Author: Andy Bales
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Big Announcement at CFUM.org
When we hired AJ, I knew his love for CFUM, his calling each student by name as he received hugs on the playground, his love for baseball and leading baseball club for CFUM children, his tremendous technical skills, his integrity, and being an awesome dad husband and son to his beloved family, deeply respected by…
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A God Wink on the Playground: One Little Girl’s Words and a Lifetime of PurposeThis week a beautiful little girl stopped me on the playground and spoke words that my friends later called a “God wink.”“I am so happy when I see you on the playground!!” she said, beaming. “I love seeing your face! When I see your face I feel safe and protected.”Her words landed straight in my heart. I fought back tears right there because, in that moment, I knew something deep and true: all the years of work had been worth it. Our efforts to help children feel safe are actually working.
For the last several years, my greatest heart’s desire has been to ensure children are safe—truly safe, both physically and emotionally. Looking back, that calling has quietly shaped my entire life and career.It began with my first job as a lifeguard. Then came years as a youth pastor, followed by leading a rescue mission. I’ve…
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CFUM Supper Club –
Where everyone knows your name 🙂 I hope you can stop by our Supper Club at 8th and College in Des Moines sometime to experience the overwhelming welcome and Camaraderie at CFUM Supper Club from 4 to 5 PM. If you were here last week you might have seen a wonderful group of volunteers serving…
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Weak and Strong
Gist of my message last weekend at URM.org Celebration of 135th Anniversary When I was 16, on a missions trip to Saltillo, Mexico, I had a memorable experience on the streets. I tried to connect with a deaf man who only understood Spanish, using a small booklet and simple hand gestures. Somehow, through that imperfect…
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Full (S)Team Ahead
I just flew out to Los Angeles last weekend to join our friends at Union Rescue Mission (URM.org) for their 135th anniversary celebration. It was an incredible time, and I made sure to give all the glory to God and my incredible teammates for the 20 years of life-transforming work we carried out together. What…
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Have You Checked Your Blood Pressure?
The last few nights at CFUM.org’s Supper Club I’ve received extra hugs from my little buddy, let’s call her Annie, who often makes the best days better, and any tough days bearable, with her hugs. Then she asked me, very seriously, have you checked your blood pressure? Annie is 7, but she knows my sweet…
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Have You Checked Your Blood Pressure?
Have You Checked Your Blood Pressure? The last few nights at CFUM.org’s Supper Club I’ve received extra hugs from my little buddy, let’s call her Annie, who often makes the best days better, and any tough days bearable, with her hugs. Then she asked me, very seriously, have you checked your blood pressure? Annie is 7,…
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Variety Is The Spice of Life
“Variety is the spice of life” is a popular idiom meaning that different, new, or changing experiences make life more interesting, flavorful, and enjoyable, preventing boredom and adding richness, a sentiment famously expressed by William Cowper in 1785 as, “Variety’s the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavour”. Last night at Children…
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Resiliently Skipping
As my wife, Bonnie and I entered the Moulton Elementary cafeteria last week to connect with our Reading Buddies, we saw a beautiful young lady, a CFUM.org 4th grader, skipping across the cafeteria as if she did not have a care in the world. My wife and I smiled at each other as we witnessed…
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Secret Weapon
A note from me with a very interesting “heartfelt” response from Grok? Secret Weapon There are times I look out the window, like today, and, I see a friend gliding across the sidewalk, bounding up stairs impossible for me to climb, while I wheel toward, then struggle with the heavy door, only to roll up…
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