are loving town life, riding their bikes all over and eating at The Hut.
-Lastly, can you spot our tipped over chicken coop? They even made the move!
-
-{{< figure src=cochrun.jpg alt="Family Happenings" caption="Family Happenings" >}}

content/staff/chris-and-abbie-cochrun/_index.md

@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "Chris and Abbie Cochrun"
-date: 2014-05-20T15:24:04-05:00
-tags: ["Staff", "Northern Valley"]
-featured_image: ""
-description: "Chris and Abbie Cochrun serve together on TFC Staff!"
-groupByYear: true
-showDate: false
-showWordCount: false
-showReadingTime: false
-cascade:
-    showDate: true
-    showWordCount: true
-    showReadingTime: true
-    showTaxonomies: true
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-    showSummary: true
-    showBreadcrumbs: true
-    sharingLinks: ['facebook', 'instagram', 'email', 'reddit']
-    showHero: false
-    showAuthor: false
-layout: "simple"
-summary: "Chris and Abbie Cochrun serve together on TFC Staff! Chris grew up in Agra KS as a part of the Eastern Heights TFC group, Abbie grew up as a part of the Northern Valley TFC group..."
-weight: 70
----
-![Chris and Abbie's Family](featured.jpg "Chris and Abbie's Family!")
-
-Chris and Abbie Cochrun serve together on TFC Staff! Chris grew up in Agra KS as a part of the Eastern Heights TFC group, Abbie grew up as a part of the Northern Valley TFC group and they got to know each other through TFC! Chris handles a lot of IT and video related things for TFC and Abbie is TFC’s graphic designer.
-
-Subscribe to our newsletters!
-- [{{< icon "email" >}} Email](http://eepurl.com/dPuMqz)
-- [{{< icon "rss" >}} RSS](index.xml)
-
-<!-- You can check out my own website at [cochrun.xyz](https://cochrun.xyz)! -->
-
-If you'd like to read our newsletters, check them out here!
-
-{{< spacing height="h-12" >}}

