Author Archive

“I don’t want to be like my mom, but I’m just like her. I want more for my life, but I don’t know what to do. I know I don’t act like myself on the outs, but I can’t.” These were some of the first comments I heard from Maleah when I met her in Remann Hall, and with them, she won my heart. Maleah has been in and out of detention for 5 years, and finally came to the point where she didn’t want to come back. As I visited her almost every day for a month, I saw dramatic change in Maleah ; I began to see signs of life. She began to act like a kid again, laughing and playing. As we taught about God’s definition of love, she began to understand that people in her life don’t really love her, but she chose to love them and walk in forgiveness. Maleah knew that God had the answers for life; she was done trying to do it on her own and wanted to see what God would say about it all.

When she was released, she quickly entered her old life, which exists just on the other side of her bedroom door. She lives in a trailer with 6 meth-addicted adults, three other teens that are in and out of detention, and 3 children. I spent hours praying and interceding for Ashley’s life, knowing that God could restore every part of her life, and every part of her heart. Ashley was back in Remann Hall last week, and I was so happy to see her! She gave me a hug, and on my shoulder, cried, and apologized over and over again. Walls came down as I got to tell her that I had missed her, and was happy to see her, not angry or disappointed, and still full of faith and hope for her life. She was released a few days later and has been in steady contact, both with her probation officer and me.

We had a great conversation as I drove her home from treatment last week. Someone had told her about the end of the world, and that God was angry with people, and it was only going to get worse. I was honored to tell her that God does not punish us out of anger, but strategically gets our attention and wins our hearts. I can’t wait for Jesus to come back! Maleah, with a quizzical look, asked why. “I just love him!” Maleah’s reply? “Yeah, I don’t think I’m there yet, but I want to be soon.”

Robyn Buchanan- JJM Intern

It was a few months ago that 15 year old *Jasmine came into Remann Hall and won my heart!  Soft spoken and a little shy, it was obvious that Jasmine had a tender heart and was hungry for love!  She was only in Remann Hall for a few days, didn’t make any major lifestyle changes, and she wasn’t out of Remann Hall long before another violation brought her right back in again.  But upon leaving, she took Youth For Christ Volunteers up on their offer to come that night to Sozo.  Apparently out her cousin comes regularly to Sozo, so she decided to give it a try! 

It was a great night – Three youth led a charades game, another three sang a hip-hop praise song they’d written about freedom in Jesus(!), and one of the singers shared her testimony of being faithful to God throughout a really difficult 2009 and now already seeing the inner fruit of knowing God in those hard times.  She spoke about the hope of 2010 because of how well she’s getting to know God and how she can now trust him more because she’s seen him provide for her and give her strength!  I sat with Jasmine most of the night, and couldn’t hide my joy when Jasmine told me what she was experiencing as she observed and participated in the night.  At the end, Pastor Myron gave an invitation for anyone who wanted to know God to come and talk to any youth or adult leader.  As I was talking with Jasmine she told me she was waiting for TT to come and pray with her.  I asked TT if she wanted me to join and together we prayed and talked with Jasmine, explained what being saved was about and Jasmine readily accepted the invitation…and surrendered her life to God!!!  Jasmine remarked that she’d been so disappointed with how 2010 had started for her, and that she didn’t want it to continue down the path her life was taking her…she wanted 2010 to be a year of change and hope and friendship with God!

The next afternoon I picked Jasmine up after school and took her to shop for a Bible.  We’ve begun to hang out regularly, and it’s such a joy to watch her eyes light up with the joy of the Lord as she begins to understand and receive God’s love…the past few weeks have been difficult because she’s living in a home without electricity, she’s moved to a new school after being expelled from the last, and so of course there are many more opportunities for God to move in mighty ways!  But it has been my joy to be a friend and mentor to this amazing young woman, to love her and enjoy being with her, and to share with her the hope we have for 2010! 

Michelle Renich – JJM Volunteer

I was driving alone down to Maple Lane to visit my friend Jerome for his 17th birthday. I began to reflect on our relational journey. I first met Jerome at the corner store on MLK and 19th; the next time I saw him was in Remann Hall. For whatever reason (perhaps the Holy Spirit?!), we got along really well at Remann Hall and would mutually express excitement to see each other. A few weeks later, Jerome was sent to Maple Lane School to serve the rest of his sentence.

Darrin Miller and I visited Jerome just days after his arrival to Maple Lane and he was pumped to see a couple of guys that were willing to go out of their way to visit him and show our care. We talked about life, girls, school, family, and Jesus. We also played an intense game of dominoes! He mentioned his birthday was soon arriving and I felt this would be a prime opportunity to really show him the love of Christ.

