Julie and her brother have been coming to 71Five Campus for over 2 years now. She’s always been quiet, very shy, and not always willing to engage. Sometimes I will see her sitting by herself out in the hall and ask her why she separated from the group. She always responds with a mumble, avoids eye contact, and eventually does re-engage when she’s ready. Over the past year, Julie has been coming out of her shell. She now interacts with others, has built relationships with her peers, speaks up at times, and plays our games with enjoyment! Recently we went on a snow trip. When I jumped in the van to drive home, she was sitting in the front seat. She began talking to me immediately and kept saying “I never talk this much.” After a while, she shared with me that she has a disability that causes her to have social anxiety. She hated school because of it and would always find a corner in the classroom to hide in. With her sharing her story, I began filling in the missing puzzle pieces.

 

Julie and I talked the entire ride home. We talked about matters that were deep and only shared in a safe environment. In the past 2 years, we’ve made many memories, but this journey home was by far my favorite. It took 2 years for Julie to feel safe enough to trust me with a fragment of who she is. This trust brings hope for the both of us! Thank you for your part in Julie’s journey at 71Five.

 

 

With a black hoodie covering his head and mask covering his face, I had no idea what the new kid looked like. He didn’t say a word, he wouldn’t participate in anything, and kept disappearing. When I would find him, I would tell him he needed to stay with the group. As curious as I was about this boy, I was even more curious about why he came to club; obviously, he did not want to be there. The following week when I asked the new boy his name, a friend answered for him. To my surprise, it was the un-masked hoodie boy! That night he only disappeared twice and halfheartedly participated with the group. Frustrated with having to address his disappearing act yet again, the Lord brought to my attention that this boy, even though he struggled, was in fact making progress. What appeared to be small steps were unsurmountable feats to him. He was returning to club for a reason and seeking something that we had to offer, the hope of Jesus Christ.

The following week was a miracle. He showed up un-covered, participated in games, stayed with the group, and did not disappear; he even talked to me! You see, behaviors related to trauma can often be mistaken for disobedience. This boy was not defiant, he was broken. We at 71Five want to continue to provide a place where the broken are given a safe place to heal and an opportunity to build trust that leads to hope. FARRAH GUTHRIE   71Five Campus Coordinator- Grants Pass    (541) 779-3275   farrah@71Five.org

 

Samantha has been coming to club for a couple of years now. She’s had her struggles but recently she started projecting her frustrations towards me.

Samantha would make disrespectful comments, blame me for things, and has started being rebellious. Building trust takes time and Samantha wasn’t ready to open up about what was going on. One night at club, Samantha decided to argue during the lesson. Afterward, she pulled me aside and apologized for the way she’d been treating me. She said her family is going through a lot right now. You see, Samantha came home the week before to find her mom passed out from drinking too much, had gotten sick and let’s just say she was a mess. Not only did Samantha have to care for her mother and clean her up… she had to be the adult. To top it all off, because of these circumstances, they were given a 10-day eviction notice.

 

Now you may be thinking this scenario is rare but the fact is, these situations are very common in the daily lives of many youth in our community. Samantha’s family is currently living in a motel with nowhere to go and very little hope. So are many other families just like hers. But, Samantha learns about the hope found only through Jesus Christ when we share the gospel at 71Five and the impact Samantha has on her family by bringing that hope home is priceless. Thank you for making this possible! FARRAH GUTHRIE   71Five Campus Coordinator- Grants Pass   (541) 779-3275   farrah@71Five.org

 

 

While the world is going through a period of uncertainty, God’s word remains the same. Psalm 119:89 says that “your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” Youth 71Five Ministries continues to do what we set out to do which is sharing the gospel. As we have started gathering for club the atmosphere has been heavy. These kids have endured a time of disarray; and no one was prepared. The conversations they have been over-hearing and engaging in are about politics, racism, and contracting a deadly virus. Sarah shared with me her mom refuses to wear a mask, could care less about politics, has not been working since March, and her stimulus check went towards paying back child support. Sarah’s friend Jen said that her parents have been working, wearing their masks, and following politics very closely. These girls are coming from completely different scenarios except neither has the hope of Jesus in their home.

 

Now more than ever, Sarah and Jen need trusting relationships, truth and faith. We do not want the next generation to hear one side of the story, we want them to know God’s story. Matthew 13:22 says “The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word.” With so many different perspectives influencing our young people, we open the Bible to teach them what our Creator of the universe has to say.

 

We at 71Five want to thank you for sowing seeds among the thorns— cultivating relationships that grow trust, and sharing the hope of Jesus Christ. FARRAH GUTHRIE 71Five Campus Coordinator- Grants Pass  (541) 779-3275  farrah@71Five.org

 

 

As I would gaze across the room, Johnny would always capture my attention. His interpretation of participating during the lesson meant hoodie over his head, strings drawn tight, and to stare at the floor. On the surface, this behavior can be seen as disrespectful, rebellious and disobedient. Johnny’s been attending 71Five Campus clubs, field trips, and camps for over a year now. Gradually, I noticed the walls coming down, the hoodie coming off, and he began asking questions. After I shared about baptism, he raised his hand and asked, “Can I do what Sam did?” Sam had been baptized during our winter camp and even though Johnny didn’t know how to describe it, he knew he wanted it for himself. “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” [1Timothy 4:12] Slowly Johnny’s faith was strengthened by hearing the Word and by watching Sam.

