“I don’t want to live anymore,” fifteen year old David told Steve, one of our City Life Leaders. Camp was coming to a close and Steve was surprised to learn that this young man was at his lowest point. “We need to talk more about this,” Steve said. “Who brought you here?” “Angela,” David replied.
It was at Comstock Middle School, during lunch, that Angela, our Campus Life Director, first met David. She was chatting with students and passing out snacks when David, a sweet, easy going teen, came over because he saw his favorite snack: bbq chips. “We have a club across the street after school, would you like to come sometime?” Angela asked. Excitedly, David shook his head yes, asking, “When can I start coming?” As she got to know him, Angela invited David to YFC camp. “I would love to go!” David responded, “but I don’t know if my family can afford to pay for it.” “We will find a way to get you there,” Angela assured him.
The first days of camp were fun for David, who was excited and ready to engage in the activities and relationships. But out of nowhere, something snapped, and Steve found David in turmoil. When Steve brought Angela to talk to David, David walked her step by step through his plan to end his life. “We need to tell your parents,” Angela gently told David. David panicked. “No! My family is messed up. They’re what’s making me want to kill myself. I can’t let them find out.”
The next day, on the bus ride home from camp, Angela called Scott, our executive director. “What do we do?” she wondered, knowing they had to find a way to help David. Talking to a licensed counselor, Scott learned that they could take David to a few counseling sessions free of charge.
Scott and Angela pulled David aside. “Here’s the deal,” Scott said. Either you go to counseling or you tell your parents about your suicide plan.” David blanched. “I can’t tell my parents and I don’t want to go to counseling.” He paused, thinking. “But I guess I would rather go to counseling…if I have to.”
Scott and Angela picked David up to take him to the Response Care Center in Richland, a free Christian counseling ministry in Richland. David reluctantly went in to meet with his counselor, but over time, he became more engaged in the counseling process. Scott invited David to start coming to a discipleship group with two other young men who were learning about the Lord and David agreed to check it out.
After a few weeks of counseling visits, David looked visibly different. “David, you look lighter. There’s a joy about you,” Angela said. David beamed. “It’s because I asked Jesus into my heart.” Angela turned to look at him, “Really?” “Yes!” David replied. “I did it at home last night. I prayed in my room and accepted Jesus. And you know what? I just feel good. I’m not angry, I don’t have anxiety, and I haven’t punched my brother in the face this whole week!”
Scott picked David up for discipleship group a few days later, the two other young men, Andrew and Jack, already in the van. David hopped up into his seat and turned to Scott, “Did you tell them the good news?” Scott shook his head. “That is your news to tell,” he assured him. David’s smile spread across his whole face as he said, “Guys, I’m part of the family now!”
David went from purposeless to purpose-filled, from dark to light, from joyless to joyful. So many teens today struggle with the same things David did. Here at Youth for Christ Kalamazoo, we have the opportunity to provide a safe place for these students to ask difficult questions, find answers, and learn about the truth of God’s love.
It was at Comstock Middle School, during lunch, that Angela, our Campus Life Director, first met David. She was chatting with students and passing out snacks when David, a sweet, easy going teen, came over because he saw his favorite snack: bbq chips. “We have a club across the street after school, would you like to come sometime?” Angela asked. Excitedly, David shook his head yes, asking, “When can I start coming?” As she got to know him, Angela invited David to YFC camp. “I would love to go!” David responded, “but I don’t know if my family can afford to pay for it.” “We will find a way to get you there,” Angela assured him.
The first days of camp were fun for David, who was excited and ready to engage in the activities and relationships. But out of nowhere, something snapped, and Steve found David in turmoil. When Steve brought Angela to talk to David, David walked her step by step through his plan to end his life. “We need to tell your parents,” Angela gently told David. David panicked. “No! My family is messed up. They’re what’s making me want to kill myself. I can’t let them find out.”
The next day, on the bus ride home from camp, Angela called Scott, our executive director. “What do we do?” she wondered, knowing they had to find a way to help David. Talking to a licensed counselor, Scott learned that they could take David to a few counseling sessions free of charge.
Scott and Angela pulled David aside. “Here’s the deal,” Scott said. Either you go to counseling or you tell your parents about your suicide plan.” David blanched. “I can’t tell my parents and I don’t want to go to counseling.” He paused, thinking. “But I guess I would rather go to counseling…if I have to.”
Scott and Angela picked David up to take him to the Response Care Center in Richland, a free Christian counseling ministry in Richland. David reluctantly went in to meet with his counselor, but over time, he became more engaged in the counseling process. Scott invited David to start coming to a discipleship group with two other young men who were learning about the Lord and David agreed to check it out.
After a few weeks of counseling visits, David looked visibly different. “David, you look lighter. There’s a joy about you,” Angela said. David beamed. “It’s because I asked Jesus into my heart.” Angela turned to look at him, “Really?” “Yes!” David replied. “I did it at home last night. I prayed in my room and accepted Jesus. And you know what? I just feel good. I’m not angry, I don’t have anxiety, and I haven’t punched my brother in the face this whole week!”
Scott picked David up for discipleship group a few days later, the two other young men, Andrew and Jack, already in the van. David hopped up into his seat and turned to Scott, “Did you tell them the good news?” Scott shook his head. “That is your news to tell,” he assured him. David’s smile spread across his whole face as he said, “Guys, I’m part of the family now!”
David went from purposeless to purpose-filled, from dark to light, from joyless to joyful. So many teens today struggle with the same things David did. Here at Youth for Christ Kalamazoo, we have the opportunity to provide a safe place for these students to ask difficult questions, find answers, and learn about the truth of God’s love.
