Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all Nebraska Family Times subscribers, sponsors, advertisers, and readers! We are snowed in so will be celebrating the birth of Jesus at home. I think a lot of others are doing the same thing.

May God bless you and your families!

"The Revolution" Perfrms Dramatization in Florida

"The Revolution” Performs Dramatization in Florida
by Shelly Burke, Editor

(this article appeared in the December issue of the Nebraska Family Times)

A Columbus group from the Center of Survivors recently had the opportunity to share their ideas for preventing teen dating violence to a group of adults from around the nation.

Abbie Tessendorf and Erin Nahorny are leaders of The Revolution group, which works to inform teens about dating violence and sexual assault. They, along with seven teenagers, (Aaron Adams, Lauren Wright, Omar Rodriguez, Elizabeth Bartels, Bryanna Hammons, Katie Rodriguez, and Tayler Bock), recently attended the National Conference on Sexual Assault in our School in Orlando, Florida. While they were at the conference they performed a dramatization called “Boiling Point.”

The 20 minute dramatizations in “Boiling Point” show unhealthy teen relationships. After the dramas the kids stayed in character and answered audience questions from their character’s point of view. They also stayed in character to educate the audience about teen sexual assault and violence. Tayler Bock then presented a slide show that he had created, set to music and also relating to the topics of teen dating violence.

According to Tessendorf, the purpose of the trip to Florida was to ”Show other leaders what we do—peer education to prevent dating violence--so they can take the idea back to their organization. Many people asked for more information about developing their own program. Kids listen so much better to other kids, so when kids educate through a dramatization, slide show, and questions and answers, it really makes an impact on those kids who are watching.”

“Boiling Point” is one of the only programs depicting teen violence that goes into high schools, and has been presented at many area schools. The audience is informed that the dramatization is realistic and contains simulated violence and profanity.

The “Boiling Point” script is now retired, and a new one is being written. Tessendorf said the script is re-written every few years to keep it fresh for area audiences. ”We have made many referrals after presenting the dramatization in area schools. Kids come up to us after the dramatization, crying, because they, or a friend or sibling have been affected by dating violence. We help the kids in the audience—whether they’re perpetrators of violence, victims, or friends—know what they can and should do. We make an impact.”
Presentations are free to schools in the Center for Survivor’s service area. If you are interested in a presentation at your school or for your group, call Abbie Tessendorf at (402) 564-2155. The Center for Survivors is located at: 3103 13th StreetColumbus, NE 68602. Call toll-free 800-658-4482 or e-mail centerforsurvivors@citlink.net for more information.

Nebraska Family Times Website

The Nebraska Family Times website has been up and running…but I’m finding it hard to find the time to get it updated. My priorities are God, family, and then business…and unfortunately, although “update website” has been on my list of to-do’s, there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done.

Until I am able to regularly update the website, I will be reprinted selected articles on this blog. It won’t be quite as easy to find the articles, and they won’t be as easily accessible, but it will give you access to at least some of the articles in the newspaper.

And meanwhile…if you’ve found a way to add several hours to each day, please let me know! J

December Issue

As I did research to find the “perfect” article for the front page of the paper, I found an article by Alan Sears, titled “It’s OK to say ‘Merry Christmas,’ Charlie Brown." It was interesting to read how the producer of the feature “A Charlie Brown Christmas” warned Charles Schultz that if he left the scene featuring Linus reading the Christmas story, Charlie Brown would be ruined. Schultz, however, stuck to his beliefs and today “A Charlie Brown Christmas” remains one of the highest rated programs on network television when it airs.

Do you think you know a lot about Christmas? Take the “Christmas IQ Quiz” and find out. You’ll also find several articles about starting new Christmas traditions, and questions to ask at Christmas gatherings, to stimulate conversation and gain a deeper understanding of how others see Christmas.

If you missed the December issue of the Nebraska Family Times but would like to receive a copy, call and inquire. A limited number of copies are available at no charge.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! We are so blessed to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving in Missouri with my mom and dad, sisters and their families, and grandpa. On Thanksgiving Eve we attended church and had the surprise and treat of listening to Dad preach. (he didn’t tell us he was going to, so we didn’t know until he walked in at the beginning of the service) We had a great time eating mom’s YUMMY Thanksgiving with all the trimmings, and talking and talking and talking. And of course taking lots of pictures.

Happy Birthday Cody!

Happy Birthday Cody!

Eighteen years ago God blessed us with our first baby; Cody Edward. We are so thankful to God for letting us experience the joy of raising our children. We celebrated with friends and family at one of our favorite restaurants, Husker House, in Columbus. Thanks to all who made it a fun day.

Living Water Rescue Mission

Living Water Rescue Mission

By Shelly Burke, Editor

Chaplain Ted Pearson did not intend to open another Rescue Mission; he keeps plenty busy as the Director of the Columbus Rescue Mission. Over the last few years, however, he kept hearing people say, “We need to do something in York. There is a need for a shelter there.” Realizing that God was behind the people voicing the need for that shelter, Pearson listened.

”God had to lead this and make it work,” Pearson said when I talked to him last week. Pearson talked with the Board of Directors at the Columbus Rescue Mission, and they gave the OK to pursue the project and see where God led. A Board of Directors from York was developed, and includes several people from the Columbus Rescue Mission Board. The Living Water Rescue Mission in York will be a satellite of the Columbus Rescue Mission.

Pearson said the people and businesses in York have been supportive of the idea of a shelter in York, and they’ve been involved in the search for a location for the Living Water Rescue Mission. Pearson is confident of their continued support and encouragement as the project progresses.

Finding a location was time-consuming. Any property has to be brought up to current code (for electricity, plumbing, etc.) before people can sleep there, and that can be costly. A property has been located, and Pearson and everyone involved hope they’ll be able to buy it. They need the $95,000 purchase price by December 1st, plus an estimated $105,000 to renovate the building and bring it up to code.

It’s an old building, but Pearson spoke with enthusiasm when he said, ”God’s people will destruct it, and then reconstruct it up to code. They will be a part of it, and take pride in it.” The project will proceed in stages, and people will move in as the space becomes habitable. Pearson hopes that single men will be able to move in by next spring, and eventually plans to have rooms for single men, single women, and families.

One population the Living Water Rescue Mission will serve is people who visit friends or family members at the York women’s prison. ”They will need somewhere to stay when they visit, and women in the prison will need somewhere to stay when they get out,”Pearson remarked.

Pearson anticipates serving wide variety of people who will need the services of the Living Water Rescue Mission. He assures readers that, ”God will do incredible things with the people whose cars break down on the interstate and come to us, and those who stop in York for some other reason. He will send us people from all over the country, with problems and needs different from those we see in Columbus. This is God’s ministry, His mission, His work; He will do incredible things here.”
(Watch for updates on the progress of the Living Water Rescue Mission in future issues of the Nebraska Family Times.)
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The Rescue Mission asks for your prayers as they provide services at the Columbus Rescue Mission and move forward with the Living Water Rescue Mission.
The Rescue Mission will be delivering Thanksgiving food baskets and serving a Thanksgiving meal. Donations of food, plates, plasticware, etc., are needed and appreciated, as is a donation of time to help put together baskets, cook, serve, or clean up.
If you would like to make a monetary donation, send it to: Columbus Rescue Mission, 1471 25th Ave., Columbus, NE 68601. If you would like to donate goods, call for current needs; (402) 563-1096 or check the blog at http://www.columbusrescuemission.blogspot.com/.