Weekly clubs have been going well at 71Five Campus in North Medford. We continue to teach God’s story of Hope through Bible teaching and discussion. One young lady Alice, recently said during our discussion defiantly “Her life… Her rules.” It is sad to see that our society has taught young people that they are more importantly individuals independent of any obligations to anyone or anything else. Cultural lies that are designed by the enemy to make kids isolated and lonely and to make them ripe for terrible ideas and temptations. At the same time, Sophia is another young lady at club. She has been asking great questions about faith since she returned from the 71Five Camp last summer. Asking questions such as, “What does real repentance look like in my life?” Sophia is asking with earnestness and sincerity! Revelation chapter 12 describes a great cosmic war between spiritual powers with humans being rescued by one side and devoured by the opposing side. Tragically one girl sees her life as being all about herself not realizing that there are much bigger forces at work, while another girl has begun to realize she must repent and join a side!

 

Because of you and your crucial support, we can share with young people the real history and the present reality of the world, and together we were able to, as it says in Ephesians 6:12, wrestle and fight to pierce through the darkness that evil cosmic powers use to capture our young people and destroy them. Thank you for reaching the youth of the Rogue Valley with God’s story of Hope! Which is so much greater than anything else!

 

 

Here at 71Five, we had an awesome summer with camps being the focal point. The last camp of the summer we had was Middle School Camp. Which was an excellent time to pull away from the business and busyness of life and have an adventure with our middle school kids and our high school helpers. It was a great location and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Southern Oregon. More importantly, it was a time to focus on building up these kids spiritually, focusing on their long-term spiritual formation (Galatians 4:19). At the personal level with kids there’s nothing like camp to break down barriers to authentic relationships when everyone is sun-burnt, tired, sweaty and a little dirty! One kid there when we were casually talking about how long he’s been a part of 71Five clubs, remarked that he felt like my biological kids were his siblings and that he was part of my family! This young man has been through so much trauma in his life and it was touching to see how he felt about us. We are only able to reach his life and be a part of his life because of your generous donations of time and money to enable us to reach out to him. 

 

Apostle Paul says how will people go and do ministry if they are not sent by others, Paul goes on to say how will people call on and believe in God if they never even get a chance to hear about Him, and they can’t hear without someone intentionally preaching to them and people can’t preach unless they are sent [Romans 10:14-17]. It’s because of your vital support we can reach the young people of this generation! As Apostle Paul says it’s a beautiful thing! We are all concerned about the growing darkness in our society and world, and this is how we shine a light into that darkness! Your incredibly important support is for such a time as this [Esther 4:14]!

 

 

I recently talked with a young man about God because of you and your generous giving! We were able to set aside time, place, and even meals so that we could gather as a group with some young people and talk about not just becoming a believer in God (theism) but a disciple of Jesus Christ (a follower and believer in Christ). This young man had been dealing with a lot of trauma and life’s difficulties and at first, was not sure if Christians would even like him. But he was open to the message of becoming a new person in Christ—he seemed far from God. Of course, we know no one is far from God now because of Christ (Eph.2:13). We could share this great news with this young person so that he could become born again and join the Church of God, because of people like you we can have these God-appointed conversations! 

 

I am both thankful and excited to be part of God’s outreach to people with the hope of the Gospel, is there anything more important? Thank you so much for being a co-laborer in this work! (Rom. 16:3).

 

 

Middle School youth ministry is challenging! It feels like it takes a lot to build a relationship and create a space with the right amount of time where kids can ask genuine questions and hear real answers. The kids of our community have a lot of information on top of a lot of distractions thrown at them all the time. So in kicking off our Middle School talk and discussion time here at 71Five Campus – North Medford, we switched it up a little by having everyone sit on the floor in a circle. I’ve also requested all to put their phones away. We are striving to engage these kids where they are. This is where we have an unplugged conversation about the things that matters most in life… not the trivial distractions of our age! I was surprised and encouraged by how well these discussions have been going! It’s through the book of Mark, which packs in a lot, we read about the life, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ!

