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® 16 | January 24, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger faith mokenamessenger.com Faith Briefs St. Mary’s Catholic Church (19515 115th Ave., Mokena) Church Service 5 p.m. Saturdays; 8 a.m, 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6: p.m. Sundays Young at Heart Senior Club 1 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month. Join the senior club for activities and outings Sept.-June. For more information, call (708) 699- 5018. St. John’s United Church of Christ (11100 Second St., Mokena) Traditional Service 8 a.m. traditional service, 9:45 a.m. contemporary & traditional music in a service of praise and reverence. For more information, call (708) 479-5123. Cards for a Cause NEW YEAR. NEW SUCCESS. ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN The Mokena Messenger LORA HEALY 708.326.9170 ext. 31 l.healy@22ndcenturymedia.com CONTACT VOTING OPEN Jan. 17–Feb. 10! 22 ND CENTURY MEDIA Southwest AWARDS presented by Vote: 22ndCenturyMedia.com/swchoice 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month. Bundles of Love 7 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Enjoy fun and fellowship while making baby quilts for infants baptized at St. John’s and lap quilts for shut-ins. Mokena United Methodist Church (10901 LaPorte Road, Mokena) Service and Sunday School 10:15 a.m. Sundays. Church service and children’s Sunday School will be held. For more information, call (708) 479-1110. Bible Study 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the church. For more information, call (708) 479-1110. Community Prayer Gathering 2:30 p.m. every 4th Sunday. Weight Watchers Wednesday Weigh-ins take place at 6:30 p.m., while the meeting is at 7 p.m. Marley Community Church (12625 W. 187th St., Mokena) Church Service 10 a.m. Sundays. Childcare is provided. Senior High Youth Group 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. For more information, email marleycommunitychurch@ gmail.com. Junior High Youth Group 6-7:30 p.m. Fridays. For more information, email marleycommunitychurch@ gmail.com. Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (10731 W. La Porte Road, Mokena) Worship 9 a.m. Sundays. Preschool Registration 9:30 a.m. Feb. 11. Registration for the 2019-20 school year will be open to the public. Please visit the Preschool Overview page at www.immanuelmokena.org for all of the details on registration, class offerings and tuition and fees. God’s Kids Club 10:15 a.m. Sundays in Sept.-May. Adult Bible Study 10:15 a.m. Sundays in Sept.-May. Mokena Baptist Church (9960 W. 187th St., Mokena) Sunday Services 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information, call (312) 350-2279. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. Sundays. Mokena Baptist offers Sunday School classes for all ages. Parker Road Bible Church (18512 Parker Road, Mokena) Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Be sure to arrive early for our Sunday Worship Service to enjoy a hot, complimentary cup of coffee every week at the church. Grace Fellowship Church (11049 LaPorte Road, Mokena) Narcotics Anonymous 7-9 p.m. Mondays. All those struggling or who have struggled with a narcotics addiction are welcome. All meetings are confidential. For more information, call (708) 479-0300. Spanish Church 12:30 p.m. Sundays. Worship Service 10 a.m. Sundays. All are welcome. Victory Baptist Church (13550 US Route 6, Mokena) Morning Worship 10:45 a.m. Sundays. Evening Worship 6 p.m. Sundays. Weekday Worship 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Have something for Faith Briefs? Contact Assistant Editor Megan Schuller at m.schuller@22ndcm.com or call (708) 326-9170 ext. 34. Deadline is noon Thursday one week prior to publication. Complete at least 50 categories and be eligible to win a $500 Mastercard gift card! Vote now for your favorite local businesses in more than 130 categories! Look for the ballot in the center of this newspaper or vote online through Feb. 10 at 22ndCenturyMedia.com/swchoice In Memoriam Dorothy Jean Short Dorothy Jean Short (Coday), 62, formerly of Mokena, died Jan. 15. She is survived by her children Jennifer (Kyron) Birk, Joshua Felkamp, Calvin Short, Kieran Short and Kaelan Short; siblings Glen Coday, Joan Coday, George Coday (late Angela); eight Grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her, Father Gleen Coday; mother, Diane Coday; and her brothers Daniel and Jason Coday. Kevin John Schultz Kevin John Schultz, 57, of Mokena, died Jan. 7. He is survived by his mother, Marlene Schultz; sons Brian J. Schultz and Matthew J. Schultz; brothers Corey Schultz and Scott Schultz; sister, Dawn Kordik; and grandchild, Riley Schultz. to and He was preceded in death by his father, Earl Schultz. Do you have someone’s life you’d like to honor? Email Editor T.J. Kremer III at tj@ mokenamessenger.com with information about a loved one who was a part of the Mokena community.
