Life Change Stories
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16
May '19
awkwardly trying to fit in
16
May '19
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
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
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09
May '19
With good behavior and God’s blessing
09
May '19
In most of these stories you receive from us the names are changed to protect people’s privacy but not this time. . . Ellie came to juvenile detention in October 2017. Though her first time in detention, the charges were huge with consequences life changing for many. During the year and a half for her case to move through the system trusting relationships with 71Five staff were built. Today, Ellie resides in a youth correctional facility where she will stay for the next decade or more. After that she will transfer to adult corrections to complete her sentence. With good behavior and God’s blessing, Ellen Friar will walk into freedom about the time she turns 35. In a statement Ellie told how her heart and life have been changed through her introduction to and forgiveness from Jesus Christ. She publicly declared; “it was the 71Five ministry team that introduced me to God.”
We are committed to Ellie’s ongoing growth, healing and discipleship. Through her journey many more broken lives will likely be touched by the love of God. From one generation to the next, the Good News brings hope and you provide the bridge of trusting relationships. Thank you! MATT SWEENEY 71Five Connect Director & Ministry Coordinator (541) 779-3275 matt@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 icb
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11
Apr '19
experience freedom
11
Apr '19
I could tell you plenty of shocking stories of trauma and brokenness… But this time, I want to share about a young man who went through just the right amount of pain to make some big changes in his life. I met Israel at the detention center and after the group meeting, I had a chance to talk with him alone. He told me my story spoke loudly to him. He said, “I’m ready to turn my life around, never again to return to detention.” We talked through the steps and changes that would be necessary for him to experience freedom in his life. He then asked the Lord to come into his life and direct him. After he was released, I gave him a new Bible and took him to church. He said the message really applied to his life and he liked it. We grabbed a burrito afterward and he shared how he’d quit drinking alcohol, smoking pot, and cigarettes. He deleted all of his social media accounts and was loving it.
He’s now planning to join the biking program 71Five Justice offers and I plan to meet with him regularly. Please pray for this young man as he begins his new life, and thank you for partnering with us, you are making a difference! BEAU JESKA 71Five Justice Director beau@71Five.org
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04
Apr '19
U’re no accident!
04
Apr '19
A middle school boy who goes to our North Medford 71Five Campus Youth Center told me he didn’t believe in God but rather believed in a “multiverse” where our universe is just part of an infinitely random realm. He also shared he believed we were just lucky things turned out the way they did for us to be alive. Over the course of the next 2 months, I built a strong relationship with this boy and I shared reasons why he can believe the Bible and why he can put his faith in Jesus. Very recently he told me he now believes Jesus is God and died to take away his sins. I now have the privilege of discipling this young man into a deeper relationship with Christ and for him to understand we are not an accident but rather wonderfully designed by God for a purpose. If you’re a part of Youth 71 Five Ministries, thank you so much for what you do to help reach young people like this. There are so many kids who just need to hear they are not an accident, but they are loved by Jesus and can be forgiven. If you’d like to get more involved, give us a call at (541) 779-3275 or find us on the web at 71Five.org… Thank you! TIM HARDY 71Five Campus Area Director – North Medford tim@71Five.org
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29
Mar '19
darkest of places
29
Mar '19
How do you bring hope to a young gal who just received a 25-year prison sentence? She won’t be free until her late thirties and she carries the weight of guilt. What can be done to convince this gal there will be good in her future? It started with a caring adult who met her in detention, consistently spent time and built trust. Over the last few months this girl and her adult friend talked and talked about life, this girl’s pain and her fears. During these conversations the girl heard she could be forgiven, accepted into the family of God and He’s always there to watch over her no matter where she goes. This little gal ‘went all in’ and hasn’t looked back. She still struggles with fear and wishes she didn’t have to face the consequences of her crime, but she looks toward the future with real hope. She’s even now experiencing a hope that has brought her to life in what would seem the darkest of circumstances. Thank you so much for caring enough to provide this! You bring trust into the broken lives of kids which leads to love, peace and hope in the darkest places. – BUD AMUNDSEN 71Five Executive Director bud@71Five.org
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22
Mar '19
This Amazing Young Lady!
22
Mar '19
Miranda is soft-spoken and reserved but has a smile that fills the room! Over the last several months Miranda has increased in her sociability with others in our 71Five Mentors Elementary Club… students and adults alike. She actively participates in the group by asking and answering questions, shares her memorization skills by telling us the Bible verses she learned last year, and one night she brought her new guitar to share her musical abilities. It is an honor to witness this amazing young lady grow and blossom right before our eyes. She is not yet matched with her own mentor but we already recognize her confidence sprouting in the group mentoring setting.
