Relational Ministry
We exist to share God’s story with young people through authentic relationships in any relevant way.
“So be happy, people of Jerusalem. Be joyful in the Lord your God. He will do what is right and will give you rain. He will send the early rain and the late rain for you, as before.” — Joel 2:23 Copyright © 2015. Powered by BibleGateway.com.
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TRUST TO HOPE
Youth 71Five Ministries (formerly Rogue Valley Youth for Christ) provides many opportunities for loving, caring, Christ-following adults to engage in the lives of lost and hurting kids. We aim to bring hope through relationship; providing a safe place to belong and sharing the message of the Gospel. There are a number of ways for you to be involved in the work God is doing in the Rogue Valley – there is a place for you on our team! Young people desperately need your friendship and the love of Jesus in their lives. Through your involvement and God’s power, we will see young lives transformed.
kids need a safe place
Too many kids lack nurturing homes and a sense of belonging. At our 71Five Campus Youth Centers and 71Five City Community Center, kids find a safe, fun place to relax and caring adults who take the time to know them. 71Five Campus programs provide opportunities to discuss life lessons from a Christ-centered perspective. 71Five City is an effective ministry model to transform the lives of inner-city youth, their families and the neighborhood communities that they live in.
kids need hope and encouragement
Many young people make poor decisions related to drugs and violence. These kids often end up in Juvenile Detention Centers feeling broken and hopeless. And our 71Five Connect Workshop reaches kids with a powerful resiliency program in local schools. The 71Five Justice and 71Five Connect staff and volunteers offer listening ears and the hope and encouragement found in a relationship with God.
kids need someone to imitate
Kids are always looking for role models to imitate, but many are growing up in relational poverty where they have no good role models to follow. Our 71Five Justice, 71Five Mentors, 71Five Parents and 71Five VoTech mentoring programs provide young people with long term trusting relationships with adults that form the foundation for healthy influence.
we are unique in our work
Although we offer fun and helpful programs for kids, our real work is building the relationships necessary for kids to thrive. By providing places where youth feel secure, by delivering a message of real hope, and by being people kids can truly count on, we are seeing lives transformed.
We mobilize responsible caring adults to be engaged in authentic mentoring relationships with at-risk youth. These relationships are pivotal to building the foundation for guiding young people by helping them to develop the mental, physical, social, and spiritual components of their lives.
Youth 71Five Ministries Team
We are blessed to have a dedicated team of staff passionate about serving our local youth. Youth 71Five Ministries is not only a place to grow and develop professionally, it’s a place that will change you personally. We’re a place where careers in “raising lifelong followers of Jesus” are made. Youth 71Five Ministries is always searching for high-integrity individuals that desire to directly or indirectly impact youth. For general inquiries, please call our office at (541) 779-3275 or email office@71Five.org
Youth 71Five Ministries, (formerly known as Rogue Valley Youth for Christ), exists to share God’s story through authentic relationship in any relevant way. We believe that influence happens best through healthy, authentic relationships.
Youth 71Five Ministries Includes:
Within these ministries, 71Five Camp, 71Five Campus, 71Five City, 71Five Connect, 71Five Justice, 71Five Mentoring, 71Five Parents, and 71Five VoTech; We mobilize responsible caring adults to be engaged in authentic mentoring relationships with at-risk youth. These relationships are pivotal to building the foundation for guiding young people by helping them to develop the mental, physical, social, and spiritual components of their lives.
71Five Events:
Youth 71Five Ministries (formerly Rogue Valley YFC) is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization supported through the generosity of individuals, foundations and businesses like you. Check out these great ways to participate and fundraise for a great cause!
Ready to volunteer? Give us your info and we’ll be in touch.
