While in conversation with a few students, we started chatting about some of our favorite holiday traditions. They told me their favorites, and I told them some of mine. Some of them got distracted, until it was just Oliver and I. I asked “What are some of your favorite holiday traditions at home?” Oliver replied, “Well I don’t really have a home, 71Five is the closest thing I have to that.” I asked him to elaborate, and he shared that, unlike home, 71Five is consistent and stable, a place where he can relax and be comfortable. “This is the first place I’ve ever really felt safe.”

 

Unfortunately, this is the truth for many of our students… lost and broken children, desperately searching for a place to call home. Because of your faithfulness, we can provide consistent love and support to kids like Oliver, giving them a place to feel safe and secure. A place that feels like home.

 

 

One year ago, I had the honor of baptizing Hailie. Since then, she began sharing Jesus with her cousin, Kadence. A few weeks ago, I received a call from Hailie, who was eager to include Kadence in 71Five High School Camp, and asked if she could come even though Kadence lives in Washington. I replied, “Of course!”

 

Just days before the camp, I had the pleasure of meeting Kadence. She, along with three other girls, came to camp. Throughout camp, I had the privilege of ministering to Kadence, and so did her three friends. It was truly heartwarming to witness these young women earnestly sharing the love of Jesus through both their words and actions. On the final night Kadence wanted to join us in communion. I asked if she had accepted Jesus and she said, “No, but I want to right now,” I prayed with her and when I looked up I saw beaming smiles and even a few tears from her friends. They rejoiced in the knowledge that they would share eternity with Kadence.

 

The impact with Kadence has been immeasurable and everlasting. You have been instrumental in providing opportunities for remarkable transformations in young lives like Kadence’s.

 

 

 

 

 

“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.

 

 

Hailie was one of the first students I met when I began at 71Five Campus. She was very quiet and reserved. After many conversations, Hailie shared that she had accepted Jesus some time ago, but wasn’t ready to fully commit. As 71Five’s Summer High School Camp was approaching, I prayed for Hailie, that she would fully surrender her life to Christ. After the very first day at camp, she was a whole new Hailie! She was more bubbly than ever and was making new friends. On the last night at dinner, I brought up baptism, and before I could finish my sentence Hailie boldly said, “I want to get baptized!” Hailie was ready to “go all in.”

 

You made this story possible by giving scholarships to kids for 71Five Camp this summer… so teens like Hailie can finally go all in!