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71Five Adventure!

Posted on Aug 13, 2025 by Bud Amundsen | Life Change Story | 0

One of 71Five’s organizational values is to: “Navigate Relevance- relentlessly vigilant”. This means we prioritize the needs and interests of young people over methods or types of programs. Our job is to stay very rigid in our mission of bringing God’s story of hope to young people through trusting relationships, but stay very flexible in our methods to accomplish it. Our current ministry models are:

71Five Campus- High-energy activities, discussion, and Gospel message. (Old Campus Life club)
71Five City- Similar to Campus but with the focus on a neighborhood and more on the whole family
71Five Camp- Summer camps for high school and middle school age young people
71Five Mentors- trusting one-to-one mentoring relationships
71Five Parents- Mentoring for expectant and parenting teens
71Five VoTech- Provides vocational training to 16-24-year-old young people
71Five Justice- We reach out to young people in the correctional system

Most of these methods have been a part of effective ministry for decades, and it’s been a while since we added something new.

Introducing … 71Five Adventure! Starting September 1, we will be reaching kids through outdoor adventures. Hiking, Camping, Mountain Biking, and other fun outdoor pursuits. This opens the door to hope for a whole new group of young people who prefer to be outside.

Thank you again for faithfully providing fun activities, trusted adults, and eternal and indestructible hope! Lives are changing for good!!

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

Greasy hands and an open heart.

Posted on Aug 11, 2025 by Mark Shelamer | Life Change Story | 0

71Five VoTech is more than a place to learn a trade—it has been a turning point for Tristan. In her journey from mental and physical struggles to feeling alive is when she comes to 71Five VoTech. Through hands-on skill-building, genuine mentorship, and the power of connection, she discovered her worth, her voice, and her place in the world. Tristan’s grandmother told me yesterday, “When Tristan is not feeling well, she will want to miss math class, but not VoTech.” At this moment, she is in our auto shop, tearing down an old ATV that does not run. I know she will keep working on it until, with some help, she gets it running. She has also been involved in building a mini-home and has come back this summer to help finish the project. She plans on helping with several other mini-homes and will start another class this fall.

The relationships she built and the confidence she gained became the foundation for a brighter, bolder future—one she now faces with open hands and an open heart. Thank you for opening your heart for these young people at 71Five.

MARK SHELAMER, 71Five VoTech Director – Medford

541.930.2138 | mark@71Five.org

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

71Five is more than a hang out!

Posted on Aug 4, 2025 by Peter Kuhl | Life Change Story | 0

“That will be something I remember for the rest of my life.” Spencer is a freshman this year, and he has been attending 71Five Campus more often, which is a true blessing for all of us! He is a joyful young man who helps out when he can, and truly appreciates Campus and is just a good kid overall. One week when he came to church with me, I realized his Bible was literally falling apart. I had my wife grab a Bible for him from the Christian bookstore she works at, and we put his name on it and gave it to him the following week. Spencer was so excited to receive his very own brand new Bible, and his gratefulness was a testimony to what it means to find your joy in Christ. I told him that I was proud of him and he responded, “It means the world to hear that.”

71Five is more than just a place to hang out; it is a place where students like Spencer can be known, seen, and loved. Thank you for giving our students a safe place to find joy in Jesus.

PETER KUHL, 71Five Ministry Director – 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

From a buffet line to solid food.

Posted on Jul 28, 2025 by Larry Licato | Life Change Story | 0

Many young people today have a limited palette when it comes to food. I know a few that won’t eat much more than Mac-N-Cheese, chicken nuggets, or tacos. Yet, when it comes to lifestyles or faith, it is more like a buffet line. Taking a little of this and a little of that and fill their plate with things they like and avoid things they don’t. During our discussion times, there was a young man who would laugh and say, “I just pick the things I like in religion and leave the rest and that includes Jesus’ stuff and Christianity.” The last time we met together I shared with the group a particularly difficult time in my life, as I was raised by a single dad, and how Jesus healed me of the emotional pain I was dealing with. That young man looked at me with tear-filled eyes and said, “Can I have a Bible?” I said, “Of course!” and offered him one of our Gospels of John. He said “Can I get the whole Bible?” Moved by his request, I slid my bible across the table towards him. He took it, got up from his seat and came over to me. With tears flowing, he said. “Thank you, Larry, for being so brave to share such a deep hurt. I have hurts like this too.” He kept the bible and is meeting with one of our staff for a bible study.

This was an amazing life change, and I believe he has gone from picking and choosing to receiving solid food and living water from God’s word. Thank you for helping to make a life change in this young man as well as so many other young adults in the Rogue Valley.

LARRY LICATO, 71Five City – Liberty Park Coordinator

(541) 860-3275 | larry@71Five.org

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

“Can you pray that my mom would stop using drugs?”

Posted on Jul 17, 2025 by Chris Willis | Life Change Story | 0

Every week at 71Five City club, a middle school boy would raise his hand during prayer time. Week after week, he’d ask for the same thing:”Can you pray that my mom would stop using drugs?” He never missed a week. He never stopped believing that something could change. While other kids would rotate through different requests, he stayed focused. He believed God could heal the one thing that hurt him the most, his mom’s addiction. That kind of faith, simple, persistent, and full of hope, hit us hard. It reminded us of the kind of prayer Jesus talked about, the kind that keeps knocking no matter how long the door stays shut. On our recent trip to South Umpqua Falls, this same boy ran up to me with the biggest smile on his face. He said, “Guess what? My mom’s going to treatment. She’s getting clean!” You could feel the joy, the relief, the breakthrough in his voice.

