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    Yearly Archives: 2019

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    6Nov, 2019
    Empower Dominican Orphans with the Ultimate Adventure

    *This initiative has been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

    Empowering Orphans

    In 2020, we have the opportunity to take our KidVenturez (KV) program to a level we never imagined. Through one of our international partnerships in the Dominican Republic, we are working on a project to give orphans in the DR the ultimate KV experience. For several years, we have sent teams to serve these children by providing VBS and sports programs at the orphanage in Barahona. A few years ago we built a basketball court for the orphanage. Now some of those orphans will have the opportunity to realize something they have only dreamed about—coming to America.

    In the summer of 2020, we envision bringing a group of these orphans to the U.S. for the ultimate KV experience. The kids will attend our summer camp near Greenville, attend a MLB Double-A baseball game, visit Dollywood, and see the stunning Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.

    Want to help sponsor one of the orphans? The full scholarship for one child to attend this trip is $925 (includes airfare, lodging, meals, camp scholarship, baseball game, and Dollywood ticket). Other partial gifts that can help collectively reach the scholarship goals are:

    • $225 gives an orphan a full week of summer camp
    • $75 gives an orphan a full day at Dollywood
    • $45 gives an orphan a full day at summer camp
    • $25 gives an orphan the Tennessee Smokies baseball experience (ticket, food, souvenir)

    SECURE ONLINE GIVING



    or mail your gift to:

    Breakaway Outreach
    P.O. Box 3452
    Cleveland, TN 37320

    How will your gift empower kids when they return from the U.S.? In the same way that KV has a cycle of redemption domestically, that cycle can be realized internationally as well. Just ask Edwin (pictured below). At 9-years old, Edwin was a homeless Haitian refugee in Barahona when the orphanage took him in. Today he is in his early twenties, serving on staff at the orphanage, and attending the local university. Because others gave him experiences of redemption, he is now giving back to others as a mentor and youth worker. As orphans return to the DR from their TN KidVenturez experience and a dream realized, they will want to give back to others as they continue to grow up as well, because of the tangible ways they have been blessed.

    Together, we have the awesome privilege of shaping redemption cycles through KidVenturez and many other Breakaway initiatives. Thank you for making a difference for young people facing hardship!

     

    Edwin with Jimmy at the Barahona orphanage
    31Oct, 2019
    Every Youth: Tennessee Juvenile Detention Center Outreach

    Every Youth: TENNESSEE

    Working together to reach every youth in every facility

    November 1-2, 2019

    ONE GREAT EVENT.
    THREE GREAT LOCATIONS:

    • Knoxville: November 1 @ 6PM
    • Nashville: November 2 @ 9AM
    • Memphis: November 2 @ 6 PM

    Join the movement to reach every youth in every facility! Giving juvenile justice-involved youth hope and a future.

    Contact us for more info about this event or other opportunities to get involved with juvenile detention center ministries in your region.

    17Oct, 2019
    80 Youth Discussion Questions

    Questions about life, faith, social issues, and more.

    Youth discussion questions to get young people talking in group environments or mentoring relationships.