 

You see, all along, Johnny didn’t understand what was being taught. His response was to hide in hopes that he didn’t have to participate. Just as Timothy did, we at 71Five have set out as co-workers in God’s service to spread the gospel of Christ to strengthen and encourage them in their faith [1Thessalonians 3:2]. It takes time to build trust that leads to hope. By providing places where youth feel secure, and people kids can truly count on, you are transforming lives. FARRAH GUTHRIE 71Five Campus Coordinator – Grants Pass (541) 779-3275 farrah@71Five.org

 

The day before winter camp, Joey’s parents told me they don’t know why he’s so angry. As a youth leader, I’m always looking for opportunities to have meaningful conversations with students. After the trip, I told Joey’s parents I hadn’t found the right moment to talk. About an hour after I hung up, a student told me she had a conversation with Joey about his parents. She encouraged him to be respectful and to put more effort into being Christ-like. He confided that he really wanted a good relationship with his parents. Later, he told her camp changed his perspective and he wanted to spend more time with his parents.

 

I’ve come to realize it’s not always about my influence as director, it’s about the environment Youth 71Five Ministries creates. The conversation this student had with Joey was most likely far more effective than the one I’d have. Philippians 1:5-6 says, “…because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Wherever leaders, volunteers, and students gather, 71Five fosters an atmosphere where building trusting relationships lead to hope. FARRAH GUTHRIE 71Five Campus Area Director – Grants Pass (541) 779-3275 farrah@71Five.org

 

When I arrive at a local youth hang out to pick up anyone for club, the youth ask me questions such as “Where are you going?” “What are you guys going to do?” And the one question that separates the crowd from who’s going and who isn’t… “Is it religious?” Week after week I would ask a certain girl to join us, however, she would always reply with “No”. The reason she’d say no is because this girl identifies as a boy. I kept pursuing her and to my surprise, she finally said “Yes”. Later that evening as we met for our small group discussion, the question was “How does God speak to you?” Literally, behind a mask she had put on, tears ran down her face. We gathered around her and prayed. I believe it’s not our place to judge or change people, God does that. At Youth 71Five Ministries, it’s our desire to share the Gospel with young people and provide a safe place as they find their identity in Christ.

 

There are others attending club who are struggling with their gender. 71Five can reach these youth and share the Gospel in an incredible way by building trust that leads to hope. Jesus says in Luke 19:10, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” As the Grants Pass 71Five Campus Director, I will continue to seek out those who may never hear about who God is because they think they aren’t within reach. FARRAH GUTHRIE 71Five Campus Area Director – Grants Pass (541) 779-3275 farrah@71Five.org

 

The final night of middle school camp, the young girl stepped forward to confess a nicotine addiction and to share her story. . . Angela had been placed in several different abusive foster homes. A couple weeks prior, she was transitioned into a good foster home but treated them badly. During the week of camp, she reflected on her negative behavior towards the new family and couldn’t wait to return home with a new attitude and to thank them for being so great. Angela’s testimony was followed by many others who told of positive changes and how camp had shifted their perspective.

 

Deep-rooted pain rose to the surface, was released through confession, and replaced with hope in Jesus. I thought, if only we could have talked about these things the first day we arrived. Truth is— these things take time. Their pain was not revealed the first night because trusting relationships had to be built. Your involvement with Youth 71Five brings trust that leads to hope for young people. – FARRAH GUTHRIE 71Five Campus Area Director – Grants Pass (541) 779-3275 farrah@71Five.org

 

Being the new leader at club can be awkward trying to fit in. For the first couple of weeks, a girl named Julie kept giving me compliments and telling me how excited she was for me to be the new director. Then something changed. She became negative, she wasn’t participating in activities, and on two separate occasions she stuck her hand in my face and said, “I don’t feel like talking right now.” One night she was very rebellious, so I asked her to leave. Within 20 minutes, she was asking to come back and join us. We had a heart to heart conversation, held hands and prayed. When working with youth, we know their behaviors before we know their stories. What I didn’t know about Julie was that her mother passed away when she was young, her father was never in the picture, and her grandmother raised her. The living situation did not go well with grandma, so Julie ended up in foster care, not just one, but many. She stopped attending school, ran away from her last foster care home, and is currently couch surfing.

 

The night we prayed and walked back in together, it strengthened our relationship. She’s been participating in all the activities, keeps a great attitude, and has attended several field trips. Through a trusting relationship Julie has begun to find hope in a place she’s wanted and feels like she belongs. At Youth 71 Five, your involvement brings trust that leads to hope for young people in Grants Pass. FARRAH GUTHRIE 71Five Campus Area Director – Grants Pass (541) 779-3275 farrah@71Five.org