Page 3 - The Friday Flyer • July 17, 2015

JuLY 17, 2015 THE FRIDAY FLYER A-3 Reaching out to youth of the community . . .
ttfrom page a2
Recently, while listening to a middle school child ask for prayer for his drug- addicted mom, he was struck by the fact that, once upon a time, it was mothers who sought prayer for their children.
Weekly, kids arrive at the senior Crawfords’ home by bicycles, scooters and skateboards. Kasey says about half of them are from families in the church; the other half are from the community and simply want a place to belong where they can talk to adults who care.
But churched or unchurched, Kasey would say that isn’t what’s most impor- tant. As solid and secure as his own fam- ily life was, and as good as the training and encouragement were in his youth group at Canyon Lake Community Church, Kasey says he wasn’t always the “good kid” that he appeared to be on the outside.
He embraced his parents’ faith when he was young; but like many kids who leave home for college, there was a time when he questioned whether or not the foundation upon which he had built his life could be trusted. Graduating from Linfield in 1997, he headed off to UCSD to major in Communication.
While in his sophomore year, he ex- perienced what he calls “a catalyst for a major life change.” A mentor from Inter- Varsity Christian Fellowship asked him whether Psalm 34:8 was true in his life: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Kasey says he couldn’t honestly say it was.
“Then it hit me,” he says. “God wants the answer to be ‘yes’ and for him to be real and powerful in my life; not far
Kasey has enjoyed waterskiing, and now wakeboarding, since his youth.
Kasey invites all Canyon Lake youth to a free concert by 'Dare to be Dreamers' at the Elevation Church facility, 28250 Bradley Rd. in Sun City, on Wednesday, July 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. Dare to be Dreamers is an electro/rap hip-hop group that brings in laser lights, glow-in-the-dark beach balls, confetti blasters and more. 'But most of all,' says Kasey, 'they carry the awesome, positive message about who you are in God’s eyes. Come have fun and be inspired to walk closer with God.'
all Canyon Lake kids in grades 6 through 12 are invited to the youth group meetings of elevation Church on Wednesday nights. In the Summer, teens meet at the home of Kasey’s parents, Ken and Tina Crawford.
away, but close and real enough to say He is indeed good.”
That set Kasey on a course to pursue “the knowledge of the Holy,” as one of his favorite authors, A.W. Tozer would describe it.
Kasey is happy to share with any- one what this pursuit entailed and how this newly rekindled faith led to a deep friendship with a fellow seeker named Dawn and a very important date: April 1, 1999 (a story too long to tell here).
Just before graduating from UCSD, both with a degree in Religion, Kasey and Dawn were married on April 1, 2001. Kasey went on to obtain two mas- ter’s degrees in Divinity and Intercul- tural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary, while Dawn audited classes and had their first child.
In Summer 2007, Pastor Pete Van Dyke, with whom Kasey has always had a close relationship, invited him to become teaching pastor of a new contemporary service, “Threshold,”
at Canyon Lake Community Church. Kasey says God continued to shape his heart and vision as he taught at CLCC almost four years, while he and Dawn began raising a family of their own in Canyon Lake.
Then, remembering that his college calling was to share a ministry with Dawn, Kasey sought the blessing of CLCC as he and Dawn began a new church, Elevation, in April 2011, with 30 adults. It first met at Paloma Valley High School; then moved to its current location in Sun City.
He then chose 10 leading adults from his congregation and began preparing them to help with what he hoped would be the beginning of a youth ministry at Elevation. Expecting the nine to 10 kids who already were church attenders, Kasey says he was amazed when 35 kids showed up to their first meeting at his parents’ home on Gray Fox Dr.
It caused him to become acutely aware of the need, saying, “Kids are hungry for
something meaningful and authentic – for love and acceptance and a connection with God.” He invites all Canyon Lake youths, 6th through 12th grade, to the weekly summer meetings at his parents’ home, 23240 Gray Fox Dr.
He also invites them to a free concert by “Dare to be Dreamers” at the church facility, 28250 Bradley Rd. in Sun City, on Wednesday, July 22, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Dare to be Dreamers is an electro/ rap hip-hop group that brings in laser lights, glow-in-the-dark beach balls, confetti blasters and more. “But most of all,” says Kasey, “they carry the awe- some, positive message about who you are in God’s eyes. Come have fun and be inspired to walk closer with God.” The group’s music video can be seen at https://youtu.be/xYm2aENEN48.
Elevation calls itself “a family of fol- lowers of Jesus doing life together to see the Kingdom of Heaven transform earth.” Learn more at Facebook.com/ weareelevation or call 951-230-8764.
FridayFlyer.com • news@goldingpublications.com
the friday flyer
Volume 34 Number 29
The Friday Flyer (USPS 006-865) is published weekly every Friday by GOLDING PUBLICATIONS, 31558 Railroad Canyon Road, Canyon Lake, CA 92587 (244-1966). The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement of the advertised products, services or opinions by GOLDING PUBLICATIONS. GOLDING PUBLICATIONS claims no liability for said advertisements.
Newspaper Office ........................................951-244-1966 FAX ..............................................................951-244-2748 E-mail (articles)............... news@goldingpublications.com E-mail (ads) ....................... ads@goldingpublications.com
Publisher.................................................... Chuck Golding Executive Editor ........................................ Carolyn Knight Editor .............................................. Sharon Rice, ext. 228 Reporter........................................ Donna Kupke, ext. 230 Teen Reporter ..................................................Blake Echt Columnists .................. Ken Cable, Ron and Leigh Martel,
Betty Williams, Alyssa Landau, Donna Ritchie, Kellie and Dale Welty, Kerry Keith, Weatherman Pat Elliano Advertising Executive .....................................Marti Norris Advertising Executive ................................ Lynda Hoffman Advertising Executive ................................... Dona Jessup Production Manager ............................. Dominic Johnson
Production Assistant ................................. Al Van Beenen Office Manager/Classifieds...............................Gina Wells Mailroom........................................................ Kelli Fischer Annual weekly subscription rates are $10.00 a year for subscriptions mailed within the County of Riverside and $74.90 all others. Periodical Postage
Paid at Perris, California.
Postmaster: Send address changes to THE FRIDAY FLYER, 31558 Railroad Canyon Road, Canyon Lake, CA 92587.
©2015—All contents copyrighted by Golding Publications.
photos provided by kasey crawford