About a year ago, Carlos strolled into the City Life Center, wearing sunglasses and dressed head to toe in bright red. He sat down by himself in the corner and Phil, our City Life Club Leader, made his way over to talk to him. Even though Carlos was slow to open up, Phil asked if he could pray for him and Carlos agreed. The CLC Director, Camille, also approached him and asked how he had heard about the Center. “A friend invited me; he told me it was safe here.” After they talked for a few minutes, she said, “Carlos, I want to see you here next week.” He nodded respectfully and said, “Yes, Ma’am.”
A week later, Carlos was back. He wasn’t wearing sunglasses, was dressed in jeans, and the only red he now wore was his shirt. That night, he shared more of his story. “Everyone in my family is part of a gang and I don’t want that to be my life, but I don’t know how to get out of it.” Camille told him we could help him and he asked if he could call her “Mama”.
By his third week, Carlos wasn’t wearing anything red at all. He listened intently to the Gospel presentation, but that night, his internal frustration was obvious. Camille pulled him aside and asked, “What’s going on?” Carlos said, “I’m just trying to get through the day and focus on getting my life straight.” “What does it mean to get your life straight?” Camille asked. He wasn’t sure. He didn’t have a high school diploma, had been shot three times, and had a bullet lodged in his back. “Gang life has really hindered me from getting things accomplished in my life,” he sighed.
As they continued to talk, Camille asked, “What do you think about the Lord? Are you saved?” Carlos explained, “I believe in God, but I don’t know if I’m saved.” Camille started sharing the Gospel with him and Phil joined the conversation. Phil took the next 30 minutes to explain salvation to him and Carlos eagerly responded, “Yes! I am so ready to do this” and gave his life to the Lord. The peace shining on Carlos’ face was obvious as he said, “No matter what happens now, God has me.”
Today, Carlos regularly meets with his mentor, Jeff, who is doing life with him and discipling him spiritually. Carlos calls Jeff his “spiritual dad” and they have been getting together every couple weeks, to do activities and life together, as well as have spiritual conversations. Recently, Carlos starting reaching out to Jeff proactively, asking to meet up. While Carlos once said, “I don’t love anyone, and no one loves me,” this year, he told Jeff, “I love you.” Carlos is going to school and is working on finishing up his GED as well as working at the hospital.
Now twenty, Carlos has aged out of our youth programming and recently decided that he wants to start volunteering at the CLC so that he can start to invest in the next generation and stay connected to our YFC family. He is already consistently encouraging his friends and siblings to come to club each week. Carlos has come out of his shell more and more and we have seen him become such a kind, giving young man. We are seeing him continuing to grow on his journey in Christ and becoming the man God intends for him to be.
A week later, Carlos was back. He wasn’t wearing sunglasses, was dressed in jeans, and the only red he now wore was his shirt. That night, he shared more of his story. “Everyone in my family is part of a gang and I don’t want that to be my life, but I don’t know how to get out of it.” Camille told him we could help him and he asked if he could call her “Mama”.
By his third week, Carlos wasn’t wearing anything red at all. He listened intently to the Gospel presentation, but that night, his internal frustration was obvious. Camille pulled him aside and asked, “What’s going on?” Carlos said, “I’m just trying to get through the day and focus on getting my life straight.” “What does it mean to get your life straight?” Camille asked. He wasn’t sure. He didn’t have a high school diploma, had been shot three times, and had a bullet lodged in his back. “Gang life has really hindered me from getting things accomplished in my life,” he sighed.
As they continued to talk, Camille asked, “What do you think about the Lord? Are you saved?” Carlos explained, “I believe in God, but I don’t know if I’m saved.” Camille started sharing the Gospel with him and Phil joined the conversation. Phil took the next 30 minutes to explain salvation to him and Carlos eagerly responded, “Yes! I am so ready to do this” and gave his life to the Lord. The peace shining on Carlos’ face was obvious as he said, “No matter what happens now, God has me.”
Today, Carlos regularly meets with his mentor, Jeff, who is doing life with him and discipling him spiritually. Carlos calls Jeff his “spiritual dad” and they have been getting together every couple weeks, to do activities and life together, as well as have spiritual conversations. Recently, Carlos starting reaching out to Jeff proactively, asking to meet up. While Carlos once said, “I don’t love anyone, and no one loves me,” this year, he told Jeff, “I love you.” Carlos is going to school and is working on finishing up his GED as well as working at the hospital.
Now twenty, Carlos has aged out of our youth programming and recently decided that he wants to start volunteering at the CLC so that he can start to invest in the next generation and stay connected to our YFC family. He is already consistently encouraging his friends and siblings to come to club each week. Carlos has come out of his shell more and more and we have seen him become such a kind, giving young man. We are seeing him continuing to grow on his journey in Christ and becoming the man God intends for him to be.
In 2025, with your partnership, YFC can launch a program specifically designed to reach youth involved in gangs and gun violence, like Carlos. This dynamic program will target 18 young people in 10-week sessions, discipling them in their spiritual journey and guiding them out of gang involvement and violence. This program will operate in coordination with our Juvenile Justice Ministry and Kalamazoo Public Safety.
