Touch My Heart

Julien is always excited to come to 71Five Campus in Eagle Point every week. He loves playing outdoor sports, group games, and other fun activities we usually have each Friday night, but he also loves learning about Jesus through the weekly messages we share about the Bible. One evening I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to stray from my notes and share something else. I don’t even remember what I said, but Julien did. Before he left that night, he told one of the other helpers, “Peter’s message really touched my heart.” A few days later when I saw him, he was very intentional in asking how I was doing and making sure I was doing well. He said, “I remembered what you said last week about checking in on people and listening to them.” Well let me tell you, THAT touched MY heart!
 
We don’t always know the impact we are having in the lives of kids, but God will always work through the faithfulness that you and I walk in. Whether it’s volunteering with youth or partnering financially, thank you for what you are faithfully doing to promote positive change in our community.
 
PETER KUHL,  71Five Campus Coordinator – 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

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[extra] intentionality

One of my favorite parts of working with youth is seeing them take steps of growth in leadership and their spiritual walk. Nate has been attending 71Five Campus in Eagle Point for over a year now, and he told me one week, “The last three years I’ve strayed from God, but I’m reading my Bible every day now and I realize that following Jesus isn’t just doing the right thing; it’s a relationship with Him.” The past several months, along with the growth in His relationship with Jesus, I have noticed Nate stepping into his student leader role with extra intentionality; helping out consistently and even jumping in to help with things before I ask him to. As one of my volunteers was teaching a Bible story I watched as Nate kept his eye on the younger kids, respectfully making sure they were paying attention. I wanted to express how proud I was so I immediately went and wrote him a thank you card for all of his help. All I was thinking in the moment was that I wanted him to know I was thankful and proud. What I didn’t realize was that one “thank you” would set up the following weeks with even more dedication from Nate to put his best foot forward. It’s amazing what a simple “Thank You” can do.
 
While I’m on the topic, “Thank You” for being a part of these kid’s lives and providing a safe place for them to grow in so many ways. You are making a direct impact in the lives of youth in our community. Thank You!
 
PETER KUHL,  71Five Campus Coordinator – 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

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Skyler

Skyler is pretty outgoing and drops by the youth center a lot but never stays for the Message (the part when we talk about Jesus). Even though he simply peeks in to say “Hi”, this doesn’t stop me from doing what I can to cultivate a trusting relationship with him. A few weeks ago, when he was grabbing dinner after he actually stayed for our entire middle school group (which is a praise report itself), I was able to connect with him on a deeper level as he opened up to me about his family life and the responsibilities he has at home looking after his little brothers. It’s easy for me to feel like the small encounters aren’t amounting to much, but then I realize that kids like Skyler are being impacted through the 71Five… even if it’s just a little bit here and there.
 
Thank you for partnering with 71Five and for using your gifts to change the outcome of the lives of youth for the better.
 
PETER KUHL,  71Five Campus Coordinator – 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

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She Belongs

New things can be difficult sometimes, especially for Savanah. Middle School is a tough time in general even if you aren’t the “new kid.” It’s easy to find yourself feeling like an outcast, which is what Savanah has felt at past youth groups she’s attended. Savanah has autism, which makes it especially difficult for her to feel like she belongs, and she was hesitant the first time she came to 71Five Campus – Eagle Point. It was hard at first to find the courage to attend, but when she did, she instantly loved being there and made several new friends. Savanah finally found somewhere she could be herself, make friends, and be included in activities with all the other kids. She says, “Going to 71Five is the highlight of my entire week,” and she can’t wait to come on Fridays.
 

Thank you for being a part of Savanah’s journey. I can’t wait to see what God continues to do in her life through 71Five.

PETER KUHL,  71Five Campus – Eagle Point Coordinator  
(541) 630-0648 | peter@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

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A Good Kid

There’s nothing better than a game of capture the flag… until someone gets hurt. We were all having fun until Jessie got annoyed at another kid. He reacted negatively by hitting him pretty hard in the gut. Jessie’s never been a violent kid although he tends to be slightly rougher than most 9-year-olds. Generally, with kids his age it’s easy for me to simply remind them to be nice, respond with kindness, and not act out of anger, but God put it on my heart to really get on his level and speak to him in a deeper way. When I spoke with him, he felt heard and not just “talked at.” He opened up about his home life and how he misses being a “good kid” and that he wishes he could have met his dad before he died. God used me through that conversation to give Jessie a new perspective, and to display the love of Jesus. 
 
