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

15 year old JD came into Remman hall this summer with a life experience of tragic loss.  A few years ago JD experienced a horrible loss when he was living with his Mom, brothers, and sisters in California.  A house fire destroyed everything they owned and JD lost two of his younger siblings in the fire.  His mom had to send him to live with his grandparents for a couple of years in a rural area of the state.  While JD was with his grandparents, he did well in school and excelled on the football field as a running back.  This was a good environment for him to grow up in as he was loved and encouraged and even went to church with his grandparents.  Eventually, JD’s mom was able to buy a house in Lakewood, Washington and JD moved to the Tacoma area.

Coming to Tacoma was difficult for JD, he soon found himself running with some shady characters that encouraged him to do drugs and commit crime.  One night, JD and some of his friends decided to rob a house of people they knew.  The attempted robbery went bad quickly and JD ran out of the house before he had a chance to grab anything.  The police were already on the scene and JD was caught after he jumped a fence.  As a result of the circumstances of the crime, JD found himself with serious charges and was promptly booked into Remann hall for an undetermined amount of time.  

The first time I saw him was in a Wednesday night chapel service, I was immediately drawn to his genuine smile when I greeted him at the door to the room.  Throughout the entire teaching time he was engaged and attentive.  At the end he boldly made a decision to give up his old life and live for Jesus!  Without hesitation JD took the truth of the gospel and ran with it.  He immediately started reading the bible and began to grasp spiritual truths very quickly.  

One day I walked into JD’s pod and saw him writing to his parole officer looking quite discouraged.   He shared with me his struggle to be heard and his frustration with how his case was going.  He told me had been pouring all through his bible looking for something that would bring him encouragement!  I was struck by his hunger for the word of God to comfort him and I talked to him about the importance of faith in the face of trails and suffering.  After I left, I had no idea if anything I said stuck, but since that time, I have seen the Spirit of God do nothing short of a miracle in this young man’s life! 

JD takes advantage of every opportunity to go to church and is even memorizing scripture.  Every week that we see JD he declares that he wants to encounter Jesus more and more!  I recently felt prompted to give him one of my favorite books “The pursuit of God” by A.W. Tozer.  Although he struggled to understand some of the words used in the book, he read it twice, and has even been memorizing the prayers at the end of the chapters.  I would have never understood this book at 15 years of age!  God has gifted JD with an incredible mind and a dynamic hunger for Jesus.  JD radiates the joy of God whenever I see him and he continues to grow in wisdom and in the knowledge of the Word.  He even desires to worship the Lord and has begun to write lyrics of praise!  I am so excited to see what God has next for JD as He raises him up as a leader in this next generation.

John Dorsey – JJM Volunteer

During our chapel time, our Juvenile Justice Ministry Director preached an amazing message on the love Christ. She painted a picture of how the Lord loves us right where we’re at, right now.

Four of the girls wanted to pray with someone, to acknowledge before the Lord their need of him, their desire to live for him in a new way. I got to pray with Alisha, an amazing young women who will lead many more to the cross in her lifetime. She wanted to be right with God but, in her words, she’s just a piece of S**T. She didn’t feel good enough, she knew she didn’t have enough strength to live freely and stand firm in the face of temptation, so she didn’t want to start something she knew she couldn’t finish. I got to share with her the Good News! No one deserves to be made right with God, none deserve anything from our Father, but it’s the desire of his heart to bless us anyway. He doesn’t expect us live perfectly, but rejoices when we take a step forward rather than become angry when we take a step back, and he loves to strengthen us. He only requires that we ask! Alicia decided to accept these truths about God and pray her first prayer! In the days following, she was in the scripture, full of hope and a growing understanding of her new Dad and who she is as His very own daughter. The power of the Lord to transform a person was on display that evening, and it was a glorious spectacle! Praise the Lord!

Robyn Buchanan, JJM Intern

Jared is only 16 years old, and from Tacoma. I’ve been seeing him for a few months, since he’s been in jail. His father was an infamous gangster who raised Jared up in a lifestyle of drugs, violence, and anger. During Bible study one day, God spoke very clearly to Jared about how Jesus came to give him life and loves him! I taught on how the enemy used gangs in my life, testified to how Christ rescued me, and told him with authority that the enemy is pimpin’ and punkin’ him out of his life and away from his soul. Jared asked how he could get Christ in his life, and received Jesus as Lord and Savior. There was an instant change, a shift towards freedom and life. Jared was placed on honors status, coming to bible study every week, and started influencing the other young men in his pod.  They are all on honors status, which is not usual. I was able to meet his mom and tell her how proud I am, and testify to the change I’ve seen. She noticed the same changes in his life. Jared’s mom called recently to say that a rival gang member who is suspected for murdering one of Jared’s best friends, had come into Remann Hall. Jared was very angry and nervous about what would go down in jail with the rival. I challenged him to forgiveness, and brought the truth. The enemy was tempting him, he’s after him to destroy him, and I warned him about the way he would lose if he agreed with the lies and the enemy. I prayed for him, asked for the Spirit of Peace to flood him and rebuked a spirit of anger. I’m still walking with Jared, celebrating the marked change in his life since he met Jesus.

