It was at around age 16 that I stopped going to church… I remember becoming obsessed with myself and what I thought of as “special knowledge,” while still calling myself a Christ follower. I was bitter, rebellious, and deceitful with waves of deep depression. My parents echoed the lament of many Christian parents, “What did we do wrong? Why, God, would you let my child walk away from You?” It took time, but God broke through the darkness and started to change who I was.

 

In my life, change has always been gradual. I remember wishing God would transform me overnight, but those big changes never happened. Over the years, I can see His hand in my life, guiding me towards Him through hardship, repentance, and many, many blessings. As God slowly changed my heart, I joined a wonderful church, made friends that poured into me and got me involved in service. Instead of loving myself, I developed a love for God and His Word because now I wanted to be in relationship with Him. I became a Sunday School teacher for teens, a pastorate intern, and now God has opened doors for me to be the Phoenix/Talent Area Director for Youth 71Five Ministries.

 

God has led me out of my darkness into the hope of the Gospel countless times. Now, I want to share that same transforming hope with the youth of Phoenix and Talent who are on the same dark path. Thank you for providing a safe and healthy place for young people to discover the hope that only Christ can bring. – CAMERON HOEHNE, 71Five Campus Area Director – Phoenix/Talent cameron@71Five.org

When Josh was lodged at detention, his behavior was terrible. It was weeks before he was allowed to attend our Thursday night program. When I introduced myself, he would not look me in the eye, his body language was hunched and defensive. His speech was a dialect of gang banger and hard to understand. His personality had been formed by the things he experienced living on the streets. One night, staff allowed him to watch our group from just outside the classroom door. Progress. Trust was built, but glacially slow. He was transferred to the 6-month residential program in the detention center building and after some one-to-one time riding mountain bikes, a friendship was born. At the residential program he used up all his last chances and was lodged in detention with new assault charges. It was there, during Sunday Chapel, that the Lord broke through with the book of Jonah. It spoke right to Josh’s heart. Later, we both confessed to having a little Jonah in our DNA and Josh allowed Jesus into his heart. Fast forward a month, you have a bright young man devouring Scripture and praying—eyes shining bright with the light of a loving God. Thank you for your partnership with 71five Justice, together we are doing important work.- BEAU JESKA, 71Five Justice Director beau@71Five.org

I first met Jackie when she was only 13-years-old and I was a volunteer at my church’s youth group. Eventually, she grew and babysat for my oldest son and was later involved in the college-age ministry my wife and I ran in our house. Jackie went on to become a volunteer for the North Medford Youth Center of Youth 71 Five Ministries, which at the time was, Rogue Valley YFC. Jackie has been the most consistent part of that ministry. I know I only had a very small part in the life of Jackie, but over the years, I got to see her go from that 13-year-old girl I was ministering to, to see her now ministering to youth with her husband. Now, I get to work side by side with Jackie and her husband every week as we share the love of Jesus with lost and hurting youth.

Are you ready to invest in the life of a young person? I can tell you from experience, it is well worth it when you get to see the little you do get multiplied by God. If you want to find out more, give us a call at Youth 71Five Ministries, (541) 779-3275. Help change the lives of young people. TIM HARDY, 71Five Campus Area Director – North Medford tim@71Five.org

Psalm 71:5 says, “Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” As I’ve been contemplating this verse recently, I realized, hope only comes through trust. We can’t have genuine hope for a better future if we don’t trust the people around us or trust in a God who cares. Think about it, if I can’t trust in at least one person, there’s no hope for happiness or comfort. Trust is the lifeline to having any hope in this world. It struck me, this is the core of who we are and what we do. We bring hope to hurting young people through a bridge of trust. The young person experiences real hope because they can count on someone to care for them today and also care for them tomorrow. Then… the trusting relationship points toward a loving God who is infinitely trustworthy and brings unending hope.

God is using you to completely transform lives of lost and hurting young people in our community. Thank you for providing trusting relationships that build a bridge to hope. BUD AMUNDSEN, 71Five Executive Director bud@71Five.org

 

Have you ever heard someone’s life story that brings tears to your eyes? I experience this often with the youth I work with. I’m Tim Hardy, the new North Medford Area Director for Youth 71Five Ministries (formerly Rogue Valley Youth for Christ). I’ve had the opportunity to work with youth all over the world and for the past 3 years in Grants Pass. The pain many of these kids, from right here in the Rogue Valley, have experienced by those who are supposed to love them is unfathomable. When you see the scars on a kid’s back from a drunk dad, meet a girl who’s lived in 36 foster homes, or hear the story of a teen who been used as a drug dealer by their addicted mom, it is almost too much. But, so many of these kids despite the fact they’ve been shown over and over not to trust anyone, have put their trust in Jesus. They come to know Jesus through the ministry of 71Five because people just like you take the time to love on them, help sponsor them for activities, and have prayed for them.

 

Have you ever questioned your ability to make a difference? Lately, I have doubted my own effectiveness in ministry. This took me to a sad place in my heart and I hung my head in doubt for weeks. On a very rainy Friday, before Club, a young mom with daughters asked if she could speak with me. She was obviously very ill and it took all she had to walk her girls to the meeting. She didn’t want the girls to miss out. She asked if I could find the girls a ride home because she didn’t have enough energy to walk all the way back to pick them up. As she headed out into the rain, I offered to pray with her. She agreed, dropped her bags and we prayed together. Then she walked home. Oh yes, we did get her girls home safe and dry.

I didn’t understand what had just happened until I was on the phone during our year-end calling campaign. The gentleman I was talking with shared how he wished people at his church who would greet a single mom like that at the door, and love on her and her 4 kids. That they would reach out with the love of Jesus and make them feel welcome. At that moment the lights came on and I began to smile. That’s what we do here at 71Five City (formerly City Life). We provide a safe place where the message of hope is shared week after week thru loving relationships.

In a short period of time, the Lord answered my doubts. Paraphrased from Psalms 3:3 … the Lord put a shield around my heart and lifted my head. LARRY LICATO, 71Five City Director larry@71Five.org

 

I hadn’t seen Jordin in about a year, but there he was at the Youth Center and he needed to talk. We went into my office and asked, “Would it be okay if I did my community service here?” Jordin just finished 20 hours of community service by helping out every week at the Eagle Point Youth Center. In that time, he has re-connected to the ministry and been reintroduced to the message of hope through Jesus Christ! He’s excited to return next week, even though his community service has been completed.

 

God often uses our mistakes to bring us back to himself. He used Jordin‘s mistakes to bring him back to Youth 71Five Ministries (formally Rogue Valley YFC) and an opportunity for hope. Because you partner with 71Five through your finances, your time, and your prayers; prodigals like Jordin have a safe place to return! Thank you for making a difference. ROBERT MILTON, 71Five Campus Area Director robert@71Five.org