    1. What does it mean for you to be created by God? How does that play out in your life, or does it?
    2. What is hard about accepting yourself?
    3. How would you describe your personality?
    4. Do you find you are harder on yourself than other people? Explain why or why not?
    5. What is one question you would like to ask God in person?
    6. What are the things that you like about yourself and what do you not like about yourself. Explain why?
    7. What do you think is the purpose of the Bible?
    8. Is it hard to change? Explain why.
    9. If there is one thing you could instantaneously change about yourself, what would it be and why? What’s preventing you from working on that change (if applicable)?
    10. Is prayer important to you? Why or why not? Is it hard or easy for you?
    11. Who is one person you would like to go back in history to interview? Why?
    12. What kind of things do you tend to worry about or get anxious about?
    13. How do you feel when another person notices a quality or attribute about you?
    14. Who are your role models and why?
    15. Do you think people live in poverty because of their own decisions or because of uncontrollable circumstances that happen to them, or both?
    16. Is there a biblical character you identify with and why?
    17. Do you act differently in certain situations than others? Do you act differently at school than at church? Different at home than with your friends?
    18. How do you deal with pressure or stress?
    19. What are healthy ways to deal with stress/pressure?
    20. Do you have a pet peeve that makes you irrationally angry? Why gets under your skin?
    21. How would you describe good leadership? Would you call yourself a leader? Why or why not?
    22. Do you think the Bible is relevant to your life, why or why not?
    23. Why do you think we have so much anger in our society?
    24. Do you feel pressured to be someone that you’re not? Explain.
    25. Why do you think some people bully or attack others? What is their motivation?
    26. What is your biggest fear? From where do you think most people draw their self-esteem? What gives them identity?
    27. If you’re feeling down, what cheers you up?
    28. Do you think you’re a patient person? Why or why not?
    29. How does it feel to not have what you want when you want it?
    30. Is it easy for you to work towards a goal, or do you get frustrated and quit quickly?
    31. Have you ever set a long-term goal for yourself to work toward? What was that experience like? (Examples, improving in sports, music, hobby/activity, academics)
    32. Do you set realistic expectations for yourself? Explain.
    33. What qualities make someone a good friend?
    34. If you were standing before God and He asked you, “Why should I let you into heaven?” What would you say?
    35. Who would you die for?
    36. Do you consider yourself a good friend? Explain.
    37. Do you sometimes think you’re capable of doing more than you are?
    38. What’s it like to get in over your head in a situation and not be able to solve it yourself?
    39. What is the one thing that motivates you the most everyday?
    40. What is something that demotivates you, or zaps all of your energy to make progress?
    41. If you had a terminal illness and only had six months to live, how would you spend your time?
    42. Do you think Christians are easily recognizable to others? Why or why not? Should they be?
    43. If you could change one thing in the world for good, what would it be?
    44. Do you think you’re the same person in your social media that you are in person? What is different?
    45. Why do you think people go to church, or should go to church?
    46. What kind of things do you willingly post about yourself on social media?
    47. What is something you wouldn’t post about yourself on social media?
    48. Have you ever thought about what God’s calling is in your life?
    49. What does it mean/look like to have healthy relationships in your life?
    50. Can you think of any biblical examples of healthy relationships and what can they teach us?
    51. What makes relationships hard?
    52. Do you find yourself giving up on relationships or people when things get difficult?
    53. When a relationship has an issue—what techniques or problem solving strategies do you like to use? (Example, having an intentional conversation about the issue, writing a letter, bringing in a mediator, etc)
    54. Do you feel you are good at conflict resolution? Explain.
    55. What’s the most important element of a good relationship to you and WHY?
    56. Do you find yourself to be confrontational or more passive when conflict arises?
    57. What does the Bible mean to you?
    58. Have you ever lost someone, either through death or a broken relationship that was important to you and you’ll never get to talk to them again? What has that experience been like for you?
    59. How do you feel when someone tries to get you to do something you don’t want to do?
    60. Why do you think some people brag or exaggerate about themselves? What do you think they’re hoping to accomplish?
    61. Why do you think people talk badly about other people sometime? Why put someone else down?
    62. Which best describes you during conflict among friends and family—a peacemaker, a fighter, a defender, an instigator, or a hider? Is there another way you’d describe yourself?
    63. Among groups of friends, are you the person who comes up with ideas about what to do, the person who goes along with what everyone else is doing, or a combination of the two?
    64. Have you ever held a grudge against someone? What was that experience like for you?
    65. Why do you think some people give up on life?
    66. Are there certain people you don’t like following on social media? Why?
    67. How often do you read the Bible?
    68. What do you think when you hear someone making fun of a group of people different than them?
    69. How does someone follow Jesus? What does it look like?
    70. What confuses you about prayer?
    71. What is social justice to you, and do you think it is important?
    72. What does equality mean to you?
    73. What could you do, as a young person, to help improve the life quality of someone in need (Go-Fund Me, Kickstarter, could lead into mission ideas).
    74. How often do you help others? How?
    75. Have you ever taken part in mission or served others? What was the experience like?
    76. How would you like to be remembered? (Your legacy)
    77. How do you show Jesus to people who are different than you? What are actual examples from your life?
    78. Do you find most of your friends are similar to you or different?
    79. What is a good way to get to know someone different than you? Think situations or conversation topics.
    80. If you could take away someone’s pain, whose would it be?
    6Oct, 2019
    Christmas Outreach: Children affected by homelessness and violence

    If you arrived at this page because you are seeking help for relationship abuse, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline today at 1-800-799-7233. They are available 24/7/365.

    1 in 30 Children Affected by Homelessness

    One of the major causes of homelessness for children in the U.S. includes experiences of trauma, especially in the area of domestic violence. According to The National Center on Family Homelessness, there are 2.5 million homeless children in America—one in every 30 children—who go to sleep without a home of their own each year.