Youth 71Five Ministries Involvement:
Oregon Business magazine announced Youth 71Five Ministries (formerly Rogue Valley YFC) is a 100 Best Nonprofit to work for! Youth 71Five Ministries is not only a workplace to grow and develop professionally, it’s a place that will change you personally. Our organization is also proud to be a GuideStar Platinum Nonprofit Profile participant. Platinum lets us show quantitative metrics on the progress we’re making toward our mission. We thank God for your generosity and we promise to use your financial gift wisely. Youth 71Five Ministries depends on the involvement of caring adults to accomplish our mission—to reach local teens with the message that God loves them and has a plan for their lives. We are asking God to raise up an army of caring adults who will establish relationships with the youth in our communities. We need volunteers who will serve directly with students, mentoring advocates, intercessors, financial partners, and administrative help in the office. Wherever your gifts and talents lie, you can make an eternal difference in a young person’s life.
you can get involved
Operating in Jackson and Josephine Counties: (5) 71Five Campus programs, (4) Youth Centers, (2) 71Five City Community Centers, and (1) 71Five VoTech Training Center. Additional mentoring through 71Five Justice, 71Five Parents, and 71Five Mentors initiatives. 71Five Connect youth resiliency workshops for Middle School and High School students and teachers. 71Five Camps for Middle School and High School kids in the summer.
Life Change Kid Story Blog:
19
Sep '19
reaching the young
19
Sep '19
Back in November, Rogue Valley Youth for Christ became Youth 71 Five Ministries, an independent organization after 54 years with Youth for Christ. It wasn’t an easy decision, but one reason for the change was we felt we could reach more youth by continuing to reach elementary age kids. This has been shown true in a family that lives in my North Medford neighborhood. It started with an eight-year-old named Selina offering to do some yard work for me. I invited her to a 71Five event, and she brought her ten-year-old sister. As they continued to get involved, I learned they had a pregnant 16-year-old sister, a 14-year-old autistic brother and are good friends with many other kids in my neighborhood. Through the relationships I forged with the younger girls, we were able to get help for their pregnant sister through our 71Five Parents ministry. Now, the two young girls are involved in my church’s AWANA program where they’re learning the Bible every week and the teen mom has been overwhelmingly thankful for all the help we are giving her family.
I rarely know the rippling impacts of reaching out to a particular kid; but reaching out to Selina, my eight-year-old neighbor, has had a huge impact already. I’m thankful with Youth 71Five, I still have the opportunity to reach these kids. Would you like to see ripples grow in your community? It doesn’t take much. At 71Five, we have many ways for you to have an eternal impact in the lives of kids and your community. Are you willing to get involved? Give us a call at (541) 779-3275. 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
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16
Sep '19
past the facade
16
Sep '19
Each week, dozens of ‘kid stories’ pass my desk. I’m often stunned by how wounded many of our young people are. One adopted boy has been in trouble and his adoptive family has abandoned him. A young girl who’s pregnant is so unable to trust caring adults, she’s living on the streets. Working with these kids is incredibly difficult because in their deep pain they often lash out at the folks who are trying to care for them. I’m proud Youth 71Five staff both paid and volunteer, seek to look past the facade of anger, bravado and disrespect to see each young person as they truly are— A child who’s been hurt, abandoned and afraid to trust.
You provide the adult who graciously absorbs the insults and continues to get close to show the young person there is a thing called trust and that trust leads to hope. Every week, kids don’t just hear about Jesus— they see Jesus! Thank you!! BUD AMUNDSEN 71Five Executive Director (541) 779-3275 bud@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
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05
Sep '19
pursue trust
05
Sep '19
Jenna was only eleven when her mother passed away. A cyclone of pain, decimating the foundation of her world, left Jenna with confusion and brokenness. From a referral at school, she was connected with Youth 71Five Mentors and received her own mentor at the age of twelve. By her own admission, Jenna was distant and unable to trust. However, that didn’t stop Denise from pursuing her to build a friendship and to help rebuild from the destruction left by the storm. Jenna said that it was Denise’s consistency that allowed her to open up and trust an adult, saying herself “Denise was really there for me the whole time I struggled, in life, with high school drama, with boys, with getting a driver’s license… I knew she would be there and be someone I could count on to talk about anything.”
