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

 

I had just placed an order, handed the menus back to our waiter and settled in for some quiet conversation with my best friend. . . Across the table was my wife and we were in the Mexican restaurant just down from our home. Almost like a scene from a movie, a head suddenly popped out from the side of the booth behind Jan and the 20-something young lady asked; “Are you Matt Sweeney? My name is Cheryl and I was in juvenile detention some years ago.” Jan has serve with me in the detention center and we both immediately responded, “Wow! Yes, I do remember you.” Cheryl was having dinner with her husband and their 2-year-old son. Rubbing her swelling tummy, she declared; “This is our daughter. She’ll be born in November.” It had been a few years since we last crossed paths and it was a great blessing to see Cheryl along with her growing family. She was quick to let us know she still attends church and the joy in her eyes reflected the joy in her heart.

 

God blesses us from time to time when we learn that some of the seeds planted over many years in detention has landed on good soil. Here before us we saw evidence of God growing a crop of faith in Cheryl and her family through Youth 71Five Ministries. The joy this gives cannot be measured. Thank you for scattering seeds for the Kingdom of God— we see trust that leads to hope. 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

 

71Five Middle School Camp is where kids go to have a lot of fun and hear the Gospel story of Jesus. One of my students, Jaiden, got to go this year. He’s a highly active youth who loves God but while at camp he found himself in a squabble with another camper. To Jaiden, it was a big deal! As he came stomping into the cabin, I approached him “How’s it going”? He seemed frustrated because he didn’t know how to handle the situation. As we talked it became apparent he wasn’t taking responsibility for his part in the disagreement. I encouraged him to think about different ways to handle disagreements. Taking responsibility for our own actions and acknowledging we’ve hurt someone helps restore relationships and in doing this we are displaying God’s love. After our talk I asked if he wanted to go talk to the other student and ask for forgiveness… he said “Yes.”

 

Once Jaiden asked for forgiveness the relationship was restored. This is one of the many life skills you are teaching through your support of 71Five Camp. Thank you for making it possible for a middle schoolers like Jaiden to learn about taking responsibility, forgiveness, and restoring relationships. Please pray for the 71Five High School Camp scheduled for August 8th-11th where we will again— bring trust that leads to hope!! JOSHUA LOOMIS 71Five Campus Area Director – Gold Hill (541) 779-3275 joshua@71Five.org

 

Words are powerful… Words can bring life or bring death. They can crush someone’s spirit or give hope! Recently we were on our 71Five Parents retreat and we saw the power of words at work. We were on a walk with one of our young moms talking about life. She’d been feeling discouraged, depressed, and empty. One of our leaders spoke up and said, “Amber, one of these days, you are going to be here leading this group.” Amber rolled her eyes at us, laughed and said, “Ya right”— but we continued to speak words of encouragement and talked about the leadership skills we saw in her. A week later at our group gathering, we had a couple of new moms joining us. At the beginning of our group time, we had asked the moms who attend regularly if they could explain to the new moms what we do. We looked around the room and no one volunteered, and then we looked at Amber. With rolled eyes and a sarcastic side comment about being a leader, she said, “I’ll do it.”

 

Since the walk on that retreat, we’ve heard Amber talk multiple times about the time we told her she’d be leading this group. Words are powerful, and we can see Amber thinking about those words and we also see God working. Thank you for your partnership in 71Five Parents, God is at work bringing life and hope to these young moms and is raising up future partners in ministry! APRIL BARSALOU 71Five Parents Assistant Director (541) 779-3275 april@71Five.org

 

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

 

We just had our 71Five MS Camp at Fir Point Bible Conference. It was a fun, exhausting, and an exciting week where around 70 middle schoolers played games, got to know each other, and most importantly, learned about God. Each year we have a special time for sharing about what God has done in our lives around a big campfire. This is a time that’s known for kids being open and honest about what’s going on in their lives, while they share the wonderful ways that God has transformed them during the week. Amazing things happen around that fire, and this year was the best we’ve seen yet! During the sharing, one of the boys from my cabin was weeping the entire time. He didn’t want to talk, but you could tell he was deeply impacted by what was going on. So I sat with him, prayed with him, and hung around to make sure all was well. It took hours for him to get back to his fun, goofy self again. Many of the kids who come to camp come from broken, hurting homes, and this boy is no exception. It always takes real trust to become vulnerable, and while I wasn’t able to build that trust with him during camp, the director of the club he regularly attends will.