So there I was, driving down to Maple Lane, when all sorts of doubts began to flood into my mind. I was unable to bring anything as a gift because of security precautions; not even a candy bar. Would he be disappointed? What would I even say anyway when we got together, “Um…Happy Birthday…hope your doing well in jail since I saw you two weeks ago…bye…” What was I to say or do to maximize the visit? So many questions…so many doubts…

I arrived at Maple Lane with a number of emotions: excited to see him, nervous about what he would think of our time, anxious about potential awkward moments etc. Soon, all of those fears were washed away as I saw him and he sat down in front of me. We busted out the dominoes, caught up on life and shared a number of stories and laughs. Nearing the end of our two-and-a-half hour visit, Jerome said, “I will never forget this birthday. This is the best birthday I’ve ever had. I can see that God is really looking out for me.” The eyes of my heart were opened wide as I realized the importance of simple relationship. I had no candy, no Jordans, no cake, not even a card; just a visit to say “I’m thinking about you and I care.” Let us continue to make memories in the hearts of youth through love.

-Troy Bass

Lets here it for the LORD!!!! Jesus Christ!! Who lived and died and sacrificed!!! To bring the youth of Remann Hall to know NEW LIFE!!! To trust not in themselves but HE who Died and rose to LIFE!!!

WOW!! So fun to see God at work! Stirring and awakening hearts to come to himself!!  This past Wednesday we had a concert in Remann Hall! 38 kids responded to the Gospel!!! There were 61 kids at the concert!! We were believing for King Pen kids to come into Remann Hall before the concert and for all the kids God wanted to be there!!  It turns out that 28 kids were taken into Remann Hall the 2 weeks prior to the concert!! One youth, Kyron, age 16, surrendered his life to Christ at the Concert! His two older brothers started one of the most active gangs influencing many of our Youth in Tacoma.  He shared he wants to get out of the gang and live his life for Christ and live in God’s purpose for his life! 

Dwayne Parker and his team of two SOZO SOLDIERS – Airfeaira Nelson and Deondre Swansey, aka, “Mister”, shared their testimonies of how God has brought them out of lifestyles of gangs! Air and Mister both used to be in Remann Hall, not by choice, but as result of the decisions they were making in their old lifestyles. But now returned of their own free will to share with teens in Remann Hall the Good News of what God has done in their lives!! 

Air shared how she had to lay aside what people thought of her and how many people have said and done hurtful things as she has started to live for Christ.  She shared, “I don’t care what anyone thinks of me,” then paused and smiled, “I’m going to heaven!!!”  It was so amazing to see how the kids responded to her sharing!! A MIRACLE!!!! Her last charge as a Juvenile was in 2006 and they let her back in as a 19 year old young woman in 2008!!!!! To testify to her peers and share there is HOPE!!!!!!!!!!  She shared BOLDLY the details of her childhood and how God brought her out of a life in gangs, with guys, drugs, and steeling!!!!

Mister, 18, Air’s younger brother shared his testimony and song – “Time to Make a Change.” His face beaming from ear to ear with JOY!!! Mister had been in Remann Hall last year for the concert but was in a locked down unit and unable to attend! Now ONE YEAR later he was able to get up in front of his peers and BOLDLY shares how Christ has changed his life!! A brief excerpt from his song goes,

Young M-I-S-T-E-R

Growing up banging trying to be a hood star

Now I’m realizing that this life won’t get me far

Just livin day to day, trying to be hard

Till the day I found out I can make a change

Till the day I found out I ain’t gotta be the same 

I can make a change, I ain’t gotta be the same

I’m gonna make a change cause I call on Jesus Name

It was an amazing night!! The staff at Remann Hall were so incredible!! Such an amazing privilege to be able to put on a concert for the kids and work with such amazing people!! We also had an amazing team of our regular volunteers committed to seeing these kids lives transformed!!! Plus additional volunteers who joined our team for the evening, willing to pray for kids, pray for the team, and serve in so many ways!!

Thank you FATHER, JESUS, and HOLY SPIRT for all you did that we saw and did not see!!! What fun it is to be on GOD’s team and part of HIS family!!

Soon after Phillip’s funeral, his closest friend and cousin, Lammar K, was arrested and sent to Remann Hall.  Some of our team was able to minister to him the night Phillip was murdered as he found out the news and also the following week at the various funeral activities. It was no coincidence that he came into Remann Hall at that time! When one of our Juvenile Justice worker found out that Lammar was in there, he knew God wanted him to speak to Lammar! They got to have a one on one meeting together in Remann Hall and discussed Phillip’s death and how Phillip said before he died that he wanted to change, get a job, get in school, and get out of the gang! Lammar agreed that it was time for him to change his life for the better! Our JJM worker encouraged him that the only way his life would be able to change in this way is through having a relationship with Jesus Christ! Lammar said he wanted Jesus! He wanted out of the gangs! He wanted to change! You could tell his heart was broken and ripe to receive the Gospel! So the Gospel was presented and he prayed and received Christ as his LORD and SAVIOR!!! PRAISE GOD!!!! Lammar has been released and our JJM volunteer is following up with him! He expressed desire to start coming back to SOZO!