Testimonials - RYFO http://ryfo.org/ Blogs from RYFO en-us Wed, 19 May 2010 13:08:11 -0500 Copyright: (c) 2010 RYFO Band Prayer Encouragement http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/bandprayerencouragement.html In this industry, you have friends and fans who love and support you enough to listen to your music and come to shows. You have friends and fans who love and support you enough to join your street team and buy your merchandise. And then you have friends and fans who love and support you enough that they are willing fight alongside of you and truly pray for the hearts and lives of you and your band. We have only been members of the RYFO network for a short period of time, and in that little time God has already shown up in big ways. We've not yet booked any shows with RYFO bands or venues. We've not yet taken advantage of any of the services offered. We've not yet slept in a host home. But we HAVE done, is experience and feel the love, grace and mercy of God, shown through the people who have stepped up and prayed for us. God has revealed much to us in the last couple weeks, the biggest of which is that He really is good. That his blessings don't always manifest as "stuff". That sometimes your greatest blessing in life is just to have someone willing to pray for you. To honestly and truly pray for you. Many times on the road, we hear "Oh, we'll pray for you... it's the least we can do!" We, as people, tend to underestimate the power of prayer... in every case, prayer is the GREATEST most POWERFUL thing you could do for someone... and the fact that you willing choose to do it for us is beyond humbling. If all we ever gain from being members of the RYFO network is a "support group" of people willing to fight for our hearts and lives, then we've gained the world. Thank you to all of the RYFO team, the 15:30s, the partners and services, the host families, and our fellow bands.

Much love and respect,

SLIM

 

]]> http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/bandprayerencouragement.html Wed, 19 May 2010 13:08:11 -0500 1530s Providential Prayer Appointment http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/1530sprovidentialprayerappointment.html
So I was planning on our Ryfo band Confide staying at our home for two days. Plans changed last minute when another friend of the band bought them a hotel for those two nights. So I told Joel from Confide that if any of the other bands on the tour needed a place they could send them our way. Joel gave us Sleeping with Sirens who were extremely thankful because they had been staying with (as they put it) a lot of creepy people. 

Last night at the show before the Confide boys left I prayed with Confide and as we were praying a member of SWS walked by and heard us. Then this morning that same member asked if I only prayed with bands I knew were Christian. I told him I offered prayer to anyone, but it wasn't something I required or anything. I asked if they would like to pray before they left and he said absolutely! I found out he was also into reading so I quick ran up stairs and gathered all my Ryfo books and told him he could take one. Guess what? He then ran to the van and got a book for me that his pastor had given him and one of the other guys also passed a book on to me! WOW! I then prayed for the guys and then THEY prayed for RYFO and our house, that hearts would be changed and musicians would be saved! I was so moved! They were such a blessing to have and I'm so thankful that through the "unfortunate" situation of Confide not needing a place to stay Ryfo was able to reach out and encourage another band. I LOVE WHAT GOD'S DOING WITH RYFO!!!! :D

-Jess

]]> http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/1530sprovidentialprayerappointment.html Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:50:29 -0500 Host Home Mutual Care http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/hosthomemutualcare.html We have hosted many bands in just the last few months.  Some we met through RYFO, and some we have connected with through a local venue.  Everyday Sunday, Nevertheless, The Overseer, Photoside Cafe, Fundamental Elements, and Wavorly have all spent time in our home.  What a blessing and a joy to our family!!  These people who we listen to on the radio and at concerts sit around our dinner table and talk about the things of God with me, my husband, and, more importantly, our five kids.  Just last night, LeeMarie of Children 18:3 gently admonished one of my daughters with a verse from Proverbs.  One of the guys from Ocean Is Theory sat with us in our living room and gave another of our daughters godly advice on managing a difficult friendship.  The impact of these moments will be realized in eternity, I am convinced.  All I provide these bands is a home-cooked meal, a clean bed, and a hot shower.  They give us so much more in return.  Every band, every time.

