Posted on Mar 6, 2026 by Shane Skirvin in Life Change Story | 6
Because of you and your generous support, we can be in young people’s lives for the long haul! Many times faith is not a sprint but a marathon. We plant seeds early and often [Mark 4:26-29] and strive to maintain a presence in a young person’s life to testify to God’s story of who he is and what he wants to do in their lives. I have been in a young man’s life for several years now, and he seems to wrestle with pessimism and a lack of hope. I have been concerned that he would just stop coming to the club all together. I have continued to pray for him as we share God’s story of hope. I’ve noticed a definite shift to him being in the back and un-engaged, to being present during discussions, listening more and more, and actually participating in our discussions! The other day he came forward after discussion and asked for a Bible and said, “I need to start reading it!”
This is such an answer to prayer and we are only able to have a presence like this in this young man’s life because of people like you! Thank you so much for being there for this young man and bringing to him the story of God’s Hope!
SHANE SKIRVIN, 71Five Campus Coordinator – North Medford
(541) 646-1475 | shane@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
Posted on Feb 28, 2026 by Chris Willis in Life Change Story | 15
I met this young man while attending our juvenile justice ministry. One night our group was having a real conversation about the bible. We talked about how the Bible shows us the right way to live, and how when we actually follow it, our choices start leading to different outcomes. It was not a surface conversation. The guys were honest. You could feel that people were thinking about their lives in a real way. As we wrapped up, this young man spoke up in front of everyone. He looked straight at me and said, “Where were you three months ago?” The room went quiet. Those words stuck with me. Three months earlier he had made some foolish choices that set him on a path he could not undo. Now he was facing prison time, and in that moment the weight of it all had settled in. You could hear the regret in his voice. It was the sound of someone realizing that life did not have to go the way it did. What struck me most was that he was not angry. He was not making excuses. He could see clearly that the direction he had taken led him right where he was sitting.
Even though he could not change his past, something changed in him that night. The gospel gave him clarity and hope at the same time. He began to see that God still had a path forward for him, even if it started behind prison walls.
CHRIS WILLIS, 71Five Area Director – Grants Pass
541.941.3488 | chris@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
Posted on Feb 23, 2026 by Wendy Collins in Life Change Story | 19
How do you build the trust that leads to lives transformed in Jesus? You might be surprised to learn it’s not about being “perfect,” having all the right answers, or giving loads of extra time. It’s simply about showing up, showing you care, and staying consistent. Jessy and his mentor have spent years doing just that—sharing meals, rides, talks about life and about nothing. Seeing each other through every celebration and bump along the way built the trust for where they are today. Jessy now desires to grow spiritually and they are diving into God’s Word together. What an amazing thing to be part of.
You can be that one person who is consistent, who cares, and who shows up in a young person’s life. Your humility and willingness to share the hope of God… your “Yes,” will build the trust that leads to Hope. Become a 71Five Mentor today!
WENDY COLLINS, 71Five Mentors Coordinator
541.441.2495 | wendy@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
Posted on Feb 12, 2026 by Logan Schockelt in Life Change Story | 31
This is a success story about two young men who were given a second chance. During their teenage years, both faced significant adversity and responded to life’s challenges recklessly, falling in with the wrong crowds. Those choices ultimately led to incarceration and criminal charges. Now, barely adults, they stand at a crossroads: continue down a difficult path or choose something new. Both were drawn to VoTech with a desire to learn the trades, build employment skills and begin creating meaningful careers. Without stable housing, they moved into our men’s dorms to take part in the 71Five VoTech program. The start was not without challenges. Coming from different backgrounds and with very different personalities, the transition was rocky at first. With guidance and support from staff and by working together on classroom projects they began to learn how to collaborate. Over time, they started encouraging and supporting one another both in and out of class. One young man shared how grateful he was for the hands-on experience repairing our lawnmower because he got to use those skills to help a friend with landscaping that same weekend. The other has embraced his new responsibilities, arriving to class early, gaining confidence through success and taking meaningful steps toward getting his life back on track. Today both young men are hopeful about the future and grateful for the second chance they were given.
