There’s a boy who’s homeless and is currently sleeping in a car. Another boy has a home but it consistently gets shots fired at it–it’s not safe. 

There’s a girl who is entering her junior year of high school and just found out she’s pregnant. Another girl has been abandoned by her family and couch surfs at friends’ houses. 

There’s another boy who stinks. He wears the same clothes everyday and when I pull up to his house, I wonder if the electricity is even on. There’s another girl who just recently opened up about her sexuality and how confused she feels. 

These are snapshots of just some of the teens that I have gotten to know through doing ministry with YFC. I’ve learned that they are funny, crazy, difficult and lovable all at the same time. I have also learned that each one of them deserves an adult who is fully invested and present in their lives. 

Sadly, the reality is that there aren’t a lot of adults who even know how. The circumstances of these youth are enough to make anyone feel paralyzed and I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I am overwhelmed even as I sit here writing about them. But these teens deserve for people to push through their feelings of being overwhelmed and to enter into a relationship that will help guide them.

“These teens deserve for people to push through their feelings of being overwhelmed and to enter into a relationship that will help guide them.”

This reality and need has led me to shift from solely focusing on these teens with hard stories to focusing on educating and empowering the adults who want to be in relationship with them. I don’t have this down to an exact science, but I do know that it is vital to our ministry or any ministry that wants to reach teens with hard stories. Yes, God has gifted me with being able to naturally connect with teens. And with that, some wisdom. But I can only reach so many. I need to pursue and invest into my volunteers so that ultimately more teens can be reached.

And not only have I realized that I should invest in my volunteers, but YFC as a whole understands we are only as good as our volunteer leaders. To make sure our volunteers are equipped to enter into difficult stories with teens across Pierce County, we are investing our time and effort into training, supporting, coaching, and cheering them on. 

“YFC as a whole understands we are only as good as our volunteer leaders.”

As a volunteer with YFC, we don’t expect you to just show up to a school campus and know how to talk to kids. No, we have site leaders whose main focus is to set you up and give you opportunities to connect with students. Not only do the site leaders set you up to win with kids, they take care of you as well. Through team meetings and one-on-one check-ins, our site leaders make sure that you as an individual feel valued and championed  in any way possible. 

It doesn’t just stop with the site leaders! We have a volunteer coordinator and training team that wants to resource you as much as you need. From volunteer gatherings to cultural competency trainings, we want to fully support, equip and encourage our volunteers to be who the teens in Pierce County need them to be. 

There are so many teens that need and deserve a loving adult to help guide them through life and to Jesus. 

Will you be one? We promise we won’t let you do it alone.