Meet TG!
With over 20 years of experience working with young people through the YMCA, Tom (TG) Gorospe brings contagious energy, care for others, and a desire to make an impact for the Kingdom to his role as City Life Director. TG let us in on a bit about his life and why he’s excited to be […]
Hitting For The Cycle
Are you a baseball fan? If you are, then you will understand the terms “hitting for the cycle” and “pitching a perfect game.” That is exactly what happened at the Tacoma Rescue Mission (TRM) recently. We had started the TRM City Life Teen Roundtable, a weekly meeting described as “Life Skills with Biblical Principles,” kicking […]
A Peek Inside TRM City Life
Imagine you are facing the same circumstances as teens at the Tacoma Rescue Mission: COVID restrictions stop you from hanging with your friends and online school takes away the normalcy and stability of classroom learning. You’ve also become homeless with your family. Maybe you are embarrassed by your homelessness. Maybe you don’t understand why you’re […]
Meanwhile, God Was Working
I have been a youth worker for over a decade and on staff with Youth For Christ for almost six years. One situation that commonly plays itself out is that families will seek out guidance or help when they are in tough situations. Enter: Desiree and her family. A single mother, with two pre-teen middle […]
Maggie Forgives
Maggie has a history of abuse. Past hardships combined with the irregularity of these last several months culminated in a rough summer for her. She was getting into lots of trouble. Searching for help, her mother reached out to Rachel Kruse, a long-time volunteer with the Tillicum City Life ministry site, and her husband to […]
Are we over Zoom?
After months of being on campus and making connections, Lincoln City Life Club had finally launched just before schools closed. Leaders had taken kids to Winter Camp where they’d had incredible encounters with the Lord and strong relational foundations had been laid. And then everything suddenly stopped. Instead of canceling ministry, Josh Chambers and the […]
Who’s ministering to whom?
If you’ve been around Youth for Christ for a while–or not very long at all–you’ll hear the word “relationship” being used a lot. The very concept of “relationship” is foundational in everything that we do. All of our ministries are designed to engage youth in authentic, Christ-sharing relationships. Our methods for introducing youth to the […]
Seeing Your Community With Fresh Eyes
Two years ago during Spring Break at our Tillicum City Life Center, we put together a Leadership Day Camp featuring activities and conversations about topics like healthy relationships, setting goals, and observing the assets in their neighborhood. If you’re not familiar with Tillicum, it is one-square mile isolated by a lake on one side, and […]
Don’t Make It Weird
Does connecting with teenagers in your life feel like learning a foreign language? One youth worker shares 5 great tips to get you started! My wife and I were having dinner with another couple that attends the same church as us. As the evening progressed we talked, laughed, shared stories and basic information about ourselves. […]
Critical Element
Adir has been homeless and living with a friend for the past year. He can be disrespectful and sometimes needs a lot of attention. Adir is very loud at times but also withdrawn and distrusting. Academically, he struggles. With three older siblings, a dad in jail, and a mom forced to move away and live […]