Dwayne Parker – Bishop Freeze

Friends

Mostly our blogs are about kid stories and reaching the youth of Tacoma and Pierce County, but this time I wanted to share my heart a bit, kind of like a real blog – just share. I started on staff almost 5 years ago with a mission to reach young people who were incarcerated in Tacoma. I didn’t know what i was getting into, I just know God had called me to youth and to YFC. Little did I know that God was about to massively interrupt my idea of ministry – as I met many broken youth from Tacoma, my heart was radically touched and I was overwhelmed with the need for Christ to pour out mercy. The journey had begun – I was alone in my initial mission (except for the Lord) but by God’s grace and his love he began to do miraculous works in the lives of many of these youth and he began to draw volunteers and team mates across my path. God has continued to draw his people together and has birthed City Life, SOZO, Late Night, SOZO kids, Wilson, Jason Lee and Foss and many kids have been reached with the Gospel and love of Christ.

Recently, one of our early volunteers who later became a staff member, Chrisy Wachtler – was promoted to be the Juvenile Justice Ministry Director. I am so proud to have worked with such an amazing woman of God for the past four years and am so encouraged to see her receive her leadership mantle here. She is a gifted leader and the fruit from her life as evidenced in the lives of countless youth in Tacoma has been off the charts. I am so blessed to have been able to work with, lead and empower such a Godly leader.

So let this blog be about how excited I am to see Chrisy become the director and leader that I have always know she is – thank you for your support of this ministry and for the lives of youht and Leaders who have been affected through your support. God bless

I walked into the girl’s pod of Remann Hall this Saturday afternoon.  There were ten girls sitting at tables doing various activities. One girl in particular caught my eye. She did not seem to fit in here. Her dark brown eyes stared at me watching my every move as if she was screaming at me from behind them, “Somebody,get me out of here! Can you help me, please?”  I greeted some girls I already knew and eventually made my way to sit at her table and begin to talk with her.  “Hi I’m Chrisy, what’s your name?” I asked. “Likeisha.” It was her first time in Remann Hall and around the type of girls housed in juvenile detention. Her eyes welled with tears and we went to sit in the conference room where she could feel free to share in privacy. She began to share her story, her current situation, and the things she has been dealing with in her life.  Often the girls who are in there for their first time or for domestic violence or running away can have a hard time adjusting to being comfortable just hanging out with some of the harder girls. Some of the ones who are in for more obvious and scary things like: gang violence, drug dealing, prostitution, or robbery. When a girl feels like she is alone and scared it is a great time to reach out and give her someone to talk to and listen. God also provides ways to share about Jesus’s love for them, and his desire to heal, and comfort them.

            Likeisha is now sixteen. Her mom is and has been a meth addict for many years. As long as she can remember there were drugs made in the home and used in the home. Her house has always had many people coming and going. Likeisha’s childhood was filled with abuse and neglect. Her dad left when she was four, her mom abandoned her fully a year ago and she is living with a family member. She’s helped raise her younger brother her entire life. Despite her rough circumstances and the odds being against her, she managed to get a job, a driver’s license and is doing well in school. 

            I asked her what she wants to do with her life. She shared in the most compassionate yet fierce voice, “I want to ADVOCATE for children…I want to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.” I prayed for her, we talked of her purpose and God’s love for her, and she expressed her desire to live her life for God and all He had for her. In the midst of her brokenness and hurt she began to call upon God to help her, to save her and to comfort her. She is a beautiful young lady filled with great potential. Likeisha and young ladies like her have fought through hell just to be alive. It is a GOOD NEWS indeed to share with them of GOD’s amazing LOVE and purpose for them. Most of the time that kind of love is the last thing they have been told in their life.  It is an awesome privelege to get to meet these girls, talk and listen to them and hear their stories. What a blessing to get to speak words of truth and to pray. It is so fun to see their lives change before our very eyes as God imparts FAITH for them to TRUST and FOLLOW HIM. Thank you for sharing in the lives of kids like Likeisha. Chrisy Wachtler, JJM

Millie, Air and Miranda Celebrating Millie's Graduation

            Millie began her personal relationship with Jesus while living at the house, and shared one night how she realized he had been with her through everything, and that she could trust Him. She had always struggled to trust and believe and never thought she would be able to trust others or God. However, God had been showing himself to her for many months and she could now see that He had her best in mind and she needed Him. Millie left the House of Dreams this past October as she moved down to Vancouver Washington with her family to take a break from Tacoma for a while.  She enrolled in her fourth high school with graduation in her sights.

