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I really appreciate you!

Posted on Mar 28, 2023 by admin | General | 0

Julie started attending 71Five Parents when she was invited by another parent. She was a very young mom who was looking forward to enjoying a dinner she didn’t have to prepare. Her attendance was spotty for the first few months, and she often shared opinions on how we should change things before she returned. We continued to invite her to weekly activities and welcomed her in when she came. She’s been coming more frequently now, and recently told me, “I really appreciate you.” It has been a blessing to watch her mature, but I know what she “appreciates” is that she always feels welcomed.

We are called to share God’s story of hope with young people through trusting relationships in any relevant way. That trust can easily be built by consistently showing up. Would you like to share hope with our youth by showing up and welcoming them in?

TERESA TONINI, 71Five Parents Coordinator

(541) 941-1143 | teresatonini@71Five.org

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

The Power of Prayer

Posted on Mar 15, 2023 by admin | General | 0

I’ve been helping with a club called Kingdom Building at Ashland High School. One of the kids, Dakoda, wanted prayer about the possibility of returning kidney stones after a recent exam. We immediately prayed as a group over him for healing and direction. A couple of weeks later, he came and said, thankfully, it was not the return of the kidney stones. The residue from his past kidney stones tipped the doctor off and it was not an issue. Dakoda then said, “I guess someone up there is listening.” I replied, “You would be surprised how much God does listen to us!” Thankfully God loves us so much that he listens to every problem we have no matter how bad.

Thank you for your prayers for the young people at 71Five. Your constant communication with God provides a trusting relationship with these young people like Dakoda.

LEIF AMUNDSEN, 71Five Campus Interim Coordinator – Ashland

(541) 840-0059 | leif@71Five.org

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

“She’s here, but so am I!”

Posted on Mar 13, 2023 by admin | General | 0

Recently, I had the opportunity to serve the young people in the Juvenile Justice system. When chapel started I was surprised to see Tanya walk into the room. Tanya is a young lady who has been part of our ministry in West Medford off and on since we started. At first I felt a sense of defeat that one of the kids we’ve invested in has ended up in the Juvenile Justice system but then I had another thought… “She’s here, but so am I!” She can’t get away from this message of hope. Whether she is at the Station 71Five Community Center for club, at 71Five Middle School Camp or in “Juvy,” she is being ministered to. I would rather Tanya didn’t go to “Juvy” but I am blessed that we can meet her there and let her know there is hope.

Thank you. You make this possible through your prayers and generous financial support.

KEN RUIZ 71Five City Coordinator – West Medford

(916) 519-4679 | ken@71Five.org

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

An Answer To Prayer

Posted on Mar 3, 2023 by admin | General | 0

“You all are an answer to prayer, I don’t know what you are doing, but it is working.” This was just part of a thank you that I received from a grandma before our high school club. Justin has been attending 71Five Campus since middle school but he’s always been certain that he did not believe in God. Recently, he has been so curious about Jesus … That’s a huge change. What used to be a quiet and reserved teen is now involved, helping wherever he can, and occasionally playing group games. It was before club as I was taking groceries inside that the grandma called me over to her car to talk. She started with an honest and sincere thank you, and she continued to go on and tell me “the boy that she lives with now is not the boy that she lived with a year ago!” As she continued to thank me, I told her about how much we adore having him at club. We both started to tear up as we marveled in the work that Jesus has done in Justin’s life. After years of planting seeds, probably over a dozen leaders and countless prayers, we’ve been honored to see the beginning of a harvest in this young man’s life.

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” [1 Corinthians 15:58] We know that our work is never in vain because of the work of Jesus Christ, and a breath used to proclaim the Gospel is never wasted. Thank you for planting seeds in the lives of these young people.

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

Messed Up

Posted on Feb 21, 2023 by admin | General | 0

The high school teen came up to me with a look of shame as he approached. He was obviously nervous as he admitted to me that he had a problem with pornography. I listened to what he had to say rather than condemning him for his actions and told him thank you for trusting me. He hugged me fiercely. I asked him how I can help and he told me a way I could help him to stay accountable. A few months later, he approached me again, telling me he had messed up. We again hugged and I again told him how brave it was for him to tell me. We came up with a better plan for how to help him resist his addiction. That teenage boy found someone who he could trust, even with his weaknesses. He found someone he learned wouldn’t condemn him when he unloaded his faults and sin, but rather gave him hugs and helped him through it. Hopefully, this reminds him of what Jesus does for us.