content/staff/chris-and-abbie-cochrun/april2023/index.md

@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "3 Months!? 📖"
-date: 2023-05-07
-tags: ["Chris & Abbie Cochrun", "Northern Valley", "Bible"]
-newsletter: true
-featured_image: "featured.jpg"
-showHero: true
-description: "How long would it take me to read through the New Testament? That's the question I got as we wound down our spring of Bible study with some of the junior high kids last week."
-summary: "How long would it take me to read through the New Testament? That's the question I got as we wound down our spring of Bible study with some of the junior high kids last week."
-showAuthor: false
-showTableOfContents: true
-authors: ["chriscochrun"]
-showAuthorsBadge: true
-showTaxonomies: true
----
-
-## 3 Months!?
-
-How long would it take me to read through the New Testament? That's the question I got as we wound down our spring of Bible study with some of the junior high kids last week. After our last night of TFC we had one last meeting of Bible study so that the kids could get to Luke 4 where Jesus begins His ministry. It has been a slow and long process getting to that point even with all kinds of scheduling conflicts and many meetings with junior high brains, but finally we got to the point that if they can continue on throughout the summer, they'll have prepared themselves for reading through the rest of the Gospel of Luke before the end of the summer.
-
-## Why Reading it is SO Important
-
-I was reminded that the first time I read through an entire book of the Bible, I felt an incredible sense of accomplishment. But I had something more, I had begun to build a habit of inhaling the Word of God on a regular basis. It was something that has forever changed me. I remember as a teenager, feeling like I'm understanding something that is both incredibly important and largely forgotten in my culture. For some of you reading this, you may forget, the kids in our group, especially the ones who grow up in families that don't go to church and don't know Jesus, that was me! I was never taught regularly about the Bible. Not only that but I didn't sit in on Sunday school often and talk about how I needed to change my ways. My parents had taught me to be a good child, but honestly a lot of that teaching was the basic don't do bad things. It is my personal belief that any amount of me not become a rotten twerp was by God's grace. What changed most for me was realizing that God created us to be different from most of the world acts.
-
-![Josie and Maddie facing off during capture the flag!](josie-maddie.jpg "Josie and Maddie facing off during capture the flag!")
-
-That's when it hit me. Most people, even a good number who go to church regularly, aren't truly the Christians they should be. For a lot of us, we are stuck on just being "good enough". I asked my little Bible study group if they think a lot of the others who go to TFC or even other youth groups were actually truly Christians. They admitted that they aren't sure. And even to some extent, some in our group I'm not sure of either. But I told them, since college, I have not been convinced that a real Christian can go long without regularly reading God's Word. Without having some sort of consistent and frequent "chewing on" of God's Word, I think a lot of Christians end up just going to church, without really doing what Jesus teaches.
-
-The reason I became so convinced of this in high school and in college, was because I read the Bible for myself. Jesus told people to pluck an eye out if it caused them to sin. He told them to not withhold their shirt but also give up their cloak if someone asked it. He told them to pray and love their enemies. To be honest, it's EXTREMELY rare that I see those sorts of things happen in the church. So, when I read that, I immediately thought, "Well, that cuts out about half or more of the church...".
-
-This brought me to our Bible study group. I asked them to read through Luke this summer. Then I told them it isn't much. Just half a chapter a day. Mostly just 20 verses a day. And if they ever wanted to read through the whole Bible it'd take 12 pages a day and you'd make it in about 3 months. Then Josie flipped through her Bible and asked if I could help her figure out how long it'd take her to read through the entire New Testament, I think I got her convinced that it doesn't take much, just consistency.
