Southern Colorado Youth for Christ

“I was your average teenager in ways, angry with God for letting my family fall apart, letting my mom fall into a pit of addiction leaving a trail of pain for all of us to try and pick up the pieces behind her. Somewhere along the way, I found my own seeming comfort in various addictive drugs and drink, all the while a pure hate was brewing in my heart. My mind was over thrown with ill intentions and thoughts leading down dark roads. After years of this, my anger became explosive.

I found myself with 3 different time sentences on 3 different charges, 2 of which were considered violent and 1 of which was violating a protection order. Without going into too much detail on those, I was looking at a couple years in what we call a juvenile prison or “lock down” detention center where I would eventually encounter Southern Colorado YFC for the first time.

Prior to my incarceration I was studying and re-writing the LaVey Satanic Bible and considered myself to be Satan’s future bride, my knuckles tattooed with 666 as a sign of that commitment. God reached out to me even still through a YFC mentor, a real genuine woman who visited me every week she could to point me to the truths about God. I slowly started to realize I had everything backwards. I was blaming God for my suffering and praising Satan for anything good to come my way! I now see Satan for who he REALLY is and get to see God’s love for me in operation every day. How many miracles have I missed? How many blessings have gone unrecognized? I may never know for sure but what I do know and can say with the utmost confidence is that God can and will have His way with our hearts if only we give Him the chance. For me, that meant giving up all my stubborn seemingly accurate beliefs that I once firmly stood upon, to grab ahold of the truly solid ground one finds only through God, our Father and Creator, the King of Kings and Prince of Peace.

My story goes on years later as I now get to be a mentor with YFC and go to Bible School at NCC to “gear up” for whatever opportunities God sends my way! God has blessed me with a loving husband and son; we excitedly wait for the arrival of our second child in a few months as God also showers us with all the blessings in between, satisfying our every need! No need too great or too small. And do I deserve any of it because of who I am or how I changed? No, but because of who Jesus is and all He went through, by the love and grace of God, I get to live and thrive far past who I once was. Thank you Father for Your works and for the people of YFC! Thank you very much for giving me my mentor and friend, Denise. All praise and glory be to God!”

“I have been volunteering for Southern Colorado Youth for Christ for 12 years. It all started after a tour of a facility where I remember thinking these kids belong here. About half way through the tour, God had been working in my heart and gave me a real burden for these youth. I realized a lot of them had been raised by parents who were either in gangs, on drugs, or perhaps their parents are in jail and they never had a chance in life. I realized I have the instruction book on life, a book that tells how to make right choices. How can I not share that with these youth? Psalms 119:17-20 (TLB) Bless me with life so that I can continue to obey you. Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word. I am but a pilgrim here on earth: how I need a map—and your commands are my chart and guide. I long for your instructions more than I can tell.

One youth I worked with had recently made a commitment to Christ. He told me about a bad decision he made. While out on pass another youth decided to run and in that split second, he decided to run also. He told me, his decision proved to be very costly and if he had not stopped reading the Bible and praying a few days earlier perhaps he could have avoided this bad choice. He said that not reading the Bible and praying, allowed his old habits and thought patterns to take control leading him to making that bad choice. Continuing to walk alongside him was a privilege as God through the power of the Holy Spirit transforms him into Christ’s image.”

“I have been a volunteer with SOCO YFC for 20 years. In that time I have seen God use this organization to transform the lives of countless young people! The majority of kids we work with are marginalized through abuse, neglect, absentee parents, poverty, gang activity etc. The message of hope through the gospel of Jesus Christ that we bring to them is galvanizing and radical. To see the realization on their face when they understand they are loved by our Creator, that they were created with a purpose, given gifts and abilities and that God has a good plan for their lives has been among the most rewarding gifts I have received from God! To give hope to these kids by sharing His love embodies the Great Commission and is the heart of the work we do at SOCO YFC!”

“The WINGS! program has been a blessing in so many ways for nearly 10 years now. It is a real privilege to lead these youth into a realm they have never experienced before and watch their eyes open up. When a downcast student can see potential in themselves and wake up to the big plans that God has for them, the rewards are many for both the student and volunteer!”

“As I work with YFC youth, I have come to realize how God uses the ministry not only to touch the lives of the incarnated young people, but to help clarify my purpose in a life of giving hope and encouragement to others. When I see God working in His power and might through me at times, I am blown away and know I am doing God’s will and fulfilling my purpose. It is truly an exciting venture. SOCO YFC makes this possible for me and others each week.”

“God truly blesses His Word while we volunteer in the Juvenile Detention Center when we minister and witness His Word to the youth. What is unique is that while we are actually addressing the youth, the staff members are listening as well. The entire population of the facility has heard the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, regardless of who we talk to and address. Many seeds have been planted in just the few years that I have been volunteering.” “…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

“Youth for Christ is one of the most meaningful ministries I have ever been a part of. I have been deeply moved to hear the heartbreaking stories of these young men and women who have gone through some incredibly difficult circumstances. Most of their stories are similar; their parents have either struggled with addiction, are abusive, are in prison or just don’t care about them. Most of these kids have been raised in environments where they have very little chance to succeed and end up repeating the mistakes from the only role models they have in the neighborhood or in their families. We have an opportunity to come in and share there is hope. I get to tell these young people about the love of Jesus Christ and how much He deeply cares for them. I get to tell them about how God has a plan and purpose for their lives beyond anything they could hope or imagine. I have had the opportunity to see God break down their walls and I have seen some of these young people step across the line and give their lives to Jesus. I am humbled to see how God has worked through us as we reach out to these precious children and have seen God dramatically change lives. Personally, I have been deeply affected by this experience and have been blessed to a greater extent by these young men and women than I would have ever thought possible.”