Jenna recently graduated from high school and is now headed off to college to be a cardio-thoracic surgeon! Denise, who works at a hospital, was able to bring Jenna in to show her around. She also, connect her with a physician’s assistant to be able to watch an actual surgery performed! Jenna didn’t need her mentor to solve all of her problems and life’s pain, she needed a caring person to walk alongside her through it all, to show up, to listen, and to encourage. That is exactly what Denise did for five years… Their relationship will continue on at college! MISTY DUKE 71Five Mentors Director (541) 779.3275 misty@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
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03
Sep '19
Bitter to Sweet
03
Sep '19
In anticipation of becoming the new 71Five VoTech Director, I did some traveling this summer to renew and acquire some certifications to pass on to our students. Before I left I ran into one of the young men who graduated from our program. He related to me how grateful he was for the training and is now employed at an automotive company here in the Valley. I was encouraged to hear his story and asked him, “So where are you living”? He said, with no remorse, “I’m living in my car”. Wow, really, I thought! When I asked why he said, “I’m saving money to move into my own place with a friend”. This young man is working hard but it’s tough!
It just so happens our new VoTech Center will have transitional housing for situations like this. But more importantly— beyond learning tech skills, students will also learn about life in Christ. This comes as they hear God’s message, moving them into a trust that leads to Hope in Jesus. This young man is trying hard and moving forward, with your continued involvement we’ll see his and many more lives move from bitter to sweet. Thank you! LARRY LICATO 71Five VoTech Director (541) 779-3275 larry@71Five.org
It just so happens our new VoTech Center will have transitional housing for situations like this. But more importantly— beyond learning tech skills, students will also learn about life in Christ. This comes as they hear God’s message, moving them into a trust that leads to Hope in Jesus. This young man is trying hard and moving forward, with your continued involvement we’ll see his and many more lives move from bitter to sweet. Thank you! LARRY LICATO 71Five VoTech Director (541) 779-3275 larry@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
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23
Aug '19
all you can eat!
23
Aug '19
Camp is an amazing opportunity to love on the kids God has connected us with throughout the year. One important part of 71Five Camp is to give the young people who show up our very best. We want to love them the same way Jesus loves us! So… we feed them amazingly good food (Thanks to Rosie our cook and her team of helpers). Some of the kids eat better at camp than they ever have! We always do a steak night where the favorites are ribeye and tri-tip and if you can believe it— it’s all you can eat! In fact, this year I had three different kids come up to me during camp telling me “I’ve never eaten this good in my life” and they meant it!
By putting our love for these kids into action, they believe us when we tell them Jesus loves them and has proven it through His actions… dying on the Cross for our sins. 37 out of 59 Middle School kids who came to Camp gave their lives to Jesus this summer. It all started with some really great food followed up by the best News you’ll ever hear. Thank you for providing trust that leads to hope! ROBERT MILTON 71Five Campus Area Director & Ministry Coordinator (541) 779-3275 robert@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
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15
Aug '19
Sitting at the gate
15
Aug '19
It was Sunday morning, and I was sitting in the airport missing my wife as we had barely an hour together from the time I returned home from High School camp until I had to be at the airport. I was flying to New York for a class needed for our new vocational training program: 71Five VoTech. Sitting at the gate, I prayed for an opportunity to share about Jesus with someone. At the gate in Chicago, it happened… A young lady walked by and exclaimed, “I’m missing my Sunday School class.” I looked up at her and said: “So am I!” The ladies with her mentioned she was the teacher. “So am I!” I said. With the biggest smile, she shared about her middle school class. I shared about a topic from camp, how Jesus said in the garden; “Father, not my will but yours be done.” The ladies with her said how good that passage is because it reminds how real Jesus is and him going to the cross is not to be taken lightly. Then the lady exclaimed. “Oh my, we just held Sunday School!”
I think many others around us attended Sunday School as well, clearly hearing about the trust that leads to hope in Jesus. LARRY LICATO 71Five City Director (541) 779-3275 larry@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
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08
Aug '19
these things take time
08
Aug '19
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
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
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01
Aug '19
Immeasurable Joy!
01
Aug '19
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
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26
Jul '19
taking responsibility at Camp
26
Jul '19
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
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
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19
Jul '19
words give hope!
19
Jul '19
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
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