            The road was still not easy for her as she had a tough fight this past winter. Not long after moving, one of her closest friends was murdered in Tacoma. Millie took it really hard and began to question her life and what it meant. She also had a run in with the law herself for shoplifting, and even began to consider ending her life.  But Millie again reached out for help with her new family in Tacoma (her YFC friends and mentors) and to God. As a result, she kept on persevering.

            She walked across the stage last night beaming from ear to ear – I and some of her friends from Tacoma were there to celebrate with her. As they announced her name, she was handed her diploma, hugging the authorities of her school. SHE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL! Graduation is an amazing accomplishment for a young woman who has had to fight for everything in life, including surviving a traumatic birth into the world. She is also seeing how God is and has been fighting on her behalf along with others who God has brought into her life. She understands now that she is not alone. Millie also knows that not every fight will end in failure. She is seeing VICTORY one step at a time and she can now see her FUTURE. She has a goal of starting and finishing college. WE LOVE YOU MILLIE!!! We are so PROUD OF YOU! – Chrisy Wachtler, JJM

Air continues to fight through and walk in victory as she hungers after God.  Last week she came to Kids SOZO to help out with the K-5th graders and was teaching little kids how to double dutch (jump rope!!) Air was glowing the entire night.  Little girls would approach her and look up and say, “Air, can you teach me how to double dutch?” She would just look down at them with a huge smile, and say, “sure.”  Air couldn’t stop talking about her night on the way home.  She shared how she met some brothers and sisters and one of their names was Philip.  Philip was playing with two squirt guns he’d won as prizes, he pretended to shoot his sister and then blew the tip of the gun like he saw people do in the movies. Air laughed but then was reminded of her friend Philip who was murdered this past November.  It wasn’t funny anymore that he knew so much at a young age about guns.  She was encouraged that he was at Kid SOZO and would have the opportunity to grow up receiving love on Friday nights and learning who he is in God’s eyes.  She got to know Philip that night along with his two sisters.  Philip’s sisters performed a cheer they made that night that ended with the line, “put a little SOZO in it.”  The little girls just glowed as they performed for Air, and she smiled and applauded and encouraged them. One of the sisters shared with her that she had not made the dance team and that she couldn’t really dance that good. Air said, “that’s funny, because you are an amazing dancer,” and Air continued to speak encouragement to the young girl. Air is growing very much in God and is desiring more and more to love others with the love she’s received from Christ.

          We’re so thankful for what God is doing in her life and the lives of her family. Her mom is coming to SOZO every week now… along with her younger 2 brothers consistently. Her mom drives the whole family there and you can see her softening toward God each time. Mister, Air’s 18 yr old brother, Air, and Bishop Freeze have been getting together to work on songs together and read the bible. It’s so fun see them both growing and trusting God.

          God is faithful to complete what he starts. Thank you God for not leaving us how we were when we first came to know you. Chrisy Wachtler, City Life and JJM

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

I’ve been coming to Remann Hall every Monday for three months now, and last night was the first time I’ve met Teresa. I sat behind her, so couldn’t see her outward responses to the powerful message of healing and hope that Katie and Chrisy were bringing to the girls. All I know is that God kept putting her on my heart to ask Him to give her a true heart connect with what they were saying.

            After the chapel service, Chrisy and Katie gave an invitation to respond to the message, and even then, there was no outward reaction from Teresa until the room had emptied out, and then Teresa came back in! She wanted me to say a prayer, she said, for her younger cousin who is constantly in the hospital with various illnesses, and is currently in ICU with an RSV virus. We talked about the reality that words have the power of life and death and the power of talking to Jesus out loud, so Teresa took a step of faith to pray her own simple prayer, asking Jesus to heal her cousin! After we prayed, Teresa began to relate to me the injustice of her current sentence in Remann Hall, and I told her, Teresa, do you know that God wants to know you so much that hell allow something to happen that seems unfair or harsh just so he can create an opportunity for you to encounter him?

            I began to share with her the desire God has to have a relationship with her and showed her different bible verses that explained the reality of the junk of our lives separating us from even knowing what a friendship with God could be like, but then showed her what some of the promises of that friendship are. Teresa’s mouth formed a smile as she realized that there could be joy and peace and hope in her life if she would turn away from trying to control her own life and turn toward Jesus and believe that he is the only one who can heal the wounds of her heart so when I asked her, What’s your response to these words from the bible I’m reading with you and what I’m telling you? Teresa’s looked at me and said, I want to open the door to Him so he can come in and change my life! So Teresa took another outward step of faith and she prayed her own simple declaration to Jesus, admitting she has tried to control her life and now wanted God to change her. We laughed together before I left, agreeing that she had come to Remann Hall angry at being locked up, and now she can’t deny that God pretty much just set her up to receive his love. Sometimes God just lets something happen, good or bad, to create an opportunity for us to hear the truth about his love for us. Teresa was willing to see and receive God’s calling to her. What a joy to be a part of this ministry. Michelle Renich (Remann Hall volunteer)