What do you do with a kid who runs away from home? If you’re the police and you pick them up, you would probablybring them back to their parent. What if the parent says, “I can’t handle them.” What do you do?
“Kate’s” story started like that. It’s almost too heavy to really share. And to live it? I don’t have the right word.
All I know is that after some time in a facility, she still couldn’t, or wouldn’t, go home. That’s how Ortie at Youth For Christ came to know her. Ortie is a grandma, passionately loves Jesus, has her church home with Cross City, and is a Youth For Christ Ministry Intern ministering to girls in group homes.
Over their time together, Kate’s been making changes. She started going to church and confessed belief in Jesus. But you and I know that life with Jesus is a process, and certainly we and our circumstances can take time to change.
The day before Easter, Kate went to church with Ortie, and while she was gone, the other girls in the group home broke into her stuff, stole her journal, and read it. Safe to say that caused a lot of conflict, such that the group home staff needed to separate everyone that night. It was decided in the interest of safety that Kate be transferred to a new group home the next day.
So it was on Easter morning that a case worker called Ortie: “Would you take Kate for a while so we can transfer her stuff?” This was a highly unusual situation, to say the least, but they trusted Ortie and valued her as a partner so much that they called her for help. On Easter!
Ortie picked up Kate and brought her to her own house with her entire family for an Easter get-together. “Best Easter ever,” Kate said.
Ortie shared with Kate God’s favor upon her and the miracle that she could even be picked up. She shared how she and the other adults in her life are on the same team and working together. And, importantly, she shared how she loves her enough to tell her the truth about things that still need to change, just like she would her own kids. I think Kate appreciated the honesty and the tough love because as they were leaving, Kate saw the family photos on the wall and asked Ortie when she was going to put her own photo up.
It’s a sign of trust that the group home would reach out to Ortie.
It’s a sign of trust that a kid who wanted to run away now wants to start planting roots.
And, it’s a sign of trust in God that Kate wanted to be baptized – and she was in May!
God is using Ortie to connect this kid to His family and to bring light and love to spots that still need it. This is the story at Youth For Christ this year. Over 500 kids have given their lives to Jesus, and more than 200 have started going to Church, just like Kate!
"I have come that they may have life!" - Jesus
Teens need the gospel right now as much as ever. Depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are among the leading causes of illness among adolescents. It means 4 out of 10 are persistently sad or lonely, and 2 out of 10 don’t want to live. But we see kids come alive when they meet Jesus and when they find support in His family.
We need to keep our foot on the gas to reach and connect as many teens as possible. This is why your prayers, your financial partnership, and your time spent with a teen matter so much. We can do this together through His mighty power.
If you are tracking with YFC but have yet to get involved, we need your help. Summer programming and follow-up with these new believers is kicking off in earnest. Would you consider a one-time gift to propel the ministry through the summer? Thanks for considering your part in reaching kids like Kate.
“By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14).
Together. For Every Kid. One At A Time.
Jameson | Executive Director
Campus Life 5k + Kids' Fun Run
With record participation we ran, walked, and strolled while enjoying great food, and weather.
All for a great cause! Thank you for participating.