-
-![Team Rocket preparing for the final round!](rockets.jpg "Team Rocket preparing for the final round!")
-
-Some of these kids live in homes much like mine was. Some of them have better situations or even worse. But all of them need Jesus. We ALL need Jesus. Every day. And that's what I wanted for them most of all. So my challenge was this, read through Luke this summer. Luke is such a great Gospel! He wrote it for those who are outside the Jewish circle, and therefore it resonates just a bit better with us. It shares how Jesus came to be King! And not just any King but the King of Kings! And Luke tells that story masterfully! On top of that, Luke also wrote Acts, which means you can pick up the story their and see how the disciples carry Jesus's mission onward!
-
-If these kids read through Luke this summer, they'll have likely done more than most. If they can regularly breathe in God's Word and not just read it and move on but really think about it, it would change them, as it did me. That was my final point in our last night of TFC too. Let God's Word change you. So with that, I invite you to do the same! If you'd like, read half a chapter of Luke every day this summer, and you'll get through it just a couple of months! And as you do, pray for our little group! I told them I'd be checking in with them over the summer to see how their reading is going, so pray that they'll keep it up and that they'll be changed!
-
-![Josie tripped and caught Tea with a karate chop!](josie-tea.jpg "Josie tripped and caught Tea with a karate chop!")
-
-![It was so great to see some new faces as we brought the 5th grade and High School along for the night!](shelby.jpg "It was so great to see some new faces as we brought the 5th grade and High School along for the night!")
-
-## Prayerfully Asking for Some Help
-
-This summer is of course filled with all kinds of cool things happening! Mission trip is starting in less than a month! SPLASH is after that very shortly and Camp is coming at the end of July! That said, I have a few requests of you all that read my newsletter! We have some students who cannot afford to go to camp. While NVTFC has covered their registration costs, we would love to see them still go! So if you want to see kids go to camp, contact me with a donation of $100 so they can go!
-
-Another big ask I have for you all is that next year things are going to have to be tweaked a good bit for our group to continue on and to start high school TFC back up! Since Abbie will have a newborn and Dani, as an intern, could move on to the next thing, we are going to be desperately in need of volunteers/sponsors to help out at TFC. If you could prayerfully consider it, we need adults who want to see teenagers know the Lord to help out at TFC! From food to crowd-control and even teaching, we'll need some help! So please consider it if you think you'll be available on Wednesday nights! Or if you know of someone who would be good help send me their info!
-
-Thank you so much for being a part of Northern Valley TFC. Abbie and I love to work in this community, we love these teens. God has called us here and without you, we wouldn't be able to do it. So THANK YOU! Thank you so much for cheering us on and supporting us here.
-
-![Zane gives a scary thank you!](zane.jpg "Zane gives a scary thank you!")
-
-## Cochrun Happening's
-It’s almost baby month! We have been busy preparing for his arrival and are anxious to meet him! We’re still not sure if our other boys fully understand what this new baby will mean for our family so you can pray that adding this little one to our family just brings joy! 
-
- We were so excited for warmer weather finally! We put up our hammock, planted most of our garden, and enjoyed celebrating Easter with our families!
- 
-![Cochrun Family!](cochrunfamily.png)
-
-> If you'd like to donate, please head on over to [the donation page](https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z772/campaign/C-12WG5)

content/staff/chris-and-abbie-cochrun/julyaug2023/index.org

@@ -1,59 +0,0 @@
----
-#+TITLE: TFC Camp Recap and New Year Plans  - July and August Newsletter
-TITLE: TFC Camp Recap and New Year Plans  - July and August Newsletter
-#+DATE: 2023-08-21
-DATE: 2023-08-21
-#+AUTHOR: Chris Cochrun
-authors:
-  - chriscochrun
-tags:
-  - Chris & Abbie Cochrun
-  - Northern Valley
-  - Camp
-newsletter: true
-showAuthor: false
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-showDate: true
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-featured_image: "featured.jpg"
-description: TFC Camp is over and WOW has it been an adventure! From NVTFC, we had 9 kids total come to camp. Our theme this year was Simon Says, and we dove very deeply into the life and growth of Simon Peter. Throughout our 2 weeks of camp, we saw a lot of students grow in huge ways as they got to see themselves in Peter's life.
-summary: TFC Camp is over and WOW has it been an adventure! From NVTFC, we had 9 kids total come to camp. Our theme this year was Simon Says, and we dove very deeply into the life and growth of Simon Peter. Throughout our 2 weeks of camp, we saw a lot of students grow in huge ways as they got to see themselves in Peter's life.
-newsletter: true
----
-
-
-* TFC Camp Recap
-TFC Camp is over and WOW has it been an adventure! From NVTFC, we had 9 kids total come to camp. Our theme this year was Simon Says, and we dove very deeply into the life and growth of Simon Peter. Throughout our 2 weeks of camp, we saw a lot of students grow in huge ways as they got to see themselves in Peter's life.
-
-[[./wk2camppic.jpg]]
-
-One of my favorite stories was watching 2 of our kids come to the point where they felt God has given them a family outside their own and love coming to TFC Camp or TFC because they feel they belong there. That's an incredible victory, not because of anything TFC did, but because God's family is the where we all belong, and TFC just tries to help be that for teenagers in our area!
-
-
-Jesus over and over invites people to follow Him and join into a new kind of community or family. This is exactly what TFC is all about, to help us move away from being a part of our own little community and into a godly family. One that is very different. One that means you belong. One that gives you the responsibility to care for and lift up others. This new family is different from the rest of the world. Instead of needing to worry about pleasing folks or doing the right thing, God's family is all focused on Jesus and what He's done. When we all see how much Jesus has forgiven us and recognize how much we have sinned, we see others in the same light. That Jesus loves them because He also loves us. Even though I had sinned deeply against Jesus, He still loves me. That changes things in God's family. Now I see others around me in the way Jesus sees me.
-
-Suddenly, even when others are a complete mess, I can still see them as a Jesus does. They need love too. And that's what those teens started to experience at camp this summer. It's the thing we are trying to create in NVTFC. We want the teens coming to know that they are a part of God's family, and they are accepted there always! Then to teach them to treat everyone else there in the same way. Once that happens, they bond in powerful ways. So with that, I wanted to ask you all to pray that we can do that well this year, even with a handful of changes coming to TFC.
-
-[[./camppics.png]]
-
-* NVTFC Plans for the Year
-At TFC this year, we are planning on moving things back to Almena and inviting highschoolers back to TFC. The goal is to continue building our group back into that family of God that I was describing. It's our prayer that we can get back to having a regular JH and HS group coming and pouring into teens, just like Jesus does. That being said, we are in need of adults. If you are available on Wednesday nights, please prayerfully consider being a part of NVTFC by contacting me at: 785-302-1664. We need some other adults, especially as we have highschoolers again.
-
-Also, if you are interested in cooking for TFC, please let me know as Abbie has 3 goofy kids and one just a few months old this year, so she won't have the time to cook this year!
-
-Finally, thank you all for praying for us over the summer months! It's because of your financial support and prayers that Abbie and I can do this! We are SO grateful for you all!
-
-* Cochrun Happenings
-The past months have been VERY busy! With TFC Camp, Chris was gone and Ty was just 2 months old! Right after camp, we tried to get back to feeling normal, but then went to Colorado for a vacation with our kids! It was such a great little trip! We may have not been on a lot of hikes, but where we did go and enjoy with our kids was a lot of fun! It was healing for our family! Now we've been sending Josiah to preschool too!
-
-[[./familypics.png]]
-[[./mountain.jpg]]
-
-#+begin_quote
-Remember that you can help by contacting me about helping out at TFC through either food or being part of the team on Wednesday nights! Please let me know if you or someone you know is able to help! Also, if you haven't, consider donating to helping us out by going [[https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z772/campaign/C-12WG5][here]]!
-#+end_quote

content/staff/chris-and-abbie-cochrun/june2023/index.org

@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
----
-TITLE: Our Growing Family 👶
-#+TITLE: Our Growing Family 👶
-date: 2023-07-07
-#+DATE: 2023-07-07
-#+AUTHOR: Chris Cochrun
-tags:
-  - Chris & Abbie Cochrun
-  - Northern Valley
-  - Camp
-showHero: true
-newsletter: true
-showAuthorsBadge: true
-showTaxonomies: true
-showReadingTime: true
-showWordCount: true
-showDate: true
-authors:
-   - chriscochrun
-showTableOfContents: true
-description: "This month has been quite crazy, and yet, not much has been done in TFC land. Just, ya know, two mission trips, a staff retreat to work on our plans for the next year, and a whole lot of TFC camp planning!"
-summary: "This month has been quite crazy, and yet, not much has been done in TFC land. Just, ya know, two mission trips, a staff retreat to work on our plans for the next year, and a whole lot of TFC camp planning!"
-featured_image: "featured.jpg"
----
-
-
-* Our Growing Family!
-This month has been quite crazy, and yet, not much has been done in TFC land. Just, ya know, two mission trips, a staff retreat to work on our plans for the next year, and a whole lot of TFC camp planning! We just made part of the rules video, and I've been working on my seminar for camp too. But most of this month has been spent celebrating the incredible new addition to our family! Welcome Titus Lawrence Cochrun! We are calling him Ty, and boy has he been fun and tiring!
-
-And that's the thing with this job, it's a lot of the same thing as raising kids and having a family. There are a lot of very exhausting things that happen all the time. Just the last few nights, at some point, I've had to get up and grab Ty and rock him back to sleep. And on occasion, I've fallen asleep in the rocking chair trying to get him to sleep! Then there are those moments that just exhaust you mentally. Like when Luke, who is quite potty-trained, can't quite make it to the toilet in time. Every. Single. Morning. It's become a bit of a routine too! Or when Luke thinks it's time to wake up in the morning and it isn't... I tell him he's supposed to wait until the fan turns off in his room. But he decides he'll just turn it off himself! "My fan is off!" "No, I meant that you have to wait for it to shut off on its own!" The goofy kids are exhausting.
-
-And yet, these are also days filled with such sweet moments too! Like how at every meal when we ask the kids to share their memory verses, Josiah can say from memory more verses than most adults I know! Or how Luke comes running to me and gives me a giant hug when I get home in the evening. Or when he's just about asleep, Ty will occasionally grace us with the cutest smiles!
-
-And that's what we've been doing. Shaping a few young boys into men of God, one moment at a time. To be honest, it's a job harder than TFC. Raising children of any age is an extremely difficult thing. And I am sure no one really knows how difficult it is until you're doing it and thinking you've just ruined your life by inviting chaos into your home. But also one that is even more fulfilling. Watching children go from knowing NOTHING, to being young men and women who love Jesus and show Him to others is the most incredible gift and one that God wants for all parents.
-
-Scripture is clear about the role of a parent. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." It's one of those little verses that promises something but isn't clear on what to actually train the child in or how to do that, just that it should be done. And so begins the great mystery of parenthood. I do my best to train my child, to teach them about Jesus, to bring them to church, and to include them in as many Jesus opportunities as possible so that they know Him well. And yet sometimes they stray.
-
-So where does that leave us? Well, for Abbie and me, that means every day doing what we can to teach our boys to love Jesus. Reading to them about Jesus, teaching them why certain things are sinful and certain things aren't, and helping them to know and love Him. In the evening, we've been reading through a picture Bible that tells the story very well. One of my favorite things about it is that it tells the story quickly and straight to the point, but it doesn't leave anything out. When Jesus dies, it makes it clear that it was a punishment for our sin. It's our prayer that we can help our boys know that Jesus loves them so much and that our house serves Him, not because "that's just what we do", but because Jesus is incredible and He chose us and loved us first. That's why we do it.
-
-It's an eerily similar story for teens in our ministry. TFC's whole goal is to change the world from the heart of America by providing disciple-making opportunities that serve communities where student ministries are limited. And we do that by connecting teens with the truth of Jesus Christ…teaching and equipping them to live out the Great Commission. It's our heartbeat to make disciples, and for Abbie and I, that means our children as well. And it's a perfect every-day practice to be able to do that better with teenagers as well.
-
-* Plans For Camp
-Camp is coming fast! As I'm printing this off, we are only one week out from needing to go up there and set everything up for two full weeks of camp! That's crazy! We have lost a week from normal because of how schools around here are starting earlier, so please pray we have the time to get everything ready!
-
-
-In other news, we are still looking for some food items!
-
-- Ground Beef - 85 pounds
-- Ground Sausage - 50 pounds Bacon - 40 pounds
-- Boneless Chicken Breast - 80 pounds
-- Spaghetti - 28 pounds
-- Macaroni - 28 pounds
-- Rotini - 28 pounds
-- Brownie Mixes Cookies/Brownies/Rice Krispy Treats
-
-
-And finally, I am still looking for two more donations for camp scholarships! If you are able, send $100 to help send a NV kid to camp!
-
-* Cochrun Happenings!
-June was full of so much Ty, Luke, and Josiah! We had much fun with these boys and so to celebrate, from fireworks this week all the way back to June 5th when Ty was born, take a look at our cute boys!