Thank you for your part in seeing young people, like these two, succeed at 71Five!
LOGAN SCHOCKELT, 71Five VoTech Assistant Coordinator – Medford
541.646.5706 | logan@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
Posted on Feb 6, 2026 by Bud Amundsen in Life Change Story | 46
I want to share a bit of what you accomplished last year.
In 2025, you…
- Provided mentoring and direction to a 14-year-old boy whose dad passed away.
- Brought comfort to a grieving teen mom who lost her baby.
- Gave a middle school girl their first trip to the Redwoods.
- Encouraged and listened to a 13-year-old girl who was crying due to being bullied.
- Gifted dozens of kids who wanted to read the Bible with brand new Bibles.
- Repaired a car for a teen mom who had no transportation to get to work.
- Were a shoulder to cry on for a girl who finally admitted to being abused.
- Gave a young man a chance to learn trade skills with a stellar report to his parole officer.
- Served several thousand healthy meals to kids in all our programs.
- Challenged and supported a young man to stay in his addiction recovery program.
- Clubs and activities that unplug 100s of kids from their phones and social media.
- Over 1100 kids received the message that they can have peace with God through Jesus.
- Changed the lives of hundreds of young people by showing them love, trust, and hope.
Each of these situations is real, and there are so many more… So many young people have been touched by the loving hand of God through you.
You will likely never hear the thanks you deserve from the hundreds of kids you’ve cared for this past year, so please hear it from me… Thank you!!!
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
Posted on Feb 3, 2026 by Peter Kuhl in Life Change Story | 46
Cameron was a high school student who would swing by the Eagle Point Youth Center here and there when I first started working for 71Five in 2019. During 2020 Cameron would often ask me to give him a ride to his house in Medford, and as I lived in Medford myself at the time it was easy for me to say yes. He stopped showing up after the year ended though, and I hadn’t had any contact with him until recently, when he reached out to me and thanked me for giving him rides home all those years ago. He expressed that he is a Christian now, and said that he remembered I would always encourage him to connect with 71Five Campus more or find a church. While he rejected my advice at the time, he knew that I was someone he could trust and someone he wanted to tell that he had started following Jesus. He said, “I don’t know a lot, but I know I only need Jesus.”
Cameron is now 20 years old, and he is able to keep his head up because he found hope and belonging in something that started 6 years prior. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of young people like Cameron.
PETER KUHL, 71Five Campus Director – 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
Posted on Jan 21, 2026 by Larry Licato in Life Change Story | 29
One afternoon a young girl came into our youth center at 71Five City at Liberty Park just to hang out. She was probably 10 or 12 with a very gangster look. Dark dirty hair in her eyes, mean looking makeup, ball cap on sideways, a jean jacket and dirty pants all rolled up at the ankle. From my office I could see her as she was walking toward the pool table. I immediately saw the possibility of damage to the table. Not only because of lack of skill but because of the visible anger in her heart. I later learned that she was living with an addicted mom and there was no dad in the home. So, I walked up and said “Hi, my name is Larry what is yours”. Under her breath, she said “Brooklyn”. I told her that I was raised in Brooklyn and “Brooklyn” is my favorite a girl’s name. As I spent time with her, I had the opportunity to share that God loved her and she was beautiful in his eyes. Week by week I noticed slight changes in her as we talked and laughed. Eventually the hat came off and her hair was clean and the heavy makeup was gone. Then one day she showed up in a dress and she said, “Larry, How do I look?” and she twirled. Friends, I have never had a daughter but through my tears, I said, “Brooklyn, you look great.” I never saw her again after that day, but I heard that she was attending church and even got baptized. I also heard that she brought her mom to church.
