&nbsp;

I can tell my friend about Jesus!

Posted on Nov 21, 2022 by Sara Vassallo | Life Change Story | 0

Beau is one of our most regular elementary students she’s there every week with her big sister and she is always excited about club. Not too long ago Beau and I were having a conversation and another girl said, “I’m not a Christian.” Beau got very worried and pulled me aside and said, “We can’t let that girl come anymore because she isn’t a Christian.” Beau had the idea you had to know Jesus, to go to anything about Jesus. I then had the opportunity to explain, “Everybody is welcome to come to club… even people who aren’t Christians. Just because we teach about Jesus doesn’t mean that you have to know Jesus to come and have fun!” Then we got to talk about sharing Jesus, and what a great opportunity it is to teach your friends who don’t know Jesus about how awesome he is. Beau lit up and shouted, “That means I can tell all of my friends about Jesus!”

Thank you for helping give children like Beau, the courage to tell all of their friends about Jesus!

SARA NIELSEN, 71Five Campus Coordinator – Central Point

(541) 816-6761 | sara@71Five.org

“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

Positive Impact on Her Life

Posted on Nov 15, 2022 by Beau Jeska | Life Change Story | 0

I was recently at the steel yard buying some beams to turn into a new bike trailer for 71Five’s Break the Cycle bike program. As I was at the register, the young lady asked me who the invoice should be made out to, and when I replied, “Youth 71Five Ministries,” her whole face lit up. She jumped into explaining of how she was a part of it. “I used to go every week. Clem (O’Hara) helped me incorporate my senior project into the programming!” She even shared a few details about how sometimes she used to dread going… but was always glad later on. It was clear that 71Five had a positive impact on her life.

Are you building for the Kingdom? Do you want to be a difference maker in a young person’s life that they will rave about, many years down the road, to a perfect stranger? What’s holding you back? Call me at (541) 779-3275 to hear about the many different opportunities we have to engage your strengths—for the Kingdom.

BEAU JESKA, 71Five Justice Ministry Director

(541) 601-9631 | beau@71Five.org

“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

Three kids showed up . . .

Posted on Nov 7, 2022 by Darlene Knudson | Life Change Story | 0

It started off with 6 pizzas, 4 adults, 3 kids and 1 snarky comment. I knew club would be interesting since the 71Five Campus Coordinators were gone, but I was thrilled when three kids showed up! We sassed around and they warmed up as we ate pizza and played a board game. Our discussion focused on God saying Jesus was His only begotten son, what do people say about us, and what does God say about us. After closing in prayer, Mr. Snarky sat up and stated he wished club would always be “like this,” the other boys agreed. This was the opposite to his earlier comment, and I wasn’t sure if he meant it sarcastically, because discussion was short, or because he had more attention than usual. As I picked up their handouts, I glanced at their answers to the question that asked: “What’s the next step you want to take with God?” To my surprise, one of the boys wrote, “…since being baptized at 71Five’s Camp, I want to work on my prayer life and pray more.” It’s sweet to see how underneath those “tough teenage boy” exteriors, there are still hearts being transformed by Jesus.

You provide the powerful message that changes and shapes these kids’ lives, physically and spiritually. On behalf of all the youth at 71Five, “THANK YOU!”

DARLENE KNUDSON, 71Five Mentors Coordinator

(805) 202-9125 | darlene@71Five.org

“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

No place to go

Posted on Nov 1, 2022 by Bud Amundsen | Life Change Story | 0

We’re all experiencing the early morning bustle of kids going to school in our neighborhoods but after school many of these kids have no place to go. Because of you, hundreds of kids have a safe place to hear about the hope found in Jesus. Thank you for providing for Ryan who’s had a rough childhood filled with loneliness. By visiting some of the rougher parts of the neighborhood, 71Five staff were able to connect with Ryan and invite him to Club. Since then, he’s made friends, built trust in our leaders, and has even gone to church! You opened the doors of hope for Ryan and have changed his life.

I personally want to invite you to take a tour of 71Five to see firsthand your donation at work and give us a chance to thank you in person! Please email Misty@71Five.org to schedule a tour and see how you are bringing hope to kids.

BUD AMUNDSEN, 71Five Executive Director

(541) 301-0897 | bud@71Five.org

“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

Upgrade

Posted on Oct 25, 2022 by Larry Licato | Life Change Story | 0

In our current classes, we have four returning students. Of these, two students are resent graduates of a Juvenile Justice system called B2B meaning Barriers to Bridges. They requested to join us and are now back. They are learning employment skills, practical life skills and hearing God’s word. These young men have had some serious issues in their lives but are committed to doing better. One of them is housed with us and has only been here a few days. He shared that since he graduated out of B2B he has been struggling with being drawn back into drugs, alcohol and just hanging out with the wrong people. “Why?” she asked. He said, “For comfort and to feel connected.” On my way to 71Five VoTech this morning, I passed him a few blocks away from walking by the local park. I was concerned to see him out and about. I waved at him as I went by and he waved back. I later overheard him talking to our case manager. He mentioned seeing me and waving as he was on his way to school. “What?” I thought… “On his way to school?” He said to her, “I started back to school today, I also applied for a job, I got my food card, I am working on getting a bus pass.” Then he said, “I would like to start going to church again.” This is definitely an “Up Grade” from the young man we knew that was out on the street looking for ways to ease his pain.

