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Niesha is a 16 year old mom of a 6 month old. I met her in Remann Hall 2 months ago. She had been prostituting in Tacoma up until she came to Remann Hall. We recently had the Power Team come to visit Remann Hall and they did their show and shared a meesage of hope and love. Over forty kids responded with a desire to change and declaring that they want to live their lives for Christ! Niesha was one of those young people. Below is a copy of a letter Niesha wrote to God the night following the Power Team event in Remann Hall:
“I am a sinner in need of a savior. I know that you are the one that can take me from how I am right now and make it better. I have needed you for so long but was not ready to fully accept you into my life. I wanted to have my cake and eat it too. However I have learned that unless I am ready to fully accept you into my life then I shouldn’t play around with you. So I am coming to you now Lord, as your daughter, as a child in need of your guidance, asking for you to come into my life Lord Jesus. For you to allow me to be one with you as you are with God. The Bible says in Jeremiah 33:3 that if I call on you, you will answer me and show me great and mighty things which I do not know. Well I am calling on your name asking you to give me another chance to be all I can be Lord. This time I am ready. No turning back now, AMEN!!”
Thank you again for sharing in the life of girls like Neisha – Chrisy Wachtler
At Youth For Christ, there are foster parents who come from different backgrounds and locations, as well as range in age. There is another group of people at Youth For Christ who are in a category of their own, who faithfully serve children and biological parents: Single Foster Moms.
I have seen these women accept children into their home on a moment’s notice and love them like their own. A couple of our single foster moms have mentored the biological moms of these children and have done successful return homes. One foster mom developed a relationship with the teen biological mom and allowed her to come into her home and learn how to parent. All of these moms have poured their energy, time, and love into children, regardless of the final plan. They are a special breed of women.
Foster care is a journey of different joys and challenges. These women decided to jump on the ride, despite not having a partner to share it with. They saw a need and decided to step in and help. I am not only encouraged by their example, but challenged by their selfless act. Let me leave you with this: There are many children and teens in desperate need of loving homes. Could you be the one they need?
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Darrin Miller, our City Life Director, just stopped into my office and said, “Well, we just forecasted some numbers for summer camp and we could be taking 220 kids this year!” I sat there stunned continue
This morning I drove down to Tillicum to see first hand the progress made over the past couple of weeks. I was amazed at the work of McConaghy Construction…what a transformation! continue
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On the second Tuesday of each month, many YFC foster families gather together for our monthly support group. A family style dinner is catered by Charlotte Lute. Families are able to come after a long day…..with no need to prepare anything! This hour is spent connecting families wtih each other. Dinner is loud, fun, messy and chaotic. But friendships are being enjoyed.
At 6pm, Diedre Baker and volunteers, provide childcare for the next hour and a half. For many children, this has become a highlight of their month. This is where our foster children make friends with each other….and learn that they aren’t the only ones going through this incredible journey. Often, it’s our foster children that encourage our families to come that night. It has become a place where someone understands them.
While their children are cared for, parents meet together for an uninterupted time together. Here is where families learn there are others that can relate to their story. Strong friendships are made. Stories are told. Funny, heartwarming stories…..and stories that make you cry. Parents laugh together, cry together, and pray together. It’s here where parents learn from each other. It’s a great thing.
I can’t imagine taking this journey of foster care alone. Over the years, our families have built meaningful friendships with each other. These friendships have often made the difference in “hanging in there” with a child…..or “going around again”. Hopefully, we can continue to connect families with each other……..to their benefit……..and to the benefit of the children.
The sun was shining on Friday, February 20th as students were awaiting the final bell to release them for the weekend. As the bell sounded at 2:05 music began to overflow out of the cafeteria. Students began to stumble through the double doors as they were beckoned by Christian hip-hop. You could tell that the students didn’t know what they were in for. Some came in excited while others came in with curious faces. Some students poked their heads in and then disappeared. The cafeteria was cleared of three rows of the large dining tables while two speakers stood on their stands against the wall facing the clearing. Students hung out around some of the remaining tables chatting. The adult leaders along with the student-leaders went to work meeting and greeting al of the students who came.
When we finally started the club at 2:15pm there were about 30 students who were interested and committed to stay. The program began with a number of high energy games, Human Knot, Crazy Caterpillar. We threw a couple of up-front games into the mix that involved students attempting to jump over dollar bills while holding their toes and blowing bubbles with a mouthful of gum and saltine crackers.
