Wow! What a semester we’ve had at YOKE. As school started, the YOKE staff was hosting principal luncheons, making arrangements with principals to use the school facilities, and filling out the proper paperwork. As new students arrived at area colleges (Carson Newman, Johnson University, Maryville College, Pellissippi State, Roane State and UT) YOKE staff was busy attending recruiting fairs to enlist new YOKE leaders. They were also interviewing both returning YOKE Folk and prospective YOKE leaders, training new leaders, running background checks and conducting reference checks. In September, a weekend at Camp Ba Yo Ca for Team Leader training kicked off the month and clubs started. By the end of September, YOKE held one of two big, yearly fundraisers—the banquet.  By October, clubs were in full swing—with a week of fall break here and there. During the first two weekends of November, YOKE was headed to Hillbilly Camp. The month of November ended with YOKE clubs wrapping up and YOKE Folk taking finals.

As you can see, YOKE has had a very busy semester. By year end, 560 kids were in club each week, YOKE Folk spent 6,141 hours hanging out with kids inside and outside of club, 643 kids attended one of five camps, 53 children made decisions for Christ, and 93 Bibles were given to kids needing them. God is using YOKE in the lives of middle school kids.

Psalm 136:1 – Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.