mokenamessenger.com life & arts the Mokena Messenger | January 24, 2019 | 17 Local organization helps teens battle depression Mary Compton Freelance Reporter The life of a teenager has never been easy. Today, more and more teenagers are battling depression and becoming victims of suicide. It was because of a suicide of a classmate at Lincoln- Way East High school that Ryan Hesslau from Mokena began foreverU, a youth empowerment organization that helps youth challenged by life learn how to become brave with the story they are living. “We live in a noisy and chaotic world,” Hesslau said. “There are so many issues teens are dealing with today. Anxiety is through the roof. To see all these students going through anxiety from academics, parental expectations and social media — there is a lot of pressure for them to become someone. They are facing a constant desire for acceptance, and a fear of rejection is very common in today’s world.” One of the organization’s participants — Annalise Millirons, a Frankfort resident and senior at Lincoln- Way East — said foreverU has changed her life. “I was going through a rough time with depression and self- worth,” Millirons said. “I was also struggling with various issues and feeling I always wasn’t good enough. A friend of mine told me about foreverU’s retreat. I was able to come here and talk to kids my age going through the same things.” The prevalence of social media among today’s teens can be both a blessing and a curse; while popular platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, allow teens to connect with others and express themselves in ways unimaginable even 30 years ago, the amount of online bullying and harassment can lead to devastating consequences. “As teens we also put on masks,” Millirons said. “A lot of kids my age put on masks instead of coming to terms with their feelings.” Between sessions at the retreat, Millirons hugs her stuffed animal and writes in her journal. The self-help workshops have been key in her healing. ForeverU camps and retreats, which take place in the winter, spring and fall, are specifically designed for high school students. During the school year, the retreats are capped at 25 students. The camps feature speakers and classes focused on tips that they can implement investing in relationships, applying in the classrooms, self-care, meditation and overall well being. “With these self-help workshops, foreverU teaches the students how to live better lives. In the process they get the courage to live their stories” Hesslau said. “We also believe in the power of smaller groups because everything is stronger… foreverU wants to see these teens thrive and live a better life. “I’m constantly thinking of how we can multiply our impact. We would like to have these retreats monthly so more students can experience these to reset their life.” Small groups are a big focus for participants. Millirons took part in Reset Weekend Dec. 14-16 at Camp Manitoqua. “In small groups we’re able to work on ourselves,” Millirons said. “There are questions that Ryan comes up with and we are able to answer them with how it affects us. If the session is Ryan Hesslau (left), founder and president of foreverU, speaks with one of the organization’s participants at a Reset Weekend held Dec. 14-16 at Camp Manitoqua in Frankfort. Mary Compton/22nd Century Media about depression, I can go in to my story and be able to talk with three or four other kids how I feel without being overwhelmed. You don’t have to say everything, just what you need to. Because it’s a smaller group the other kids are so supportive. “Small groups help me to pull off my mask and actually be able to talk to people,” she added. “We all have different issues, but we’re all connected in one way. Being able to come here and express my feelings is an out instead of self- harming. I have the tools to use because of foreverU.” When one of Ashley’s Yvanauskas friends passed away, she contacted foreverU to help her get through a huge loss. The Mokena teen, also a student at Lincoln- Way East, has been involved in foreverU for two years. “What I like about this organization is that they believe that no student walks alone,” Yvanauskas said. “I wanted to get involved in hearing my voice heard. My friend’s death hurt a lot. I didn’t expect someone my age to pass away. I didn’t expect something like this in our community.” During the summer, foreverU hosts a week-long empowerment camp where up to 50 students can take part. “I’ve been to the camps,” Yvanauskas said. “Attending makes me feel less alone and learning to speak my mind. I don’t feel judged and I’ve learned how to have a sense of empowerment. I feel mental health is the biggest issue facing teens today. Especially boy teens who don’t talk about it. People hide and they don’t talk. They feel they don’t have an outlet. This program gives an outlet to talk and gives kids a place to do that. There are adults that care here.” On Feb. 2 foreverU is scheduled to hold a fundraiser from 6-10 p.m. at Tuscany Falls in Mokena. Tickets for adults are $70. Tickets for high school and college students are $40. Cocktail attire is requested. There will be silent auction items and entertainment by Keith Semple and The Band. Tickets can be purchased at foreverUmovement.org/ gala Hesslau is also taking donations of silent auction items. To make a donation call (877) 456-0692 or email info@foreverUmovement. org.
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