-Tonya

]]> http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/hosthomemutualcare.html Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:28:00 -0500 Host Home American Express points http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/hosthomeamericanexpresspoints.html One of my "adopted bands" recently posted some needs and prayer requests. Without sharing any specifics, I approached some people I knew who have abundant resources and giving hearts, and asked them to consider a gift to the band. Well, they had just heard a sermon on what to do with "found money" and were also deciding what to do with American Express bonus points that were going to expire. They felt moved to exchange the points for gift cards for the band. In the end, we were able to present the band with over $1300 in gift cards for stores and restaurants! "To Him is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.... to Him be the glory!"

-Cathy

]]> http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/hosthomeamericanexpresspoints.html Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:37:30 -0500 Artist Levi the Poet http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/artistlevithepoet.html I've met up with RYFO people on the last two nights of this run, and they were both phenomenal. Seriously, they represented exactly what RYFO stands to do in it's ministry by providing care and hospitality and a "safe haven" - if you will - for me to be able to rest. I feel so freakin blessed to be part of the RYFO Network. 

My pastor has video feeds up that I can watch from the road. We're going through Luke right now and he's been teaching the last couple of weeks about how Jesus had to consciously separate himself from the crowds to pray and seek the Holy Spirit and fill himself back up. My pastor uses the analogy of being a bucket of water that is poured out onto people, but once the water in your bucket is gone, what good are you? You need to take a step back and be refilled, as well. 

Granted, I am no Jesus. But if Jesus - God - had to take a step back and rest and allow himself time and prayer with the Spirit, then we as people - not gods - definitely do. I feel like RYFO allows touring artists the ability to do that. I even talked about it with the chick that hosted myself and my friend last night, and told her how much I appreciate what she does, and told her that she and everybody at RYFO ministers to us musicians every bit as much as we minister to kids at shows, and it's an enormous blessing. 

So thanks - seriously. Thanks for providing places for our buckets to be refilled.

]]> http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/artistlevithepoet.html Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:34:01 -0500 Band All Left Out http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/bandallleftout.html We had been having some trouble with our van and Michelle had taken us to an auto shop to test our battery but found nothing was wrong. We were driving from the Peterson's to the venue when our van completely died. Luckily for us, as we were leaving the Peterson's another band who utilizes RYFO arrived and it so happened that one of the guys in that band was a mechanic. He heard that we had broke down and drove out to help us. He was able to diagnose a dead alternator and took us to an auto shop for the part. Our connection with RYFO saved us a lot of time and money!

-Ken Pratten

]]> http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/bandallleftout.html Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:18:20 -0500 1530s Provision http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/provision.html One of my "adopted bands" recently posted some needs and prayer requests. Without sharing any specifics, I approached some people I knew who have abundant resources and giving hearts, and asked them to consider a gift to the band. Well, they had just heard a sermon on what to do with "found money" and were also deciding what to do with American Express bonus points that were going to expire. They felt moved to exchange the points for gift cards for the band. In the end, we were able to present the band with over $1300 in gift cards for stores and restaurants! "To Him is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.... to Him be the glory!

- Cathy

]]> http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/provision.html Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:21:33 -0500 Band Comrades http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/comrades.html Upon joining RYFO, I immediately became excited. Touring bands are desperately reliant upon the sheer hospitality and goodness of people who believe in our mission and love our music. This organization does just that.

As a band, we have benefited greatly from knowing that there are people who are out to help us make the dreams we've been given possible. The books have allowed me to minister to my family, increase my knowledge of Scripture, and encourage others. Last summer, we stayed in the same host home twice on tour. The amazing friends we made also got us one of the best shows we ever played. We were privileged to get to know other musicians with beautiful hearts and maintain contact with them as well. Our host home gave up of themselves and were instantaneous confidants on a spiritual level. The fellowship and Christian love that was kindled there has not died out, as we still keep in contact and pray for one another whenever need arise. We did not simply share music with them, but also part of our hearts.

I thank RYFO for having this vision and seeing it come to fruition in our lives. The sense of community and partnership RYFO creates does not only embody the necessity of the musical world, but the Church as well.

