Connor encountered a pivotal moment at 71Five City in West Medford. Despite facing challenges as a student, he was gently encouraged to take some time to reflect on his actions. This was a major growth moment for Connor through this difficult time with patience and understanding. “I apologize…” Surprisingly, he expressed a sincere desire to apologize. This moment held profound significance, where positive reinforcement is one of the many things students lack coming in the door. It represented more than just an apology—it symbolized personal growth and the profound influence of caring adults.

 

Join us as we celebrate Connor. This action signified a turning point in his spiritual growth, demonstrating his readiness to take responsibility and strive for improvement. It is because of your generosity as 71Five’s financial partners, staff and volunteers, that we see a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of guidance and support in young lives.

 

 

This tricky situation turned into a teachable moment. One night I was driving a handful of 71Five students home when we were stopped by a police officer. The officer was understanding and courteous, but some of the students wanted to make comments after the officer pulled away. I heard comments like, “they’re wasting our time” and “they have nothing better to do. When I was about to interrupt and tell them how the officer was doing his job, one of students mentioned his uncle was a local police officer and he wondered if the two cops knew each other. I asked what it was like and he said, “It’s cool mostly, but it can be scary sometimes.” The van went quiet for a few seconds before we talked some more. It was the right time to open their eyes to what it means to lay your life down. Each of the students shared how someone sacrificed for them, and a newfound appreciation came to light.

 

Even in the tricky situations, God shows up to teach. If you are the officer from that night, thank you for providing the opportunity for a teachable moment… And if you’re a 71Five donor, thank you for providing the funding to create safe space for these opportunities… for God to show up!

 

 

Today, I can’t help but think of Demitri’s unforgettable experience. During a routine club game, I cracked a light-hearted joke about David and Goliath, assuming he’d get the reference. To my surprise, Demitri had never heard of this biblical tale of a child killing a giant with little more than faith in God. That moment marked a turning point in my understanding of our mission here at Youth 71Five Ministries. It hit me hard that there are local youth who have never been exposed to the encouragement the gospel of grace provides. These simple stories inspired me as a child to be courageous, but what about Demitri today?

 

The next time I saw him he rushed up, exuberantly identifying himself as David and me as Goliath. It was a reminder that the simplicity of the gospel is always at work! I now pray for more opportunities to share the greatness of the Lord with Demitri, and others like him. This incident is etched in heaven as a record of a young soul embracing the gospel, reaffirming my faith in God’s faithfulness, assurance of Kingdom expansion.