Happy New Year!!
A SERVANT'S JOURNEY
Working with youth, we do not often get a chance to see the fruit of this ministry. That is one of the things that makes it hard. When we do see the fruit on occasion, it is that much sweeter. The fruit does not just show itself in the lives of the youth we work with, but also in the life of His servants. Below is a story from one of those servants that is an example of both:
My Journey With Youth For Christ
We had recently joined a new church, and I wanted to get more involved. There was an announcement for a weekend training the following week, so I thought why not? I showed up and spent Friday evening and Saturday at a training session lead by the Executive Director of Youth for Christ. Truth be told, I understood what he was teaching but did not get the application. My lack of attention, not the presentation. The materials I brought home were put away, I thought never to be seen again.
Sometime later, at a Bible study at someone’s home, I looked up and who should walk through the door, but a man who looked very familiar. It was the director of Youth For Christ. At the end of the study, he made a beeline for me. I told him I had deleted his emails as I was not interested. He said, “We need you”. I don't know why, but all I could say was OK.
Welcome to Youth for Christ.
The certification process took probably two months, and I was ready for my “debut” at Zebulon Pike Youth Services Center on a Tuesday night. What am I doing here? By the grace of God and with YFC staff's help, I was there to observe and meet the young men, some of whom I would eventually develop strong relationships with.
Here I was a 70+ year old white guy trying to communicate with a bunch of mostly black teenagers. What could I possibly have in common with them? I would come out of the Center some nights and “kick my car tire” wondering if I was capable of sharing God's word. With His help I kept showing up.
God showed me I had a talent for being honest and loving with these young men. In a short time, most of them called me "Pops" and I became sort of grandfather to some.
Youth “A” was not friendly and only showed up to get out of the pod. We were sitting in a circle one evening, and he sat next to me. For some reason he said he was a gangbanger, so I had to ask what that was. When he began to explain I got tickled and he wanted nothing to do with me. Fast forward several months and we were in a one-on-one meeting, and he told me about his past and how he treated people. It was an opportunity to share how Jesus is known for His forgiveness.
By this time, I was leading a weekly Bible study with many of the same youth in the group showing up. “B” was kind of a loner. But he seemed to be there a lot. I would sometimes share my struggles in life. One night as he was leaving “B” said he was facing the same struggle, so we set up a one-on-one. A great bond was formed.
“B” left Zeb and went back to high school and graduated a short time later. I got to go to his graduation party and meet his family. We met several times a month. I later got a phone call where he told me this God stuff was not for him, and I lost contact with “B”.
Jesus never leaves our side. Like the shepherd in Luke 15, He carries us back to the fold. I got a text out of the blue almost two years later from “B”, asking to meet for lunch – he said bring your Bible. We are continuing to meet.
I met “C” in our study. He introduced me to his family. He was a Godly young man. One day he gave me a small scrap of paper with his name and his son’s name asking for prayers. I stuck the note in my phone case. We later lost track during COVID.
Today, March 2025, I was having breakfast with my Bible study group and a tall man approached me and asked if I remembered him and of course it was “C” - 5 years later. I looked in my phone case and sure enough there was the note. I gave it to him, and we exchanged phone numbers. Only God could arrange that meeting.
I will cherish the time I spent with Youth for Christ. Thank you, Jesus, for the opportunity to share your word.
Richard
This ministry is not about an organization called Youth for Christ. YFC is the tool the Lord uses to bring his servants together to reach his youth that are in very difficult situations. Richard worked with many other youth creating authentic Christ sharing relationships that sometimes last for years. In that process the servants’ relationship with the Lord grows more than they ever expected.
Please pray about being an active part of what the Lord is doing. Would the Lord want you to use your time, talents and treasure to minister through Youth for Christ?
Matt: 25:36 “I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”
Many Blessings,
Andy