Grace and Peace,

-Laura

]]> http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/comrades.html Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:57:21 -0500 Band ALLORNOTHING http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/allornothing1.html These last few months for me have been very hard with a rapid loss of members and my faith being tested greatly and with this feeling that everything around me was failing. God has dealt with me strongly and i recently obtained my book from RYFO this month which was JOB. After reading this book God opened to my eyes that he is trying to teach me something through losing basically all of the members in my band. I know now that he is in full control even though i already knew that but my oh so doubtful human mind wanted me to think different. The Past few shows with our new members have been some of the most powerful spiritual shows we've had in so long. our desire and passion to spread the love of christ is growing stronger everyday through the struggles we face as a band or as individuals. just wanted to say thank you to RYFO for all the prayers and for the awesome service you guys provide, God will bless you abundantly for your hard work.

-Lazarus Rios

]]> http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/allornothing1.html Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:23:00 -0500 Host Home Thanks To Charlie http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/thankstocharlieshosthome.html We are a host home and recently received this note from an artist who stayed with us in mid October. Re: I'm interested in staying at your house! "wow! where do I even start?? I am sitting at this computer, home from the longest and roughest tour of my life, almost in tears at the love, affection, and physical/financial help you and your family provided!!! When I sat down to write my thank you notes to all our wonderful ryfo host homes, a part of me dreaded getting to you guys, because there is nothing I could ever say or do to show you how much you mean to me and nico!! This message really should just end hear with a simple thank you because I seriously cant put into words what you have done for me!! but I will try!! The first thing I did when I left your house was text my parents and let them know that there's was a new part to our family!! A new mom and dad (or aunt and uncle cause you guys aren't old like my parents haha) and new brothers and sisters!! I hope that you see me and nico as a new part to your family as we see you as a new part of ours!! Words can not describe how thankful and blessed I am by the help you provided!! From buying us groceries, to taking us to church, providing a warm place to sleep all weekend, to just being there as someone for us to talk to!! Your kindness to a complete and total stranger like myself has seriously amazed me!! I can honestly say that I would not be alive today if it weren't for you!! the food you provided kept us nourished enough to survive the long and hard trip!! It also assured me that as I continue in the mission God has called me to, that he provides for me through angels like you and your family!! I sit here with tears of joy streaming down my face in literal utter amazement!! If there's one thing I can do it is encourage you that YOU are the most Christ like people I have ever met in my entire life!! You saw the hungry and you gave us food, you saw the homeless and gave us shelter, you saw the weary and you gave us rest, you saw the lonely and you were there for us!! and Im sorry this is all sappy and emotional but I just need you to know that thank you could never express what you mean to me and I hope to talk and see you again very soon!!" This letter I feel speaks the heart of so many ryfo host families. thanks -Charlie

]]> http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/thankstocharlieshosthome.html Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:04:25 -0500 Artist Mike Goodrick http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/mikegoodrick.html where do I even start??

I have been on 3 tours since joining ryfo, I have visited almost every Host Home on the ryfo map!! all 3 tours have had little or major disasters, every time something has happened there has always been a Ryfo host home or member there to save me! from flat tires, to leaky vans, to running out of gas, to literal starvation!!

This network of Host Homes has been an absolutely incredible thing, and I can honestly say I would be dead right now if it werent for you people here at Ryfo!!!

Nick, you have done an absolutely incredible thing for me personally, if and when I meet you one day I can guarantee there will be hugs and so much thanksgiving, if im not absolutely speechless!! I can not thank you enough for what you have done with this organization, it has quite literally saved my life, on many occasions!!

These host homes, who have now become parts of my family, go above and beyond a simple couch to sleep on!! I receive prayer, food, clothing, all at perfect times when I am in need!!

You truly of a network of angels!! thank you ryfo!! words can never describe what you have done for me and my ministry!!

-Mike Goodrick

]]> http://ryfo.org/blogs/chaplainsblog/mikegoodrick.html Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:53:34 -0500