 

This is why our 71Five Campus clubs are so important. Throughout the year, we’re able to build trusting relationships with broken, lost youth and give them the hope of the Gospel – the only hope that can tear down all of the walls we build up and transform us into a new creation. If this gets you fired up, then please come join us, whether it’s as a volunteer or a financial partner, and help provide trust that leads to hope for the youth in your area! CAMERON HOEHNE 71Five Campus Area Director – Phoenix /Talent (541) 779-3275 cameron@71Five.org

 

 

He’s been through the 6-month Barriers to Bridges program 2 times. Anthony is back at the Juvenile Detention Center… yet again, because of his substance abuse. When he’s released, he has every intention of staying away from his old places and familiar faces… But each time he slides back into his old pattern. Alcohol, cough syrup, pills, or all of the above and frequently resulting in unconsciousness or seizures. His “friends” just laugh as they leave him where he lays. He feels powerless in the grip of his addiction and the tears were flowing as we sat and talked. This time, after I shared the hope of the Gospel message and how Christ had freed me from the bondage of addiction in my own life, he asked me, “Where do I begin?” Like my own story, Anthony had to be broken enough to listen, to be hopeless enough to trust the message of the Gospel. Please pray… Please pray Anthony surrenders to Christ, he would die to self daily, and embrace the only true hope of Jesus.

 

Thank you for your prayers and for your partnership in offering trusting relationships that lead to this powerful hope! The work we are doing together is truly life and death. BEAU JESKA 71Five Justice Director (541) 779.3275 beau@71Five.org

 

Every year I take kids to Middle School Camp… And this year I also brought a high school boy named Jaiden to work in the kitchen. Jaiden’s been to camp and in my cabin the last 4 years and a week with Rosy in the kitchen changed everything. Rosy’s a woman who obeyed God’s calling to cook food for massive amounts of kids at camps. Rosy’s not particularly young, an expert on teens, or anything like that. Rosy oozes Jesus and wants to use her talents. You can’t get near Rosy without hearing about Jesus and her love for him. Rosy has pain in her body as she works harder than anyone else at camp but she doesn’t let that stop her. It’s abundantly clear Rosy loves kids. Kids knew they were well loved because when Rosy went places, kids cheered for her and chanted “Rosy, Rosy, Rosy!” While Jaiden spent the week working like a slave earning a new nickname “Dish Boy” he saw it clearly. Despite only being able to go to one chapel due to being in the kitchen, Jaiden, along with many other kids, accepted Christ. I really don’t think it was the message that led Jaiden to Christ—I think it was Rosy—he saw Jesus in Rosy. You see, last year a young girl had a very similar experience. When kids spend time with Rosy, kids get to know Jesus.

At Youth 71 Five Ministries kids come to know Jesus because of caring adults. It doesn’t take a youth ministry degree, being young, or even to have raised 12 teenagers like Rosy has… Just a willingness to go where God leads and let kids see Jesus in you. Are you willing to show them Jesus? Give us a call at (541) 779-3275 or visit our website for more information: www.71Five.org. TIM HARDY 71Five Campus Area Director – North Medford (541) 779-3275 tim@71Five.org

 

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

Have you ever been lost; I mean completely lost where you have no idea where you are? Years ago, I got lost in the mountains of Wyoming. I was hiking and looking for elk antlers and I got turned around and started following a creek I thought went back to the ranch. After a while, I realized this was not the right creek at all. Because I was so sure of where I was, I hadn’t paid attention and literally had no idea where I’d gone wrong or which direction to go. Everything I “knew” was wrong. I tried to walk out in a couple of different directions, but I just ended up more confused. I began to feel hopeless because all my efforts were just making things worse.

 

I’ve come to realize those feelings of confusion and hopelessness are what many kids in our community face every day. They’re so lost and confused, everything they “know” doesn’t work and just brings more confusion and harmful decisions. No one is there to show them the way.

 

This is where Youth 71Five steps in and provides trusting relationships that change everything. Kids connect with an adult who shows them how life works and points them to the hope in Jesus they desperately need. Come join us as we reach out to the many lost kids of our Valley. Because you can provide trust that leads to hope! Give us a call at (541) 779-3275 or visit our website 71Five.org – BUD AMUNDSEN 71Five Executive Director  (541) 779-3275 bud@71Five.org

 

Stephen is not the quiet kid… For a fourth grader, his presence fills a room quickly. From his clunky foot steps to his voice that projects into every corner, you know immediately when he is around. Stephen lives with his emotional and developmental challenges. He has no connection with his biological father and earlier this year his step-dad passed away suddenly. Stephen is also a precious child of God. In our Elementary Club, he’s the first one to raise his hand when asked if anyone would like to pray. He’s the kid who talks to all the other kids, leaving no one out and making new kids feel welcome.

 

Stephen’s heart is open to hear about the love God has for him. His heart is eager for connection and encouragement through trusting relationships. He’s also on the list to receive a mentor but the program needs more mentors. Would you pray for Stephen? Pray for a godly man to serve as a mentor for him. Jesus told us to go and make disciples. Here’s a kid who’s ready… who will disciple this one? Contact me if you would like to know more about becoming a mentor at misty@71Five.org or (541) 779-3275. Your involvement brings trust that leads to hope. MISTY DUKE 71Five Mentors Director (541) 779.3275 misty@71Five.org