Thank you for making a difference in the lives of youth through 71Five.
 
PETER KUHL,  71Five Campus – Eagle Point Coordinator  
(541) 630-0648 | peter@71Five.org
 
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
 

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smile

As a youth leader, it is not uncommon for me to receive comments during the Bible lesson like, “How much longer?”, “Why do we have to do this?”, or “This is so boring.” One evening I was teaching through the Bible lesson and there were several kids making comments about how they didn’t want to sit through the teaching. As the kids were shouting out their comments, Lawrence, one of the middle schoolers, exclaimed “I just want to learn about Jesus!” If those words don’t make a youth pastor smile, I don’t think anything will. Lawrence was baptized last summer, and it is amazing to see him grow in his relationship with Jesus.
 
This is why we do what we do. This is why your ministry matters. So kids can learn about Jesus.
 
PETER KUHL,  71Five Campus – Eagle Point Coordinator  
(541) 630-0648 | peter@71Five.org

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best foot forward

Lily has been coming to 71Five Campus in Eagle Point since she was in Middle School. Over the past few weeks, she has gone above and beyond in helping out with things at club and has put her best foot forward while doing so. Lily has shown so much growth since I first met her several years ago. As a High Schooler, she recently became a 71Five Campus Student Leader. What a pleasure it is for me to help lead her in the next steps of growth and watch Lily develop where her desire to help out and set an example for other kids is given room to thrive.
 
It is so important to make sure the youth we minister to have opportunities for growth, and I am blessed to be able to offer every kid the privilege to grow in whatever way they can. Thank you for reaching teens like Lily, helping them grow in their gifts as they grow closer to Jesus!
 
PETER KUHL,  71Five Campus – Eagle Point Coordinator  
(541) 630-0648 | peter@71Five.org
 
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

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in front of everyone

It isn’t easy for teens to open up in front of a large group. Makayla is pretty shy and doesn’t normally open up about her past, but at 71Five HS Camp she got up in front of everyone and shared her story. “It’s so cool, because I didn’t even know who Jesus was when I literally cried out to Him, asking Him to save me.” What I love most about Makayla’s story, is that when she was little, she called out to Jesus in faith to give her a better life. At the time, she had no idea who Jesus was. She’d never been to church and no one had even mentioned His name. A week later God brought her out of the traumatic home and opened a door for her to live with her dad. Makayla decided to step up and share with others that she looks back and remembers that Jesus is always faithful and always answers prayers.
 
Thank you for providing 71Five Middle and High School Summer Camps and investing in these young lives.
 
PETER KUHL,  71Five Campus – Eagle Point Coordinator  
(541) 630-0648 | peter@71Five.org
 
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

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“on a roll”

A few weeks ago, there was a group of about five kids who were “on a roll” being very disrespectful. They were not listening to anything our volunteer’s or I had to say. It escalated to the point I finally had to ask them to leave. I don’t like to send kids away! They did came back toward the end of the night and asked to speak with me. I could tell they were willing to listen, and they accepted what I had to say, Before I even brought up apologizing, they offered to apologize. I used this incident as an opportunity to tell them I wanted them at 71Five Campus even though they had messed up, which they were quite surprised to hear. 
 
So many kids today assume that if they mess up, they will be rejected and given up on. I am so blessed to give the youth in Eagle Point an example of God’s love and how He, through Jesus, excepts us and forgives us even though we don’t deserve it.
 
PETER KUHL,  71Five Campus – Eagle Point Coordinator  
(541) 630-0648 | peter@71Five.org
 
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

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finding their way

Jacob is an energetic, 15-year-old freshman who’s been coming to 71Five Campus in Eagle Point for several years now. He enjoys coming 71Five and is always excited to do whatever he can to help. A couple of weeks ago he said, “I originally came here because my little sister told me not to follow her, so I did… just to annoy her.” It’s funny how much he loves being at 71Five Campus when it all started with annoying his sister. Jacob is now on his way to becoming a Student Leader. It is amazing to see the growth and increased maturity in him, and I am excited to see him grow even more in the days to come.

I pray more and more kids like Jacob will find their way to 71Five so they can grow and learn about Jesus and the hope that we can have through Him.
 
PETER KUHL,  71Five Campus – Eagle Point Coordinator  
(541) 630-0648 | peter@71Five.org
 
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB

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