At 71Five, we want to be like Jesus to these young people. We want to give them hope and help them through their struggles. Youth 71Five Ministries exists to share God’s story of hope with young people, though trusting relationships in any relevant way. We have a huge team of staff, volunteers, prayer warriors, and financial supports who all give hope to young people. Would you like to get more involved offering hope to young people?

TIM HARDY, 71Five Campus Ministry Director – North Medford

(541) 840-0960 | tim@71Five.org

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

Catch a Glimpse

Posted on Feb 13, 2023 by admin | General | 0

While driving one Saturday with my wife and kids my cell phone started ringing. It was a young man named Jaime who I met years ago when he was 14 or 15. He said, “I’m just calling to say thank you and to tell you how much I appreciated all that you have done for me.” We had spent a lot of time talking together in the little glassed-in room at juvenile detention. Many tears, much regret, and shame over the things he had done. He would re-dedicate his life to the Lord and plan to do better when he got out. I was grateful that my family was able to catch a glimpse of the depth of relationship I had with this young man and the love we shared for each other. Unfortunately, two weeks later, he was dead of a fentanyl overdose.

As I write this, I have tears in my eyes for the loss I feel. The only thing that could be worse would be if he hadn’t given his life to Jesus. I am comforted to know that we will have lots of time in heaven to catch up and hug each other once again, with only tears of joy to wet our faces. Thank you for being in this Kingdom work!

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

Eternal Work

Posted on Feb 6, 2023 by admin | General | 0

It’s been amazing to see the growth Youth 71Five Ministries has had over the years, especially within the past 3 years since COVID hit. When things seemed to be getting tough, God was at work behind the scenes. Fast-forward to now, we’ve grown in the number of youth we reach weekly, our staff, and the physical locations from which we serve the youth throughout Jackson and Josephine Counties. At each of these locations, kids are hearing about Jesus, asking questions, and choosing to follow him. All of which couldn’t be done without our volunteers and donors. You are the hands and feet of Christ, every time you reach out and lend your hand, finances, or prayers. You are shining the light of Christ into the lives of these kids.

Thank you for boldly furthering the reach of 71Five and making an impact in the lives of over 1200 young people this past year. You are making a difference, you are doing eternal work in God’s Kingdom. 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

Everywhere

Posted on Feb 5, 2023 by admin | General | 0

Today I was sharing with a guy about the three building projects 71Five has in progress. I was giving him some details on the new 71Five VoTech Training Center, our 71Five Campus Youth Center remodel in Shady Cove, and the work being planned for the 71Five City Community Center in Grants Pass. The gentleman I was talking to said, “Wow, you guys are everywhere!” For once in my life, I had the perfect response, I said, “There are struggling kids everywhere!” To which he responded, “There is no doubt about that… thank you for what you’re doing.”

It is so true. Kids who struggle with ‘relational poverty’ and the hopelessness that comes from it are all over the place. They can’t travel much, so our goal is to bring trusting relationships and hope into easy reach within their own neighborhoods. Through you, God has blessed the effort.

That ‘thank you’ really goes to you! You are giving the resources needed to reach lonely, hurting and lost young people all across the Rogue Valley!

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

If not here, then where?

Posted on Jan 24, 2023 by admin | General | 0

Here at Youth 71Five Ministries our mission is all about seeing lives changed. At 71Five VoTech we only have the students for 12 weeks and then they graduate. Last night the doorbell rang and there was a young man and his family standing outside. “Sam will be graduating from your program in a few days.” they said, “But he loves VoTech and doesn’t want to leave! He hasn’t done well in school and being here is the best thing that’s happened to him.” Sam is one of our shining stars. So I suggested he join our next class, he asked, “How can I do that.” “You could be a student leader and assist me with teaching the new student’s.” You should have seen the smile on his face. Sam’s eyes lit up as he said, “I would rather be here than anywhere else.” His family nodded in agreement. To see a young man who struggled with school and life now be an excited student leader at 71Five VoTech is amazing. Not only can he attend class again but has found a purpose.

Because of your love and care for these young people, they have a place ‘here’ rather than out there somewhere. You provided a place of safety, encouragement, relationships, training and now, serving others… not to mention that we get to share the love of Jesus with him for another twelve weeks. Now that’s a life changed. Thank you!

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

[extra] intentionality

Posted on Jan 16, 2023 by admin | General | 0