    Breakaway Outreach partners with churches, agencies, and community volunteers around the U.S. to help provide Christmas shoebox gifts for children affected by domestic violence, homelessness, and transitional living. If you are interested in packing shoebox gifts for kids in your region, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

    More Info About Children Affected by Domestic Violence

    The U.S. government’s Child Welfare Information Gateway provides a review of some research about the effects of domestic violence on children. Studies indicate that child witnesses, on average, are more aggressive and fearful and more often suffer from anxiety, depression and other trauma-related symptoms when compared to children who have not witnessed abuse or been abused. Children growing up in violent homes often feel they are responsibile for the abuse and may feel guilty because they think they caused it or because they are unable to stop it. They live with constant anxiety that another beating will occur or that they will be abandoned. They may feel guilty or confused for loving the abuser or getting mad at the victim. Children may be at a higher risk of alcohol or drug abuse, experience cognitive problems or stress-related ailments (headaches, rashes), and have difficulties in school. The Family Violence Prevention Fund offers a good overview of facts related to how children can be affected by domestic violence, and provides many additional resources.

    Domestic Violence Statistics

    • Every 9 seconds a woman is battered in the United States and one in four women experience domestic violence in their lifetime.
    • About four in ten female victims of intimate partner violence lived in households with children under age 12.
    • Forty percent of teenage girls age 14 to 17 report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend.
    • One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence.
    • Young women between the ages of 16-24 in dating relationships experience the highest rate of domestic violence and sexual assault.
    • 15.5 million children in the United States live in families in which partner violence occurred at least once in the past year. Seven million children live in families in which severe partner violence occurred.
    • In homes where partner abuse occurs, children are 1,500 times more likely to be abused.
    • Boys who witness domestic violence in their own home are three times more likely to become batterers.
    • Domestic violence is the number one reason for homelessness among women.

    Domestic Violence Resources

    3Sep, 2019
    Fall Break Retreat in Cherokee, North Carolina

    Our KidVenturez fall break retreat will be in Cherokee, North Carolina, October 11-13. Breakaway kids benefit from historical and educational Cherokee culture during the week: Cherokee Museum, arts and festivities, recreation, etc.

    This trip is afforded primarily to underprivileged children in our community. Breakaway Outreach offers camp and retreat scholarships for children of incarcerated parents, economically stressed families, and single parent households. If you are interested in sponsoring a child to attend the Cherokee retreat, the cost is $65 per child.

    Learn more about our camps and retreats here.



    Cherokee History

    What is now Western North Carolina has been part of the homeland of the Cherokee people for untold centuries. Today’s Eastern Band members are direct descendents of those who avoided the Cherokees’ forced removal to Oklahoma in the 1830’s the “Trail of Tears.” Their home today is the 56,000-acre Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are more than 13,000 enrolled members of the Tribe, over 60% of whom live on the Boundary.

    A culture, a people, and a place that’s actually a sovereign nation, Cherokee is located right in the heart of Western North Carolina. It’s also base camp for hiking in the Great Smokies, arts and crafts shopping, native elk herd viewing, hours of fishing fun, and home to a history that spans millennia.

    25Aug, 2019
    Kobe’s Story: From Isolationist to Leader

    At one time both of his parents were incarcerated. He’s overcome so many odds to become a tremendous role model for other kids facing adversity. Kobe’s story is a testimony of how Breakaway camps are bringing kids to Christ, empowering them with social resilience, and equipping them to become leaders in their generation.

    30Jul, 2019
    The Launch of a New Baseball Outreach in Belfast

    We had an amazing first-year baseball camp in Belfast, Northern Ireland! Thank you friends and ministry partners for your continued support in helping us to empower youth and children through communities of faith, hope, and love. From the the heart of Chattanooga to tribes around the world, sport is a universal language in bringing about gospel transformation and social resilience. If you are not receiving our monthly newsletter and would like to hear more about stories of transformation and testimonies of impact, send us a private message with your mailing address and email address.

    Read more about our Global Partnerships.

    18Mar, 2019
    Get Your Esther Tee, Empower Vulnerable Children This Summer

    The biblical story of Esther is a fascinating story of faith, courage, and redemption. A minority Jewish orphan girl becomes the unlikely queen of Persia and must risk everything to save her suffering people from annihilation.

    The key passage is found in Esther 4:14, when Mordecai says to Esther, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther realizes she has been made for this moment and her bravery shines as she goes on to save many people from destruction and harm.

    YOU were made for such a time as this! God shaped you to be able to overcome insurmountable odds in your generation.

    This will be the theme of our camps as we serve at-risk and underprivileged children this summer. Kids will come to discover social resilience and difference-making courage through this inspiring story. By purchasing one of these “MADE For Such a Time as This” shirts you are helping to empower children with life-changing faith his summer, as the proceeds go toward our camp scholarship fund. Thank you for your support!