This is what we call moving the needle in a young person’s life. You are moving the needle from a life of hurt towards a life hope with of Jesus. Come join me as we move the needle in the life of so many youth. If you are interested in supporting 71Five or becoming a volunteer, give me a call at 541.890.1819. Thanks for listening, and have a great day.
LARRY LICATO, 71Five City – Liberty Park Coordinator
(541) 860-3275 | larry@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
Posted on Jan 13, 2026 by Emma Kuhl in Life Change Story | 70
At Middle School 71Five Camp this past summer, I got the opportunity to be the worship leader. Through this experience, I was able to pour into and mentor kids and encourage them to grow in their faith. On the second day of camp I met a teen girl who was eager to come to worship practice and learn. On the fourth night I felt the spirit stir in me to talk to her and hear her story. I had found out that she had come from a rough home life and was on her own. Through our conversation, she shared, “I really don’t know Jesus.” I shared with her the story of Jesus leaving the 99 sheep to find the one, and I saw that it finally clicked with her, Jesus’ love for her. During the last night of camp, she stood up and said “I’m on team Jesus!” with teary eyes in her eyes, we witnessed a light in her shine. She then got baptized that evening and came up to me and gave me the biggest hug and said thank you for taking the time to pour into me.
Thank you for taking the time to read this Life Change Story and supporting the youth mentoring work at 71Five. You are changing lives and hearts of so many young people in the Rogue Valley.
EMMA KUHL, 71Five Director – Grants Pass
(541) 295-5458 | emma@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
Posted on Jan 7, 2026 by Breanna Stoutenburgh in Life Change Story | 60
Sometimes Leah fell asleep at the back of the room during 71Five Parents Night. Her head would rest on the table. When she woke up, she always apologized softly. She wasn’t rude — she was exhausted. Leah was just sixteen when her daughter, Anna, was born. Baby Anna had serious medical needs. Doctors told Leah early on that Anna would not live long. Anna experienced the world mostly through sound and touch. When she was held, she made soft giggles and coos that filled the room. Leah raised her daughter alone and cared for her beautifully. For nearly a year, Leah showed up — week after week — to Parent Night. Then one week, we didn’t see Leah, and another week went by. And one of Leah’s friends told us that Anna had died peacefully in her sleep. I was at the funeral as the casket was lowered. It was heartbreaking to watch Leah drop to her knees at the edge of the grave. She leaned forward so far that it looked like she might fall in; her soul-searing cry brought tears to our eyes. Scripture says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” I texted Leah recently an invitation. She wrote back, “I do not have a baby.” I replied, “You are still a mommy, Leah; you are always invited to Parent Night.”
Stories like Leah’s are why 71Five Parents exists. If God is calling you to serve teen parents in Grants Pass or Medford, we are looking for you and seeking to hire two part-time ministry leaders, one in Grants Pass and one in Medford. Visit 71Five.org to apply.
BREANNA STOUTENBURGH, 71Five Parents Coordinator
541.941-7697 | breanna@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
Posted on Jan 2, 2026 by Will Arias in Life Change Story | 34
Earlier this year, a boy named Gabriel walked through our doors full of life, intelligence, love, and joy. As time went on, I learned many things about him. One of those things was that he was not very interested in hearing about Jesus. Still, he kept coming, and that alone spoke volumes. In early December, I had the privilege of celebrating eight years of sobriety. During that time, I shared my testimony and then invited questions or comments. A few were shared, some meaningful and some playful, but one rose above the rest. It came from Gabriel. He said, “When my mom and I were moving here and I first started coming, I didn’t care to hear anything about Jesus. Now I’m excited to hear about Him every Wednesday during devotion.” Smiling wide, he added, “I love coming here.”
What a gift it is to serve these young people alongside you. Because of the faithfulness many of you show behind the scenes, I get to witness moments like this firsthand. Thank you.
WILL ARIAS, 71Five Campus Coordinator – Shady Cove
541.841.6400 | will@71Five.org
“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB
