A Note from the Director

I’m able to meet with pastors for a Bible study twice each month and was encouraged by one who shared this bit of wisdom with me:

There are three kinds of people you deal with as a leader: 

Those who are with you and for you, 

those who are with you but not for you,

 and those that are neither with you nor for you. 

Regardless of where they are with you, 

you need to work with them and through them. 

I might guess that my friends and readers have had to deal with more than their fair share of problem people as well, many times from inside the church. But, as another pastor friend of mine (one who is with me and for me) said, “The church is like Noah’s Ark. It stinks inside, but sure destruction awaits outside.”

The intent of this letter is not to state the obvious, but to challenge you to focus on the encouragers and remember that God will bring those “for you/with you people” at different seasons in your life. I thought about this as I attended Peggy Javens’ viewing. Her life’s work and dedication to the Lord were evident as the hundreds of people who attended it were touched by her faith. I thought of that summer when her husband Bob, who was struggling with a bad back, withstood 90o heat and humidity to take hundreds of kids to the Pittsburgh Zoo, Science Center, and Pirate Baseball games. If that is not taking grenades into the trenches, then nothing is.

I think in today’s world it’s good to be reminded that there are preachers of Christ who are willing to share wisdom, men and women like Bob and Peggy Javens willing to share their gifts with others, and the waves of life that remind us to get in the boat, find a paddle, suck it up, and sing the Marine Corps Hymn.

Mr. Bob, whenever you look upon heaven’s scene, we pray you are comforted that Miss Peggy walks on streets of gold guarded by United States Marines.

Semper Fi,

Matt Nance

Boys' Center Update

Over the past three months the Boys’ Center, staff and students have experienced positive results from their focus on increased retention during Bible study. The boys have retained several main themes as they relate to the lessons taught by staff members. The staff at the Boys’ Center also worked with the boys to learn the Lord’s Prayer. So far, most of the boys have learned about 80% of it.

During the past three months, the boys had the opportunity to earn privileges, which includes basketball on Monday evenings. While we would have liked to see some better peer interaction and conflict resolution during our Monday evening games, an overnighter on Tuesday, March 26 provided the opportunity for staff to reinforce appropriate behavior. Even though it was hard, we had to tell some boys they couldn’t join us because of behavioral issues.

I had no idea what painful fun awaited me. The overnighter included wings at Quaker Steak and Lube in Cranberry, a movie at Carmike Cinemas on Rt. 18, and all-night basketball at Beaver County Christian School. Even though the boys were pretty tired the next morning, everyone went to the Brighton Hot Dog Shop for pancakes and then paintball at Steel Town Paintball in Emsworth. While tiring and painful (at least for staff as I had to stop for Aleve on the way to paintball), it was an outstanding evening, one in which deserving young men’s positive behavior was reinforced by the reward of a great overnight with a lot of food and fun.

Also, over the past two months, Mr. Matt, Mr. Dave, and I have opened the Boys’ Center on Tuesday through Thursday mornings so the boys could get donuts, juice, and prayer. Several young men show up every morning faithfully with expectant spirits in need of prayer. To God be the glory! God bless!

Mr. Bryan Crawl

P.S. Mr. Bryan stayed awake from 4 p.m. Tuesday until after 1 p.m. Wednesday, proving the medical community correct that people over 50 don’t need as much sleep.  - Matt Nance

Downtown Site Update

We’ve had a great year with all the kids. Lately, we’ve been studying on who God is and how we receive His love. We’ve also been encouraging the kids to memorize verses of praise and instruction from the word of God. Our kids love to draw and color. Sometimes we have small coloring competitions to help pass the cold weather away. The Geneva students have been an instrumental part in tutoring and mentoring. “Rap sessions” by Miss Kaetlyn Blair and myself provide an excellent opportunity for the kids to open up about their concerns and daily lives. Afterward, I lead them in songs of praise before we leave.

Please continue to pray for the staff and kids as we finish up the after-school program. We sincerely thank you for all your prayers and support thus far!

God Bless!

Mrs. Tina Davis
Downtown Site Supervisor

Harmony Center Update

The month of February brings thoughts of love and is often accompanied by sweet candy, silly cards, and bright red hearts. However, love is so much more than what is depicted by Valentine’s Day memorabilia. Therefore, what better time to talk about true love – God’s perfect and never failing love for his children – than during the month of February!

The kids at Harmony have been exploring God’s declarations and demonstrations of love throughout the Bible. We have seen that His love can reach each of us where we stand and cover all of our sins, regardless of how undeserving we may be. Together we have explored God’s ultimate show of love, which was sending His Son to die on the cross for us. We have learned that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and the students have been challenged to recognize ways that God daily demonstrates His love in their own lives.

After determining the source and abundance of this never-ending love, we have moved into applying this example to our own lives. The students are looking at God’s description of love in 1Corinthians 13 as a guide for how we should be show love to one another. Discussing God’s love and the way he desires for us to love one another has provided an incredible opportunity for accountability and growth as a group.

I have been strengthened as I see the students understanding that God’s love is so much more than the superficial love that is often present in our own lives. When we were initially discussing the ways God shows his love for us on a daily basis one student said that He “let’s us talk to him.” This was an incredible reminder to me of the mercy of our Sovereign God. What a blessing it is that a God who rules over all allows us to pray and communicate freely with Him at any time, in any way!  The kids at Harmony are learning what an amazing gift it is to share their concerns and praises with their Creator who loves them more than they can ever imagine.

