It is exciting and fulfilling for our missionaries to see the fruit from years of investment in the lives of young men and women. Rockeen Younger, grew up in the Imperial Courts housing projects, the third of eight children. As a child he faithfully attended Bible clubs in Watts.  Following high school, Rockeen went on to graduate from the University of California in Berkeley in 2008 where he met Anaiah, his future wife, through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.  Rockeen and Anaiah were married April 18th, 2009.  

Doug Peters, Rockeen's Bible club teacher shares, "We are deeply honored that God has allowed us to be blessed during the years of sowing His seed and to celebrate in the 'reaping' as well."  Rockeen works in the Bay Area as an Administrator-Tutor for Making Waves Education Program, an eight-year tutoring and teaching program that begins in the fifth grade with follow-up support through the college years. Anaiah is a school teacher.

The Excellence in Fathering conference is Saturday, May 23, 2009 and spots are still available. Dr. Ken Canfield, recognized as one of the world's leading experts on fathering, will inspire and equip men to stand apart as highly effective fathers and to develop stronger relationships with their children.

The event takes place at the Velma Phillips Celebration Center (located at the Los Angeles Christian School, 1620 W. 20th St., Los Angeles, CA, 90007) on Saturday, May 23, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Spanish translation and materials will be provided.  Would you or your church prayerfully consider partnering with The Urban Ministry Institute of Los Angeles (TUMI) in sponsoring Excellence in Fathering?  We need $2,450 to cover expenses.

Speaker Biography
Dr. Canfield is the founder of the National Center for Fathering (NCF), serving as NCF's President and CEO from 1990 to 2005.  He has appeared on Focus on the Family, NBC's Today Show, and ABC's World News Tonight and The Oprah Winfrey Show.  Dr. Canfield holds a B.A. from Friends University, Wichita, Kansas; a Master's degree from Regent College, British Columbia; and a Ph.D. from Kansas State University. He has authored several award-winning texts, including The 7 Secrets of Effective Fathers and The Heart of a Father. His work has appeared in numerous articles in both popular and educational journals and magazines.

Dr. Canfield is currently is Executive Director of the Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine University.

There is a fantastic space of green grass about 60 feet by 60 feet tucked in between big green apartments that World Impact owns on 20th Street and the Santa Monica freeway.  For years this lot has sat unused but several months ago missionaries had the idea to transform this underutilized space into a beautiful reflection garden right in the middle of the city!  Our vision is to see this become a place where people from all over the community would come for a little peace with the Creator amidst the concrete and chaos.  We are currently in the process of finding a landscape designer to help with the layout of the garden.  Once this is in place, numerous workgroups are lined up to come and help lay down a walking path, benches, trees, flowers, plants, and a drip-irrigation system.  There is a lot of work, but if you would like to be involved in any way, please contact Bryan Cullison at (323)346-7603 or bcullison@worldimpact.org.