As you read below to find out about the end of Project Hangout as we currently know it - please understand that a seed must die for other things to give birth. The lifestyle mentor philosophy lives on in the lives of those trained and many good things that Project Hangout started. Many will still continue - Like Nova-Do martial arts, coffee groups and www.FEEDtheMUSIC.net (Ryan's latest project).
Please continue to root Ryan and Jenn on by showing up to FEEDtheMUSIC and participating in the intergenerational music community that happens every month. Ryan currently has found a job working with emancipated foster youth ages 18-24.
The Story:
June, 2009
Dear Project Hangout Supporter,
From the inception of Project Hangout Ministries, we have been accountable to the stakeholders, including the donors and those we have ministered to. Under that responsibility, the Board members have maintained a code of integrity in managing the ministry. One key element has been transparency in all we do. We honor the Lord by doing so and avoid issues that may undermine our ministry or call our purposes into question. With that desire to be forthright as to the status of Project Hangout, I must regretfully announce that the Board and I have determined that Project Hangout Ministries will end operations on June 30, 2009. The reason for our decision is not unlike those currently faced by other non-profits and businesses. Since the economic downturn, the ministry has seen a drop in income (contributions) of over 40%. This has caused drastic reductions in expenditures, including a substantial cut (80%) in the salary of our Operations Director, Ryan Zeulner. Beginning last month Ryan’s work at Project Hangout was reduced to a part-time basis. Understandably, as a father and husband Ryan needs a full-time position and cannot continue at Project Hangout under this arrangement. Without someone like Ryan running the day-to-day operations, the ministry is unable to continue. It is due to this and the other effects of the economic downturn on our ministry that we must in good faith end the operation.
While we are saddened by the turn of events we are not discouraged. Over the span of eight years we have seen hundreds of kids learn of the love of Christ, dozens come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and many more turn from destructive behavior. We know that the successes at introducing the Word into the lives of these youth will not return void. It is His grace and love that has made all of this possible and it is in the same that we continue on.
To wind up the operations, we have determined that the ministry has a cash need of $8,500 for our remaining obligations. This includes back-pay owed to Ryan. I would ask you to prayerfully consider sending Project Hangout a generous gift so that we can properly meet every obligation as we close our books. If through the Lord’s provision there are any funds remaining after fulfilling these obligations, we will transfer the balance to Terra Nova Church in Irvine, California after June. This church is where Ryan is the part-time youth pastor and where he will continue his work in Lifestyle Mentoring. If necessary we will continue to receive donations after June 30th until all of the obligations are fulfilled.
I cannot begin to express my thanks for your commitment to serving the Kingdom through your gifts and sacrifices for Project Hangout. I am extremely humbled by your involvement and the impact we have had for God’s glory.
With Blessings,
Dale Hedges
Founder & President
dwhedges@projecthangout.com
Showing posts with label Media spotlight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Media spotlight. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Please learn about my friend
Please learn about a most remarkable young man. His story is moving. You will love him and the God that he serves.
Click below:
Clayton McDonald
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Oak In My Front Yard
A few years ago for Arbor day a mushroomed haired fifth grader wrote a poem that was published in the local newspaper. The poem titled “The Oak In My Front Yard,” penned in a cafeteria lunchroom, caught some attention for the yearly observance because of its elevation of nature. But like most poems, the real meaning wasn’t that obvious.
“The oak in my front yard
has seen more years than I
I look up at the old and withered tree,
and it tells me
stories of when it was young and strong.
Those stories tell what the earth
was like a 100 years ago.
All trees have stories
So stop cutting them down
and listen in,
to the history of our world.”
Yes you could say that the deeper meaning can be found in John 19 where Jesus says that if man remains silent the rocks will cry out to praise God. Which is true, but this came from a fifth grade boy that had little understanding of this passage. Where his heart was coming from was an eternal longing that all little boys and girls are given by God. Its the longing to look up to someone older, to learn from and feed off of. This 100 year old tree was not the oak in his front yard, it was the wisdom of his elders that he longed for. This boy was hitting on this idea of the Oaks of Righteousness found in Isaiah 61.
“ They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.”
This is a people being transformed by the Salvation of Jesus that go out and set things right by bringing structure and order. They build into their surroundings, not abandon it. For generations we have left the youth to fend for themselves, excusing ourselves from the table and bowing out from engaging the youth. With that we took our wisdom, our failures (stories of redemption built in with warnings) and our support with us. Leaving this generation of youth to fend for themselves without defense, wisdom or any kind of context on how to live. This fifth grader with his poem knew the value of wisdom that could only be found in others. The responsibility to initiate lays upon the adults. We can be a backbone for students struggling through life. God has made the church intergenerational by design. It doesn’t work unless we our reaching out to others and walking with them through life because that is the true meaning of discipleship. You can help someone blossom and it can start today.
“The oak in my front yard
has seen more years than I
I look up at the old and withered tree,
and it tells me
stories of when it was young and strong.
Those stories tell what the earth
was like a 100 years ago.
All trees have stories
So stop cutting them down
and listen in,
to the history of our world.”
Yes you could say that the deeper meaning can be found in John 19 where Jesus says that if man remains silent the rocks will cry out to praise God. Which is true, but this came from a fifth grade boy that had little understanding of this passage. Where his heart was coming from was an eternal longing that all little boys and girls are given by God. Its the longing to look up to someone older, to learn from and feed off of. This 100 year old tree was not the oak in his front yard, it was the wisdom of his elders that he longed for. This boy was hitting on this idea of the Oaks of Righteousness found in Isaiah 61.
“ They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.”
This is a people being transformed by the Salvation of Jesus that go out and set things right by bringing structure and order. They build into their surroundings, not abandon it. For generations we have left the youth to fend for themselves, excusing ourselves from the table and bowing out from engaging the youth. With that we took our wisdom, our failures (stories of redemption built in with warnings) and our support with us. Leaving this generation of youth to fend for themselves without defense, wisdom or any kind of context on how to live. This fifth grader with his poem knew the value of wisdom that could only be found in others. The responsibility to initiate lays upon the adults. We can be a backbone for students struggling through life. God has made the church intergenerational by design. It doesn’t work unless we our reaching out to others and walking with them through life because that is the true meaning of discipleship. You can help someone blossom and it can start today.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Media Spotlight V.1
Every once in awhile we run across incredible stories in media that demonstrate the lifestyle ministry model of Project Hangout.
The articles don't call it that, but the stories of transformation are filled with people reaching other people through relationships based around passions. Take for instance the story of Harmony Dust, a former stripper, in the March ('08) issue of RELEVANT magazine. The following is an excerpt taken from the article by Ashley Dodson called, Scars & Stilettos: (click on article to enlarge)The story of Harmony's life is a great work of God. She has now started a ministry to help girls in the sex industry. Please visit www.iamatreasure.com and check out more of her story. She also recently won the social worker of the year award and is married to Hip-Hop artist Pigeon John. The unsung hero in this story is Tanya, who loved Harmony and connected with her over their mutual love for dance. She was not afraid to seek out and initiate relationship in order to incarnate Jesus Christ. She is living the way of a lifestyle mentor whether she knew it or not. Thank you Tanya for helping change another life!
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