content/staff/chris-and-abbie-cochrun/may2023/index.md

@@ -1,53 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "It Starts Now - Why Families Matter :clock:"
-date: 2023-06-01
-tags: ["Chris & Abbie Cochrun", "Northern Valley", "Mission Trip"]
-newsletter: true
-featured_image: "featured.png"
-showHero: true
-description: "The first half of my May has been busy, but once graduations were all over, it's been strangely slow! Normally I'm gearing up for mission trip and would have gotten everything ready to go by now, but now that most things are"
-summary: "The first half of my May has been busy, but once graduations were all over, it's been strangely slow! Normally I'm gearing up for mission trip and would have gotten everything ready to go by now, but now that most things are"
-showAuthor: false
-showTableOfContents: true
-authors: ["chriscochrun"]
-showAuthorsBadge: true
-showTaxonomies: true
----
-
-## It Starts Now - Why Families Matter
-
-The first half of my May has been busy, but once graduations were all over, it's been strangely slow! Normally I'm gearing up for mission trip and would have gotten everything ready to go by now, but now that most things are done and the team is finishing some last details before leaving, I've been just waiting. Waiting on our baby to come! 
-
-Our baby is due on June 3rd, so we are praying for him and preparing for him over and over. It's strange though because I normally head out on mission trip right about now. For this year though, this will likely be a good thing! The team heading out soon is pretty well equipped and we serve a very big God so I have faith they won't need me, but I am sad to not be able to go with them. That said, as Abbie and I wait for our new little one, we've been enjoying our two little ones very much. It reminds me that one of God's key ways of growing His Kingdom is through families who teach their children to follow Him.  
-
-That's why I've been praying so hard to alter the direction of the lives of kids in the valley. If these young people follow Jesus from their teenage years, they'll want their families to as well. When someone comes to know Jesus so well, they can't but help share Him with their children. Sharing Jesus with their kids becomes their main goal. And it should! Now imagine if we can get all of the kids in TFC to raise their kids to know Jesus. It'd change our community if all of those families start sharing Jesus with everyone around them. That's why the family is crucial. And that's why we work so hard to see these lives changed. Because it starts NOW! Not tomorrow or next week, or next year, the sooner we all move toward Jesus, the better!  
-
-And what we want to see change, is not that they go to church every Sunday or become good people, but that they are so enthralled with Jesus, that they dedicate every part of their lives to Him. Their kids will know Jesus, their families will know Jesus, they do everything they can because they love Jesus and share Him with all their friends around them. They won't go to work each morning in order to make a living or have something to do, they'll do it because they love Jesus and they want others to know Him, and their work is their mission field.  
-
-![The Miriam's Hope Team](miriamshope.png "The Miriam's Hope Team")
-
-This brings me back to mission trip. Few places have I seen teenagers grasp that all-encompassing life of following Jesus than on mission trip. Something about stepping away from the rest of the world changes them. Mission trip immerses teenagers in making everything about Jesus and watching carefully all the ways that Jesus is weaving their story. So, it's with much anticipation, that I wait to hear the stories of how teens will have grasped that this year when they come back. I expect to hear some amazing ways that God has made a lasting impact on the lives of the teens going.  
-
-And with that, I leave you with this, "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners," Isaiah 61:1. That's the way we want kids to live. That they will be so filled with the Spirit that it's their responsibility to do all this for those around them. All because they love Jesus.  
-
-That's one of our verses for mission trip this year, and it's my prayer for the kids going! Pray with me for the team that has just come back and for the team that is just now leaving! The Miriam's Hope team got back on Sunday and the Cary, Mississippi team will leave Wednesday May 31st. Pray for them that hearts are changed in such a way that they must take it upon themselves to love others!  
-
-
-![The Cary Mississippi Team](cary.png "The Cary Mississippi Team")
-
-## Things to Pray About
-
--   Mission trip kids have left by the time you'll read this! Pray as God does incredible things in them and through them!
--   We are still in need a couple of camp donations for some kids who want to go! If you'd like to sponsor a Northern Valley teen going to camp for $100, let me know!
--   We are also still looking for adult sponsors for TFC next year! If you'd like to volunteer your time with us and help point teenagers to Jesus or if you know someone who'd be a good fit, let me know!
--   Pray for camp coming up! We have some big needs which you can find out about more here!
--   Finally, keep praying for our family as it grows! I'm praying that we've already welcomed another baby boy into our family by the time you read this, but please pray for our family as we adjust to this big addition to our family!
-
-## Cochrun Happenings
-While I write this, Abbie hasn't had the baby yet, but I hope she has by the time you read it! This last month we helped with cow working day, going to graduations, and enjoying so much outdoor fun!
-
-I built a table for us to have outdoor meals more often and already we've put it such great use! Josiah and Luke want to eat out there every day and with it being as cool as it has, we've been doing that!
-
-![Cochrun Family!](cochrun-family.png "Cochrun Family")
-
-> If you'd like to donate, please head on over to [the donation page](https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z772/campaign/C-12WG5)

