Archive for September, 2009

    Do you remember your prayers as a four year old?  Most likely you weren’t praying for a safe place for your homeless Mommy…but that’s exactly what Grace, a child in our YFC Foster Care program, prays for every night. Grace’s mom is living on the streets and simply couldn’t care for her child anymore. Grace’s YFC foster mom shared how this four-year-old was concerned that her mommy didn’t have a place to live or food to eat, so the foster mom and the little girl committed to pray daily for the mother to find safety. 

    As I was visiting Grace at her foster home the other day she excitedly told me, “Jesus answered my prayers! My mommy now has a home to live in and food to eat!”  What amazing faith children have!  Grace has learned that her prayers make a difference, and because of the love instilled through her foster family, she is sharing this blessing with others. Grace is soon to be a permanent part of this family because her foster parents have decided to adopt her…she is so excited to have a “forever family”!

    Have you ever wondered about the impact of your prayers and support? Have you taken the time to ponder how your actions, big and small, are impacting those around you? This is just one example of how God has been using the ministry of YFC to impact children in foster care.

Charisa Nicholas

Prison visits.  Long drives.  Tense conversations.  Doctor Visits.  Much rejoicing.   I had the privilege of walking alongside a family for 2 years, as the bio mom fought hard and long to get her kids back.  Though each one was unsure of the other in the beginning, they began to form a friendship and create a unique bond between their families. 

Their journey began a little rocky.  Each held tightly to the children; both wanting what was best for them.  Over time, they began to know each other, hear each other’s story, and enjoy each other’s company.  Restoration began to take place in the birth mom, as she was reunited with her family and given a new family through her children’s foster family. 

 After many visits and court appearances, we were at our final hearing before the kids would be going home for good.  Birth mom and foster mom sat side by side at the table with the children in their laps.  Birth mom cried as she spoke of her 2 year journey, with the help of her new friend, the foster mom.  Those in the court room were wiping away tears as they heard this story of redemption.   The judge stood up and applauded both of the moms and their journey.    Rejoice in God’s redemption and restoration!!!

Katie Bass

These are the words in the song “Change Ur Life” as sung by Devan, Shondell and Lacario, three of our SOZO Soljaz (”soldiers” in hip hop), performed on the new CD, SOZO Soljaz, Chapter 2: Deliverance.  I’m amazed at the talent of these young people, all of whom have come out of gang life and are discovering music as a gift from God.  Here’s the background: this summer Tacoma YFC brought 50 inner city young people to continue

“We need to talk tomorrow.” These were the last words I said to James. Things have been “heating up” in Tillicum as of late, and on Sunday night there was an incident involving some of the families that we work with. The story, as I understand it now, is that Julie (a former regular in our program) got into a fight with a group of girls. Seeking to deal with the situation, James’ mom went to find the group of girls and, when she did so, got more than she expected. As I sat in my living room Sunday night, I heard the undeniable pop of five rounds. Police soon filled the area and a 19-year-old girl was taken into custody. The whole incident took place just blocks from the newly completed Tillicum Youth & Family Center. 
 
The next day was Monday and things at the Center were quiet. We had fewer kids than normal and there was an obvious tension in the air. It is there that I learned the situation involved Julie and James’ mom. It was a rude awakening to the reality of living and working in Tillicum. It was not my night to work late, so I headed home at 5 to have dinner with my family. After dinner my parents came over to spend time with my girls, so I took the opportunity to take Leah out on a date. As I headed out the door, I realized that I left my jacket at the Center so we swung by to grab it. As I came in, James was there playing ping-pong. I asked him if the rumors that his mom (and his house) was the one that got shot at were true and he confirmed the details with the most casual of shrugs. With the car running and my wife waiting I told James, “We need to talk tomorrow,” and I headed out the door. 
 