Many kids like Miranda are on a waiting list to receive a mentor. Would you pray about ways in which you could participate in sharing the love of Christ to these incredible young people? MISTY DUKE 71Five Mentors Director misty@71Five.org
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07
Mar '19
Friday Night Club
07
Mar '19
Youth 71Five Ministries provides a safe place for kids in our community. A six grade boy came up to me the other day during our Friday Club Night and asked me if he could please stay. “No one is at my house and my mom won’t be home until the bar closes.” He was not supposed to come that week because he had gotten in trouble the week before… We worked out an alternate form of restitution and he was able to hang out with us for the evening. The same young man told me just a few weeks before, “I wish I was Jesus, so I could help my family.”
It’s true, only Jesus can bring real help to his family. Thank you!! You provide a safe place where this young man can hear about the hope that’s only found in Jesus. ROBERT MILTON 71Five Campus Area Director – Eagle Point robert@71Five.org
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01
Mar '19
Can You Explain Forgiveness?
01
Mar '19
At 71Five City, there’s a single dad who has brought his daughters for about 3 years. A nice guy, hard worker and a good dad. I can see in his eyes he’s exhausted by Friday night yet he often stays to helps clean up. A few weeks ago he took me aside and said, “I need to speak to you”. As we sat at the table he leaned in and yelled: “Explain forgiveness? There’s so much evil in this world. How can God forgive evil people?” I shared with him that God’s grace is available to anyone that would believe. God sent His son, Jesus who died for us and rose again so anyone who wanted His free gift of freedom and eternal life can have it. Even people who had done evil things. By the end of our time, this dad was amazed by the truth of the Gospel. He said he’d never looked at God’s love that way. Then he asked if we could meet again because he wants to learn more about Jesus and the Bible. And we will.
Each Friday, here at 71Five City, I present the Gospel to kids in some creative way, but I know the parents are also listening. In 1 Peter 3:15 it says, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
Thank you, my friends, for creating a safe place for kids… and parents, to hear the message of Hope that’s within you and me. – LARRY LICATO, 71Five City Director larry@71Five.org
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20
Feb '19
Surviving the Holidays
20
Feb '19
We’ve all heard the term “Surviving the Holidays.” Getting the family together, deciding who’s bringing what, shuffling through the crowds to get those last-minute items, and racking up those credit cards. For most of the Youth 71Five kids “Surviving the Holidays” takes on a different meaning. After group one night, I asked Kiara how her Thanksgiving was. She replied “hmm, ok.” As I dug a little deeper, she said “I spent the day in my room by myself. I didn’t want to go with my mother to her friend’s house because I don’t want to be around the drinking.” Kiara’s Christmas at home was very similar. “My mom and her boyfriend were fighting so I just stayed in my room all day.” While most of us are “Surviving the Holidays” so to speak, there are youth in our community who really are.
Here’s what else Kiara was up to during the holidays. 71Five Campus had a Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, we built gingerbread houses, had a gift exchange, and went ice skating. Due to our generous donors, Kiara was able to attend our high school camp in Sunriver. At camp, Kiara told me she wanted to get baptized. She’d prayed to God she could be the light that enters her home and brings her mother to Jesus. I’d been asking God how I could help these families to know Christ. He answered me that day with… “Teach my children and they will know Me.”
Thank you for providing the message of hope through trusting relationships. God is using you to change lives! – FARRAH GUTHRIE, 71Five Campus Area Director – Grants Pass farrah@71Five.org
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14
Feb '19
a Senior Project
14
Feb '19
The first meeting… there’s always a ‘first meeting’ with every kid. This is the time to get acquainted… but more importantly, it is time to lay a foundation of trust and respect. Like steel in concrete, trust & respect create a solid base upon which to build a relationship and become positioned to share the hope that can be found in knowing God & His Son, Jesus. Yesterday was the first meeting with Michael & Jeff. As their Senior Project to graduate from Central High School they will partner with me to set up and host the next 71Five Connect Workshop. As 71Five Connect alumni, they know its value to their fellow students. I must encourage, challenge, and help build them to become more than they are, to have a greater vision for who they might become. First meetings are critical because from small beginnings the course of a life may be changed for all eternity.
God has opened a door through Youth 71Five Ministries for more of His people to bring life-changing hope into the lives of kids… join us in the mission.- MATT SWEENEY, 71Five Connect Director and Ministry Coordinator matt@71five.org
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