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1John 4:8)

Lauren Boughter
Harmony Site Supervisor

Reflections on 2012

As I am writing this, we just had our first day of a three-day prayer event called “14 Blocks”. Over 35 people showed up and we are expecting more over the next two days. Words cannot describe how powerful it was to be in a building with no heat, gathered with people who care about prayer, praying together, and then going out into even colder conditions so that we might seek Him together for our community. Before we started, I explained why the Lord had brought this idea to my mind. As a community organization, we share the ups and downs our community faces and, more times than not, the media like to share only the negative. Yet, even they don’t define what Tiger Pause or Beaver Falls is. There are godly people who want to do, and are doing, good things for the Beaver Falls community. The following pages will be filled with positive facts that show we are doing good things as an organization, improving, developing, and impacting our community in areas that were not dreamed of before.

Unfortunately, as a community, we've had our failures. I know all three of the boys involved in the shooting incident in December. They had come through the Boys’ Center a time or two. In fact, one of them was doing community service for us just five days before that tragedy. He came Monday and did well, but called off Tuesday. On Wednesday, I felt that voice telling me, “You better call and find out why he isn't showing up.” But, I ignored it. On Thursday, I saw him on 8th Avenue as I was driving. He was high. I was going to stop and give him a hard time, but I was in a rush. I was headed to a four-day chemical warfare training at the Air National Guard. I was on duty, but in the wrong place.

Because of my position, I get to meet many different people with various perspectives. Yet, no matter how they feel, the same questions are always brought up: “Where is our country heading?”; “What is wrong with today’s youth?”; “What can I do?”; and even “Why should I do it?”

As a response, we at Tiger Pause remain committed to creating a culture of making Him known and understood so that we might see His power displayed. We have also created a culture of rugged individualism and personal responsibility and are committed to refining that process. We don’t look forward to it, but we are preparing our youth to be Daniels in  a broken and twisted world – to stand up against edicts and continually do what is right so that the “king” might say, “May your God whom you serve continually preserve you for He is the living God and He endures forever. His kingdom will not be destroyed; His dominion will never end.”

Those that gathered to pray at our 14 Blocks campaign got to enjoy having kids waive and hug them and even ask them for prayer. City and school officials thanked us and asked us to do it more regularly. Additionally, not by coincidence but planned providence, the younger sister of one of the boys walked by the building where we gathered after we prayed.

Folks, the fields are ready. We just need some harvesters who have this in their hearts and minds:

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. (Phil. 3:13-16)

Semper Fi,

Matt Nance

3 Kings + 20 Female Academicians + 1 Guaranteed Truth = The Perfect Week

About a month ago, I experienced what could be considered a “perfect week” in ministry. Beginning on a Friday, Huntington Bank graciously offered to sponsor the B.E. Taylor Concert, provide a dinner at Maria’s Kitchen for some of our most generous donors, and donate $1,000 toward our Matching Grant fund-raising drive.

The next day, Nancy Johnson, Professor of Education at Geneva College, brought 20 female elementary education students to chaperone 20 Tiger Pause kids to the Carnegie Science Center. Normally, Tiger Pause specializes and takes pride in our ability to command and control large masses of children and youth with a bare-bones staff. So, when we are blessed with one-on-one matching of kids to adults, it is like paradise found. We were able to enjoy the entire trip, there and back, with a stop at Pizza Hut, and not have to deal with one issue, emergency, or disruptive child.

On Monday, we had a beautiful time of fellowship at our staff meeting led by Pastor Larry Bettencourt (1st wise man), where young and old got together and shared how they spend time with God and what joys and sorrows they face each day. I got the idea for this time of sharing when Jack Walker (2nd wise man) had lead devotions at our board meeting the previous month. Times of sharing like these are powerful and bring folks together, gives individuals more resolve and grit to do the things nobody can or wants to do normally.

After that week, the ministry seemed to ride on a cloud, which was easy to do since Thanksgiving was around the corner. Then, the third wise man, who will remain nameless for the time being, brought us (in a good way) back to earth. “Sin wants paid”, he told me. And as we head toward the cliff, both as a country and as a civilization, the two things we grew up knowing as absolute truths—death and taxes—will have to take a back seat to that guaranteed truth.

Here is another greater truth that almost everyone reading this newsletter remembers hearing while watching a Charlie Brown Christmas:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: 

and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, 

The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Now, that makes for a perfect month!

14 Blocks

Dear Friend,

In prayerful response to the Beaver Falls shooting and the tragedy in Connecticut, we feel led to pray for the protection of our children and community in a more direct and visible way. Therefore, we are planning a community prayer event called “Fourteen Blocks” and we are petitioning you to be a part. Already, the Beaver Falls Ministerium is coming together in ways I have not seen since I got here. As they begin their planning for the next steps, I thought that three days of a visible presence of prayer surrounding our children will help give us insight on how God wants to bring us together and respond as a community of believers.

We will be meeting on Thursday, January 3, Friday, January 4, and Monday, January 7 at 1611 7th Ave. (next to McDonald’s) at 2:00 p.m. We will provide refreshments as we meet and coordinate where our prayer teams will be stationed. Our plan is for teams of people to pray at 14 different street corners outside the Beaver Falls schools at dismissal time as the children begin their walk home. The purpose is to let the kids know that people care about them and, more importantly, Christ cares about them.

To ease our participants’ apprehension, a Tiger Pause staff member will accompany each team as they stand at the 14 corners that literally see 500 to 600 youth pass by every day after school.  While we are not an official part of the ministerium, this event is being held to support their future plans and a practical way to answer what I feel is every Sunday school question of what can we do?

If you would like to join us, please let us know the days and number of people attending by registering online at: tigerpause.net/14blocks or by calling our office at 724-843-2384. If you cannot join us physically, please join us in prayer during these times.

God bless you & Semper Fi,

Matt Nance