I never got to have that tomorrow. That night James and his family packed up and left Tillicum. They moved away and I don’t know if we will ever see him again. Here is what I do know: James knows that God loves him and Jesus died for his sins. James had the opportunity to interact with great men and women of God and shown on a regular basis that a relationship with God is the true key to happiness. I am so heart weary to lose a kid like James. While I am sad and discouraged by his sudden move from this community, it only furthers to strengthen my conviction that we are on the right path to change the lives of these kids. I am reminded of the words that I’ve shared with hundreds of people. “We don’t know how long we have with these kids, it could be six days, six months, or six years. We just don’t know when their family might pack up and be gone overnight”. 
 
So thank you for your prayers, your support and your time in being a part of this ministry. I’ve changed the names of the students involved in this letter, so feel free to pass this on to anyone you feel would benefit from reading.
 
Sincerely,
Daniel Livingston
Tillicum Youth & Family Center

“Who are YOU”, asked one of the new 6th graders of Keithley Middle School as I welcomed them into the lunchroom. I began to tell them who I am and what I was doing there. They weren’t listening to what I had to say about Campus Life until I said the words “Root Beer Floats.” The students piped up and said, “I’ll be there!”

This being my first day back onto the campus of Keithley Middle School I paused and took a step back to remember the ministry last year. I was thinking about my 8th grade students from last year. I wanted to see students like Justice whose life was changed his last year in middle school and is now a follower and leader for Jesus. Ricardo, Jeff, and Jordan who accepted Jesus within the last few weeks of school. As I was looking I came to the realization that they have moved on and I have a new group of students who are waiting for someone to hear their story. Stories like one 6th grade student who had just moved into the area and had no friends and no one to talk to, or stories of students who have never even met their own father. It’s stories like these that keep me going and wanting to come back and see more lives changed.

As I left the lunches for the day walking away from the campus made me realize that as the new year begins I welcome a fresh start, new friends, new opportunities, and great memories. As we begin the third year of Campus Life ministry on the Keithley Middle School Campus please be praying for us. There is a new batch of students looking for hope, love, and an answer. As we bring that answer there will be times of weeping and joy. This can be a tough job alone, but as Christ followers we are united as one and are not alone. Thank you for your prayers & support.

I love the fall…the final summer sun…Husky football…the leaves turning…all sorts of “new beginnings”.  Yesterday I was at a couple of TYFC new beginnings: Keithley MS Campus Life kick off and the Tillicum Youth & Family Center Grand Opening.

As I showed up at Keithley I ran into the asst. principal, Sara Lee Stewart, continue

Looking at my schedule today I wasn’t sure if I should be a) exhausted or b) excited!  Here’s what woke me up this morning…

1) Start the day in the office catching up on some work and preparing for Mike Olson’s Deaf Teen Quest Saturday night coffee tasting with donors

2) Visit with Darrin Miller, City Life Director, and continue

Recently I sat in on our Campus Life team meeting at a local coffee shop. This group of 10 staff loves working with kids on high school and middle school campuses, building relationships and sharing God’s story. If you’ve spent time recently with a hyperactive 12 year old or continue

When Child Protective Services and the courts make the decision that a child must be taken away from their parents, that child needs a foster home – right now. I receive calls and emails from CPS daily, asking me if YFC has an available foster home for a child. In one day I might receive as many as ten requests, for everything from newborn infants to teenagers with challenging behavioral needs.

I am the “air traffic controller”, or as one foster parent put it, the “care traffic controller,” deciding which homes to call about which children. It is challenging and keeps me in a spirit of prayer, as I decide who to call first. I know that some of my decisions have lifelong implications for children and families.

There are so many needs. Yesterday, I was searching for a foster home for a six-year- old girl who came from a churchgoing family. She had experienced neglect and abuse and had already been in three other homes. She was described as cute and outgoing, yet had many emotional hurts that needed healing. This sweet little first grader needed a new foster family to love and nurture her. Unfortunately, I was not able to find a home for her; YFC didn’t have an appropriate home with an open bed. There was “no room in the inn.”

When a group of siblings enter foster care, 75% of the time they have to be split up because there is not a home available with enough space to keep them together. Imagine being taken away from your parents and then not even being able to live with your brothers and sisters!

If you have thought about doing the ministry of foster care, please put your faith into action and take the steps to become licensed. The need is great! And the rewards are great, too!

—Karen Grove, Placement Coordinator