You have changed the life of this young man. Thank you for your continuous prayers and support for the work of 71Five and especially for 71Five VoTech – Medford branch of the ministry as we see more young people Up Grade their lives.

LARRY LICATO, 71Five VoTech Coordinator – Medford

(541) 890-1819 | larry@71Five.org

“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

Skyler

Posted on Oct 18, 2022 by Peter Kuhl | Life Change Story | 0

Skyler is pretty outgoing and drops by the youth center a lot but never stays for the Message (the part when we talk about Jesus). Even though he simply peeks in to say “Hi”, this doesn’t stop me from doing what I can to cultivate a trusting relationship with him. A few weeks ago, when he was grabbing dinner after he actually stayed for our entire middle school group (which is a praise report itself), I was able to connect with him on a deeper level as he opened up to me about his family life and the responsibilities he has at home looking after his little brothers. It’s easy for me to feel like the small encounters aren’t amounting to much, but then I realize that kids like Skyler are being impacted through the 71Five… even if it’s just a little bit here and there.

Thank you for partnering with 71Five and for using your gifts to change the outcome of the lives of youth for the better.

PETER KUHL, 71Five Campus Coordinator – Eagle Point

(541) 630-0648 | peter@71Five.org

“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

A Little Grace Is Needed

Posted on Oct 10, 2022 by Shane Skirvin | Life Change Story | 0

Elementary boys at 71Five City like to play hard and sometimes their attitudes are an issue. When disputes happen during our games, every boy turns into both a referee and a lawyer! Josh is no exemption, but today was different. He really struggled with his temper. When a kid continues to be disruptive during club, I make it a point to talk with their parents. When Josh’s mom came to pick him up, based on both her appearance and the small talk we had, I quickly realized it wasn’t just Josh having a bad day. Quite possibly behind a kid having a difficult day there may be a tremendously challenging situation at home. I decided to give Josh a little grace and offered to pray for them during the week.

Many of the kids that arrive at 71Five are coming from families that are broken and dealing with cycles of poverty and addiction. As we walk with these kids, we get to extend grace to them like Jesus does to us. Thank you for extending light and grace into dark and hard situations!

SHANE SKIRVIN, 71Five City – Liberty Park Coordinator

(541) 646-1475 | shane@71Five.org

“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

The Eleventh Hour

Posted on Oct 4, 2022 by Farrah Guthrie | Life Change Story | 0

I received a text from Trevor just before middle school camp. He’d stopped coming to club and wasn’t really plugged in to begin with. The text read, “I sort of got in some trouble and was wondering if you had any volunteer opportunities?” Within an instant, the Lord prompted my heart to invite him to be a leader in training at 71Five Camp. I hesitated to respond but after praying, I was confident in what the Lord encouraged me to do. When I responded, he anxiously replied “Ok, I’ll go.” My hesitations and worries were blown out of the water as I saw the Lord at work in his life. Many of the student’s most memorable moments were a direct result of Trevor’s leadership, compassion, character, and love. It was on the last day of camp he rededicated his life to Jesus and as it came time to part ways, Trevor was excited to get back into club, his church, and begin rearranging his priorities.

Unfortunately, when we returned, I didn’t hear from Trevor for over 2 months. I reached out to him several times with no response. When our 71Five VoTech training was to begin a new session, I reached out relentlessly with the same result. After training had already begun, the Lord was still urging me to pursue Trevor. He reminded me that He pursues us always, even when we don’t respond. In the 11th hour so to speak, Trevor reached out to me. He’s now enrolled in our program, living at 71Five VoTech housing, and doing extraordinarily well. I’m looking forward to writing about the next chapter of Trevor’s story as God continues to use 71Five to pursue relationships that lead to hope.

FARRAH GUTHRIE, 71Five City – Grants Pass Coordinator

(541) 840-6544 | farrah@71Five.org

“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

Unlike Any Other!

Posted on Sep 26, 2022 by Darlene Knudson | Life Change Story | 0

“I knew it was just a matter of time before I missed it,” expressed Grace on the way home from our day trip to the Waterworks Park in Redding California. “That was the longest summer, and I couldn’t wait to get back to go to Thursday’s club. The environment at 71Five is a comfortable and safe one, and the energy there is unlike any other! And high school camp was so awesome! I’ve never felt so safe and confident being myself. I’m SO going to tease my brother on how much he missed out on not coming today!” These are the words coming from a teenage girl who, when I first met her, would never leave her younger brother’s side and only attend Elementary Club at 71Five, even though she was in high school. Seeing her leave home, attend a 4-day camp where she accepted Jesus as her Lord & Savior and was baptized, and then come to an event all on her own and share her feelings towards our high school club with such positivity and excitement made my heart overflow with abundant joy! This was a sweet reminder that every moment we spend with these kids makes a difference. Whether it’s one-to-one mentoring or group mentoring, seeds of hope are being planted and kids’ lives are being changed.

Thank you for being a part of each of these kids’ personal growth and maturity in the confidence of Christ! You are making a difference!

DARLENE KNUDSON, 71Five Mentors Coordinator

(805) 202-9125 | darlene@71Five.org

“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

A Light of Hope. . .

Posted on Sep 19, 2022 by Leif Amundsen | Life Change Story | 0