News & Updates

Christmas in jail. Have you ever wondered what it might be like to spend Christmas in jail? It's probably not at the front of your radar and that's okay. I don't have first hand experience, however, I do know there is an opportunity for all of us to help bring a...

THANKFUL “Thank you for coming today…I can’t remember the last time I smiled or laughed.” (15-year-old male) During one of my recent trips to detention, I was disappointed to learn that only three youth requested to attend my group when I knew there were a total of 12...

Together We Can Reach More Youth. A few weeks ago I was in Colorado Springs with other YFC leaders from across the country.  We gather in person a couple times a year to encourage, share stories, laugh, cry, and grow together.   We drove up to Pikes Peak at 14,115'...

What's your story? Sometimes when I meet with youth at detention, I use a deck of special cards to break the ice and get us talking. Last week I had four young people in my group. I pulled out the cards and randomly gave each a set of 10.  With their “Hands” laid out...

Purposeful relationships Have you ever tried to eat a leafy, green salad with a spoon?  When I go to detention, I have to toss the plan I walk in the door with and adjust to what’s been going on behind those locked doors.  Recently, when I showed up, I discovered that...

Perseverance Hello Friend! Even after almost 30 years of visiting incarcerated youth, Jake’s story was shocking to me.  He was…  Smoking weed and drinking alcohol by the age of 6 (provided by his father)  Sexually assaulted by multiple adult men (associates of his...