content/staff/chris-and-abbie-cochrun/so-many-events.md

@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "So. Many. Events. 😲"
-date: 2022-11-02T15:24:04-05:00
-tags: ["Chris & Abbie Cochrun", "Leadership Retreat", "Northern Valley",  "180 Encounter", "45th Anniversary"]
-featured_image: ""
-newsletter: true
-description: "At TFC, we do our best to make sure teens become a lot more than just Christians."
-summary: "At TFC, we do our best to make sure teens become a lot more than just Christians."
-showAuthor: false
-authors: ["chriscochrun"]
-showAuthorsBadges: true
----
-
-# 👑 Leaders Rise Up!
-At TFC, we do our best to make sure teens become a lot more than just Christians. Being a Christian is great, but a lot of the time, teenagers have a sense for authenticity in people. This makes many of them skeptical of things like Christianity and such when they see some people act one way at Church and another way out in the community. Often, this puts a bad taste in the mouths of teens when it comes to Christianity. Our hope and prayer is that we can create leaders out of teens who exemplify integrity instead. One way we do this is through Leadership Retreat!
-
-Every fall, most people get excited about trees changing colors, falling leaves, sweaters, and pumpkin spice lattes. I get excited about Leadership Retreat. When I was a teen in TFC, Leadership Retreat was this haven of rest and Jesus. I loved it. I loved that I could take a break from school and just enjoy my TFC friends and getting to know Jesus more! For a whole weekend, we ask teens to stop from the busyness of life and come to learn about being a leader.
-
-This year, we asked them to take that calling VERY seriously! Leaders for Christ are sorely missing in our world, and we wanted to help the teens prepare themselves for what they could face should they begin to truly stand up for Christ. So, we challenged them on being a real leader. One who isn't like those many who lack integrity and clearly aren't authentic about their faith, but instead who put such a central and clear trust in Jesus that no matter the filth that our world might throw at them, they'll be ready!
-
-We talked a lot about the persecuted church and wanted them to feel ultimately prepared for what may happen in their lifetime. We asked them to care for each other in such a way that even if their world looks more and more like those persecuted Christians, they'll be able to bear the weight of it, with the help of others! Finally, we also wanted them to just be refreshed. Like I said, Leadership Retreat is a place of rest, and we wanted them to still feel that, so we gave them a lot of time to just rest in Jesus's peace and the company of each other, praying that God uses that to ensure they are prepared moving forward.
-
-# 😲 So. Many. Events.
-On top of Leadership Retreat, we had many things going on this month! At the very beginning of the month, we celebrated TFC's 45th year as a ministry! And right after Leadership Retreat, we held another 180 Encounter, our special gatherings of all TFC groups!
-
-At the 45th, TFC was so incredibly blessed to just celebrate with so many people who've just helped to make TFC what it is! Many alumni and volunteers and staff who have moved on came back to Phillipsburg to see what's been happening in the ministry and just celebrate those memories of how TFC was used by God in big ways in their lives! And oh man it is a blast to sit with friends recalling all the goofy things we did in our years as TFC students! But ultimately, that's all because of Jesus! Jesus created the ministry of TFC and called all these folks together in the first place. Then it's only through Him that we bond in those friendships that have lasted so long. All of it is because of Jesus.
-
-Then bringing kids together to watch those friendships blossom at our 180 Encounter is just a blast! We brought 6 kids to the 180 this month, and they loved it so much they asked when the next one is before we got home! Keep praying that those friendships will draw more students to Jesus and convince of His great love for them!

content/staff/dani-rouse/index.md

@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "Dani Rouse"
-date: 2022-10-28T15:26:41-05:00
-tags: ['Northern Valley', 'Intern']
-featured_image: ""
-description: "Dani attended the Oberlin TFC Group as a teenager."
-layout: "simple"
-summary: "Dani attended the Oberlin TFC Group as a teenager. Throughout high school, she was  involved in camp, mission trip, and our student leadership team."
-weight: 90
-draft: true
----
-![Dani Rouse](featured.jpg "Dani TFC's current Year Intern!")
-
-Dani attended the Oberlin TFC Group as a teenager. Throughout high school, she was  involved in camp, mission trip, and our student leadership team. Dani knew God had called her to vocational ministry, and the Lord called her back to intern with TFC for two summers during college. After graduating in May of 2022, she returned for a year-long internship with TFC.

content/staff/ethan-rose/index.md

@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "Ethan Rose"
-date: 2022-10-28T15:24:52-05:00
-tags: ["Staff", "Thunder Ridge"]
-featured_image: ""
-description: "Ethan’s TFC journey began as a teenager in the Eastern Heights TFC group in Agra, KS."
-layout: "simple"
-summary: "Ethan’s TFC journey began as a teenager in the Eastern Heights TFC group in Agra, KS. Throughout his high school years his involvement in the ministry grew..."
-weight: 60
----
-![Ethan Rose](featured.jpg "Ethan at camp!")
-
-Ethan’s TFC journey began as a teenager in the Eastern Heights TFC group in Agra, KS. Throughout his high school years his involvement in the ministry grew, and by the time he went to college the Lord had placed this ministry on his heart as a place God might be calling Ethan back to. After serving in volunteer and intern positions throughout college, he joined TFC staff in the fall of 2012. Ethan loves leading the Thunder Ridge group, as well as being Co-Camp Director where he gets to work with interns as they learn to plan and execute camp.