 

One of the young ladies, Julie, asked very pointed questions about Christianity and how it differs from other worldviews she’s been exposed to. The earnestness and seriousness of her questions opened up a whole discussion about the claims of Christianity! It’s an awesome thing to see our young people discussing and wrestling with the great truths of the Bible! You are making these outreaches possible to young people who are not normally found sitting in church on Sundays! Thank you so much for being involved with this great effort to reach the kids of our community and change eternal destinies!

 

 

Toby is a young man who connected with our elementary club and is now in Middle School. He’s had many challenges in a short life including health challenges, a major surgery, parents who have struggled with addiction, and prison. He’s being raised by grandparents who are financially pressed. It seems that he lives between two worlds. There is a constant pull toward addiction and trauma with a downward spiral toward crime and gangs. Yet, he consistently comes to clubs and engages the message we offer, and even at times he’s been a leader and helps other kids. He went to 71Five Camp this summer and it was not without hassles, but he ended up loving it. Recently he started going to church with us, where we have seen tremendous spiritual growth!

 

While he faces (and will continue to face) many challenges, you have shined a light into this young man’s life… Not just his life but also to his two younger brothers who look up to him, and other young boys in the neighborhood and at school. God willing we will see generational and family changes for good, that’s the real and only hope in this world. Thank you for sharing His hope!

 

 

For the last 6 months, our Elementary Club teacher Miss Colette has been consistently opening the world of the Bible to the kids through song, stories, and a bit of drama. She’s taken them through Christ’s birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and the early church. Recently, she’s been asking the students questions to review what’s been covered so far. The responses are filled with so much information showing they’ve retained a lot from these lessons! Many of these kids have no church background with little to no knowledge of Christ. It’s such a blessing to be a part of the work of teaching kids the most important thing in the world – how to have a relationship with the God of the Bible, who is a father that loves them!

 

You make this little school about God and His love possible! We could never do this without you [Romans 10:14-15]! You are reaching the kids of our neighborhood with the vital first step of teaching the Word of Christ. Let’s also pray for these kids to have faith in what they are hearing and that their lives may be transformed forever [Romans 10:17]!

 

 

Recently during a discussion at 71Five City’s Middle School Club, we asked a question: “What’s the one thing you would ask God if you had the chance?” It ranged from the usual wishes for cool toys, superpowers and material possessions. Then Jack raised his hand and said, “I would ask for my mother to come back!” (Jack’s mom passed away recently.) A lot of young people are wrestling with the deep questions of life, not just superficial ones, but questions with such aching pain.

 

You are providing the only answer that truly matters, that death and pain do not have the final say in this young man’s life. Every promise of God find a BIG Yes in Jesus! [2 Cor. 1:20] We have this extraordinary privilege together with you to build bridges of trust so hope can travel into every dark place of pain! Thank you for going with us into these places, which are incredible opportunities, to speak into these young people’s lives right where they are, in the pain and brokenness, with the only true hope of God!

 

 

Jacob, who’s a cool, tough kid from the neighborhood, has been coming to our clubs at 71Five City for a while. He was attracted to a summer event we were doing and has been coming back ever since. I was surprised to hear him make a statement in our discussion saying, “I’m happy with what Jesus did, giving his body for me.” For Jacob to say this openly and without shame, was awesome! It makes me think of 2 Timothy 1:7-8, where Apostle Paul says how God does not give us a spirit of fear, so don’t be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. To make such a confession in front of other kids when you’re in middle school is very brave! He also said it in front of his little sister! What a cool thing for a sister to hear her older brother say.

 

Because of you standing next to us in prayer and giving, we are reaching the kids of our city! As 1 Corinthians 12:26-27 says, we are all part of one body. You are a vital part of the care kids like Jacob experience and I’d like you to share in every celebration!