At the beginning of the school year, we were blessed to partner with Gates High School in Spanaway to start group mentoring classes with 16 mostly senior students broken up into two class periods. All these students were referred to as “higher needs,” yet upon individual interviews all of them agreed to be on board and start this journey.

Though the first couple weeks were challenging, given the students were skeptical to trust who we were and our intentions, especially with topics ranging from family trauma, mental health, acceptance, and relationships. We knew that our investment had more to do with proving to them the love and perseverance of Christ so that they would begin to get a glimpse of our intentions and begin to invest also.

After a few months of interactions in class, offering prayer, and volunteering at their service project and annual Grateful Gathering, we begin to see students be much more expressive in class, sharing parts of their stories and allowing some of the topics to guide them into processing the many challenges they are facing.

Now after several months of Group Mentoring it is awesome to hear how self-aware and reflective many of them are, even those who normally wouldn’t engage or share, be willing to express in class how they’ve been processing a topic were discussing. The blessing has been the safety they feel and respect they have shown one another as we go through some very invasive topics. We’re praying that this class continue to forge a community of safety where young people who normally may not have the opportunity to discuss such challenges, begin to realize how much the people sent into their lives are invested in them and care about their future.

Kids in Spanaway are on a journey of transformation thanks to the generosity, time, and prayers of people in our incredible YFC community. For more information on how you can get involved with the mission of Tacoma YFC, click below.