After the games we had the students sit down while Josh gave a talk about the importance of being real. The tagline on the posters is “a place to be real.” The message was light so that the emphasis would remain on fun and building relationships. As Josh gave the talk, Kelly and some of the student-leaders that we have been working with prepared the rootbeer floats. When the talk ended the students were released to get their floats and they were told that the adult leaders were going to be hanging out for another 45 minutes playing games. Almost all of the students stayed and played board games. This provided some more time to simply get to know the students who had come.
As we gave out rootbeer floats there were many students from the JROTC program, who were busy setting up for a competition the following day, that stopped by to get a float. We gave them out knowing that the students would come back the next week when they weren’t busy.
Of the students who had come only the student-leaders were students that we had already known. All of the students who were there participated in the games and I believe we will see them all again and with friends.
Rich is a senior at Foss High School that like most students was trying to figure out why we are at Foss High School everyday. Vince, one of our adult leaders, has been pursuing a relationship with Rich since the beginning of the year. Everyday Vince would find Rich and his friends and spend time talking with them and for a long while Rich would just say things to test Vince’s endurance; things like “I believe in God, but I don’t believe in “f_ _ _ing” Jesus.”
Just this last week we had an all school Xbox 360 Tournament in which over a one hundred kids came and participated. We asked Rich if we could use his Xbox 360 and at first he was reluctant but in the end he said yes and we promised to make sure it was taken care of. Something happened that week and Rich’s heart softened towards Vince. He began talking to Vince more and opening up to him.
Then this last week “The Power Team” was in town holding school assemblies and evening events at Stadium High School. Vince brought Rich to one of the evening events to watch a bunch of humongous men with huge muscles break things in half and crush bricks, bats and many other things. At the end of every Power Team program they present the gospel and Rich made a decision that he wanted a saving relationship with Christ. Rich is now going to be one of our discipleship and leadership kids helping us to change Foss high school for Christ.
The enemy’s walls have been built but Christ’s love in us can tear down any barrier and restore hope to all the broken students in our city.
Thank you for prayers!
Kyle Nelson
Foss City Life Director
It’s a true blessing to be involved in ministry of the Gospel. I love to share my story with other people and show how God intervened and transformed my life.
But it excites me even more to see the transformation power of Christ in the lives of others. In December we had a young man walk into the cafeteria as we were about to start our after school Campus Life club. He was accompanied by one of the school nurses full of anxiety in his face and fear in his actions. This student had been riduculed and pushed to the point were he didn’t want any social interation in his life. As a standard in Campus Life we ask that the students give us basic information so we can keep them informed on special events through YFC. This student had such a lack of trust towards any person that he wouldn’t even sign his name. He told me about how his life was a “1? with no hope. He had a loving mom but her boyfriend was mistreating the boy and telling him that he was deamon possed becuase he was different (anxiety, nightmares, depressed) although he seemed no different than any of the other kids. The student also was struggling in school socially and that is how he was recommended by the staff to join our club. Over the course of the next couple of months since attending Campus Life and entering into a relationship with Christ the boyfriend has got the boot, he has made friends at school, and he says his life is an “8″. Stories like this one are what keep me going in ministry! Thank You Jesus!
Written by Mike England
It’s hard to believe that we are less than two months away from completing the remodel of the Wander Inn Tavern into the Tillicum Youth & Family Center. On Tuesday, we met with continue
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“My sister just buried her stillborn baby.” Janis, the 8th grader shared in front of all the kids the loneliness she has been feeling since the funeral of her niece two weeks ago. The pain is fresh and the isolation she feels is intense. Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued to express the loneliness that she has been feeling since the moment of what should have been a joyous occasion.
When she finished, a cascade of hands flew up as students wanted to share their own stories. Jim was betrayed by his friends. He was in a new school with few friends. He felt alone and lonely. Along came a group of guys that offered genuine friendship. All that resulted was loss and betrayal. As his story continued he unashamedly began to cry as he revealed more of his story and the loneliness that he experienced.
Our topic at Truman Campus Life was loneliness. It was an issue that touched the core of most of the teens. The meeting was designed to allow kids to express their loneliness experience. I did not expect the cavalcade of hurt and emotion.
Gail, talked about her pain and alienation when she entered a new school in 6th grade. She was bullied and made fun of and few stood by her side. As an 8th grader, she appears strong, determined and confident. Yet the pain of her aloneness was as fresh at this moment of expression as it was when she first experienced it 2 years ago.
Something special happened at Truman Campus Life. This does not happen every week! The openness and trust of this group allowed the transparency of the students. No one was put down for sharing feelings, displaying emotion and speaking so frankly. We, the leaders, had a unique opportunity to see a glimpse into the lives of students and come along side to not only hear their pain, but share our own - and in the interaction, demonstrate our love… and God’s!
