This summer SOZO will be hosting its third annual summer camp at Warm Beach Camp from July 5-10. The camp is an awesome opportunity for high school students to grow and experience the love of Jesus Christ.

Many of the youth we’re bringing to camp are considered “high-risk” and have been in Remann Hall, the local Juvenile Detention Center. Many of these kids live on the Hilltop and Eastside areas of Tacoma and have been involved in gangs, prostitution, abuse and poverty. Many of the kids have never even been out of Tacoma.

Here’s a story about one of our youth who had his life changed last summer at Warm Beach:

In the past two years we have seen so many lives transformed. Last summer we brought a youth named “Domonique.” His family was transitionally homeless, and he was actively involved in a gang like his dad. He had been smoking weed and getting drunk five times/week for many years, and was already two years behind in high school. He had an amazing encounter with the Lord while at Warm Beach Camp. At camp, he gave his life to Jesus Christ, and saw hope for the first time in his life! Domonique became friends with some kids at camp who belonged to a rival gang. I remember the last night as he was crying he said, “I used to think these guys were my enemies, but now they’re my brothers. I’m trading my bandana for a Bible!”

Since camp, Domonique has regularly started attending Sozo and is being discipled by one of our leaders. He switched schools to get away from his friends in the gang, and has been free from weed, alcohol and fighting. I recently took Domonique on a 4-day roadtrip, and talked about his experience at camp the whole time. He kept saying that this was the most life-changing experience of his life, and that he’d still be gang-banging and smoking weed if it weren’t for that week at Warm Beach.

This summer we’re going back to camp, and many more kids like Domonique will give their lives to Christ, and have their lives completely transformed! About 95% of these youth cannot afford the $200 cost for camp. We’ll need to raise about $11,000 to send 55 kids to camp. Although the kids are all working hard to “earn” the money through volunteering, this has only been made possible through generous support of people like you.

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Please help sponsor kids to camp by sending a donation to Tacoma YFC. Just click on the following link:

https://dlq4.donatelinq.net/qv10/(S(ioxstj45q1llf2jwezxopb55))/Donation.aspx?MerchantID=Tacoma

Choose category: “Summer Camp” and then choose “Sozo Camp at Warm Beach”

Or

Please make checks out to    “Tacoma YFC”

On the memo, please write:  “HS Warm Beach Camp”

Please send the checks to:     ATTN: Doug Jonson           

Tacoma YFC

                                                PO Box 834

                                                Tacoma, WA 98401

All donations go 100% toward sending kids to camp and are tax-deductible. Thank you for your support and for making a difference! Investing in the lives of our youth is one of the best investments you can make.

Sincerely,

Doug Jonson, Sozo Coordinator

City Life