content/staff/janice-lundquist/index.md

@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "Janice Lundquist"
-date: 1981-10-28T15:24:32-05:00
-tags: ["Staff", "Alumni Coordinator", "Thunder Ridge"]
-featured_image: ""
-description: "In the fall of 1981, Janice Lundquist became a part of the TFC Staff."
-layout: "simple"
-summary: "In the fall of 1981, Janice Lundquist became a part of the TFC Staff. She has served in and enjoyed almost every aspect of the ministry during that time."
-weight: 30
----
-![Janice Lundquist](featured.jpg "Janice Lundquist")
-
-In the fall of 1981, Janice Lundquist became a part of the TFC Staff. She has served in and enjoyed almost every aspect of the ministry during that time. She currently works with the Thunder Ridge TFC group, working specifically with the Junior High age teens. Carrying on a dream of the staff, Janice is currently working on developing a ministry of encouragement to TFC Alumni to continue building a heart for discipleship in them.

content/staff/lavonne-ponstein/index.md

@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "Lavonne Ponstein"
-date: 2022-10-28T15:24:43-05:00
-tags: ["Staff", "Disciplemaking Coach"]
-featured_image: ""
-description: "Lavonne joined the TFC adventure back in 1983. For years she worked directly with students as a leader of the weekly Connection groups."
-layout: "simple"
-summary: "Lavonne joined the TFC adventure back in 1983. For years she worked directly with students as a leader of the weekly Connection groups."
-weight: 20
----
-![Lavonne Ponstein](featured.jpg "Lavonne Ponstein")
-
-Lavonne joined the TFC adventure back in 1983. For years she worked directly with students as a leader of the weekly Connection groups. Her passion for the ministry of TFC is that we will be a disciplemaking ministry imitating Jesus’ strategy for making disciples. Lavonne is currently working as “Disciplemaking Coach”  and Co-Camp Director for TFC as she focuses on spurring on individual staff members, interns, and others for the disciplemaking of many.

content/staff/lewis-smith/index.md

@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "Lewis and Susan Smith"
-date: 2022-10-28T15:26:16-05:00
-tags: ["Staff", "Logan"]
-featured_image: ""
-description: "Lewis grew up in a ministry a lot like TFC Connection."
-layout: "simple"
-summary: "Lewis grew up in a ministry a lot like TFC Connection. Because of this kind of ministry, he fell in love with TFC. As a ministry that is involved with several communities..."
-weight: 40
----
-![Lewis and Susan Smith](featured.jpg "Lewis and Susan Smith!")
-
-Lewis grew up in a ministry a lot like TFC Connection. Because of this kind of ministry, he fell in love with TFC. As a ministry that is involved with several communities and helps the teens get to know other Christians, Lewis loves TFC. Lewis’s wife Susan helps in many ways at TFC and works at a nursing home. Lewis and Susan have both been a part of the TFC family for 20+ years and love it. Lewis is one of the sound and tech guys at TFC.

content/staff/rob-and-taffy-lewis/index.md

@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "Rob and Taffy Lewis"
-date: 2022-10-28T15:26:07-05:00
-tags: ["Staff", "Southern Valley"]
-featured_image: ""
-description: "Rob Lewis joined the TFC Staff in 2007 after having volunteered as a helper at the Southern Valley TFC group."
-layout: "simple"
-summary: "Rob Lewis joined the TFC Staff in 2007 after having volunteered as a helper at the Southern Valley TFC group. He is the Southern Valley Director and brings his..."
-weight: 50
----
-![Rob and Taffy Lewis](featured.jpg "Rob and Taffy's family!")
-
-Rob Lewis joined the TFC Staff in 2007 after having volunteered as a helper at the Southern Valley TFC group. He is the Southern Valley Director and brings his carpentry skills and get it done attitude to help with Mission Trips and TFC Camp. Rob also attended the Oxford TFC group as a teenager. His wife Taffy grew up as a staff kid as her parents joined the staff in 1978. She has been supporting Rob in his ministry since he joined and has recently started leading the weekly lessons. They have two children Christian and Cedric. Christian is 20 years old and Cedric is five.