This is the power of childlike faith. This is the hope that won’t give up. And this is why 71Five exists to walk with the youth through the hard stuff, to believe with them, and to celebrate when God answers in ways that change lives. Thank you for walking alongside these young people at 71Five!

CHRIS WILLIS, 71Five Director – Grants Pass

(541) 941-3488 | chris@71Five.org

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

How Mary Found Hope at 71Five Parents

Posted on Jul 11, 2025 by Breanna Stoutenburgh | Life Change Story | 0

“When I was eighteen,” Mary said, “a friend and I started playing with tarot cards. A dark force entered my life when I opened that door. Nothing could change the intense fear and evil presence. My boyfriend was not supportive when we found out we were pregnant. He broke up with me, and depression overwhelmed me. I moved into the shelter, and that’s when I started attending 71Five Parents. One night, I tried something new and said the name ‘JESUS’ out loud. This brought me comfort. So every time I had trouble sleeping, I would whisper the name Jesus until I fell asleep. Eventually, I began to believe I could have this baby on my own.”

Scripture says that Jesus is the only name that can save us, including the power to drive out demonic spirits [Acts 4:12 and Mark 16:17].

At 71Five Parents, we gather to eat, share fellowship, receive support, and learn more about Jesus. Some young parents need transportation to 71Five. Is God calling you to partner with us in helping to purchase a highly needed minivan? Please find us at 71Five.org or contact me, breanna@71Five.org. Thank YOU.

BREANNA STOUTENBURGH, 71Five Parents Coordinator
541.941-7697 | breanna@71Five.org

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

“I didn’t know I wanted it.”

Posted on Jul 7, 2025 by Will Arias | Life Change Story | 0

Some moments stick. One evening, as our campus night was winding down, I overheard one of our amazing volunteers, Jane, talking with a student named Jayda. “Would you like a Bible?” Jane asked. Without hesitation, Jayda replied, “Yes.” With excitement, Jane grabbed one and handed it to her. Later that night, after the crowd had cleared, I found that Bible left behind. It was a Friday night, so I held onto it until I saw Jayda again on Monday. When I offered it back to her, she looked at me and said, “I don’t want that. I never did—I just didn’t want to be rude to Jane.” I told her kindly, “It’s okay to be honest. You don’t have to accept something just to be polite.” She nodded, understanding. Over the next few weeks, something shifted. Jayda kept showing up, spending time in Scripture with us, asking questions. Then one night, she surprised me by asking, “Do you have a Bible that doesn’t say ‘Kids Bible’ on it?” I smiled and teased, “But you didn’t want the one from a few weeks ago… are you sure?” She paused and said something I’ll never forget: “I didn’t know I wanted it.”

That’s what 71Five is all about—offering something deeper than surface needs. Thank you for being part of a community where students like Jayda can discover truth, connection, and faith—sometimes before they even know they’re looking for it.

WILL ARIAS, 71Five Campus Coordinator – Shady Cove

541.841.6400 | will@71Five.org

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

She Never Let Go

Posted on Jun 25, 2025 by Misty Duke | Life Change Story | 0

I met Heather when she was 15, living in a group foster home – guarded, worn by chaos, but quietly searching for something steady. Through 71Five, we introduced her to a mentor. That one connection changed everything. Now, 20 years later, she’s 35, married, and expecting her first child. The woman who threw her baby shower? That same mentor. The one who welcomed her in, stuck with her, and never let go. They’ve shared countless dinners, holidays, and milestones. Not because it was easy… but because love stayed. This relationship is the hands, feet, and heart of God. In a world of broken relationships and short attention spans, this is a glimpse of something holy: redemption that lasts.

From group home to growing family, from heartache to hope, she’s still following Jesus, and He’s still writing her story. Thank you for providing the connections that never let go!

MISTY DUKE, 71Five Development Director

541.301.7519 | misty@71Five.org

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

“Do you work here or just come for fun?”

Posted on Jun 20, 2025 by Sara Vassallo | Life Change Story | 0

Every week, two 6th grade twin sisters follow me around telling me every single detail about their lives, what they ate, who annoyed them, what they did last weekend, the whole thing. A few weeks ago, they brought a friend for the first time, and she fit right in like she’d always been here. She was super curious and full of questions. “Do you work here or just come for fun?” “Is this like a school?” “Do kids come every week?” “Can any kid come?” Then she got serious and asked, “How does this place make money? Do you sell stuff or something?” I told her we don’t sell anything, we’re able to do this every week because there are people who love Jesus and want kids to have a safe place to come and hear about God. So they give financially to make this happen. She looked at me like I had just said the craziest thing. “There are people who just give you money so we can have pizza?” I explained that it was more than that but, kind of. Then she asked, “Do all people do that?” I told her not everyone, but a lot of Christians use what God’s given them so they others can know Him. She nodded and said, “Well, when I get money, I’m gonna give it to kids who want pizza too!”

It was kind of a silly moment, but also really sweet. She got a glimpse of what makes this whole thing work, people giving so that kids can come, feel seen, and hear about Jesus. And maybe that conversation planted something in her heart too. I know you can’t be at every club activity but from all the youth and staff at 71Five, “Thank you!” Thank you for being a big part of the reason students like her get to experience this kind of community.

SARA VASSALLO, 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

Marcus’ Journey Thru Auto Maintenance

Posted on Jun 16, 2025 by Aaron Faust | Life Change Story | 0