2021 Youth For Christ Fall Newsletter

FILLING THE VOID “How can I get to know Jesus on a deeper level and how can Jesus help with issues in my family?”

FALL2021

@MiamiYFC | WWW.MIAMIYFC.COM | 305 - 271 - 2442

THE

mission of Miami Youth for Christ to reach 11-19 year olds

with the Good News of Jesus Christ has been my calling

for 29 years. I have served that mission in many different

capacities but for the last 12 years, it has been my honor to be the Executive Director. I am beyond thrilled that God has chosen my dear friend, Tia Diaz-Balart, to take the baton from me and lead our stellar team to new heights. I will be in the shadows, training, coaching and cheering our team on as we seek to ‘fill the void’ in the lives of a what I believe is the most confused and hurting generation in human history.

Passing the Baton, Bonnie Rodriguez Executive Director

I am overjoyed to formally join the Youth for Christ team. I fell in love with Youth for Christ ten years ago when I had the honor of being introduced to Bonnie and I got to see first-hand the life-changing work being done.

I immediately became a staunch supporter of this amazing organization and mission. Bonnie is such an outstanding leader and I am humbled and excited to work hard to continue her legacy and faithfully serve in this beautiful mission.

The work that the entire Youth for Christ team and volunteers do is essential in bringing Christ’s love and hope as young people are facing unprecedented times of pain, fear and uncertainty. We have a bold 5-year plan being launched with the goal of serving thousands of more teens in Miami-Dade and Boward, but we can’t do it without your prayers and support.

Thank you for being such an important part of Youth for Christ. I can’t wait to work together with you to bring joy and hope to our children who need it most through Christ’s love.

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 Taking the Baton, Tia Diaz-Balart Future Executive Director

“I Don’t Have Anything to Believe...”

Maria* visited Campus Life at Cutler Bay Senior High in 2020 for seven weeks before the Covid lockdown. Soon after we connected online and I had the joy of praying with her to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.

She has been growing in her faith since and had the chance to attend youth group at Granada Presbyterian for the first time this summer. She enjoyed it so much that she brought her friend, Brianna*, the next week.

Even though life is not easy for Maria, she has a heart for others. Her friend, Brianna, was kicked out of her home so Maria asked her mom if she could stay with them. I asked if there was anything Brianna needed to get settled and she asked for hangers. As I headed to the store, the Holy Spirit nudged my heart to help Brianna feel cared for and restore some dignity to her by giving her some personal items that could be her own. When I arrived with a laundry basket full of necessities, their smiles looked like Christmas morning. It was a joy to be a bright spot in a dark time. Brianna told Maria, “I can’t believe she brought all this stuff for me.

No wonder you were talking to her so much!”

I took them to dinner and youth group the next week, hoping to hear more of Brianna’s story and introduce her to Jesus’s story! On the way home, she opened up about her spiritual history.

“When I was really little my Abuela took me to a Catholic Church and we played games and it was nice, but I don’t remember the lessons. Then I moved with my Dad in the city and he is a Santero so I had to give candy to the statue in our house. He took me to see a man that started shaking and speaking in another kind of deep voice and it scared me because I was only ten. Then at a ceremony people were walking on glass pieces and hot stones and screaming, so I don’t like Santeria. Now that I am here I don’t have anything to believe or hold onto because I don’t know what is true, but I believe there is a God.” When I offered her a Bible that I had in my car, she didn’t hesitate, “Yes! I love to read, so I will read it.” Please pray that Brianna will come to know Jesus as her friend Maria did. She is a senior this year at Cutler Bay High and excited to be part of the Campus Life club at her school.

April Lovins Campus Life Senior High Director *Names has been changed

3,500 YOUTH REACHED OR SERVED ANNUALLY

127 VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF

52

COMMUNITY AND CHURCHES

27

WEEKLY PROGRAMS AT 20 SITES

JUVENILE JUSTICE OUTREACH

serves high-risk youth, helping them build a firm foundation for life through mentorship, life skills, community and faith.

CITY LIFE KIX

shares the love of Christ with under-resourced youth and their families, empowering them to change their community for Christ.

CAMPUS LIFE

provides a fun, social environment where middle and high school students consider God’s great love for them and how it impacts their relationships, decisions and self-worth.

CATALYST HIP-HOP

provides a safe and positive venue for youth involved in the Hip-Hop culture to break dance, DJ and emcee, while connecting to the positive message of Jesus Christ.

-Text from 15-year-old boy to City Life KIX staff “Hello, I know it’s kinda weird to text you all at this time, but I been having such a bad time lately. I just wanted to know if you could help me in how I could talk with Jesus.”

-Text from 17-year-old girl from Cutler Bay High, Campus Life “How can I get to know Jesus on a deeper level and how can Jesus help with issues in my family?”

-Luis, 14-year-old, on ride home after participating in Catalyst summer program “Although I was praying for my release and it didn’t happen, God already set me free and I see myself changing everyday.”

-17-year-old boy sentenced to 18-month program Juvenile Justice Outreach

“

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“I want to get closer to God. I opened up the Bible and read all the way to the second verse or story line. I noticed I’ve been lost and I’ve fallen off track. And I want to fix that. I’ve been using the 40-day challenge small book you gave me too.”

GO OVER THE EDGE AT NIGHT! Together we can STOP YOUTH VIOLENCE in all of it’s forms — bullying, fighting, shootings and sexual assault. According to the CDC, one of the primary ways to prevent youth violence is through mentoring and after-school programs. Youth for Christ provides 27 intervention and prevention programs with Christian mentors across the county each week.

This thrilling yet safe event will help curb the rising tide of youth violence by generating crucial funds to help nearly 3,500 young people.

December 4, 2021

Register | Learn More | Donate

www.MiamiOTE.com

STAFF AND BOARD Ace Arechar City Life KIX Althea Harris Board Amy Villatoro Office Angel Terrero Juvenile Justice April Lovins Campus Life Bonnie Rodriguez Director Brielle Fowlkes City Life KIX Calvin Babcock Board Chris Jeong Campus Life Darrel Smith Board David Arnaez Catalyst Hip-Hop David Smith Board Delna Elisme Volunteers Dwayne Eslick Campus Life Eddie Otero Campus Life Elizeth Gomero Donor Care Fabian Movilla Catalyst Hip-Hop Gaelle Demosthene City Life KIX George Brown Board Glenn Craig Juvenile Justice Isaac Morales City Life KIX Jakeria Carr City Life KIX James W. Kern Board Javier Alfaro Catalyst Hip-Hop

Joab Durmonay City Life KIX Johanna Ralsten-Cox Director Jonathan Saintil City Life KIX Jorge Perez-Prado City Life KIX Jules Altidor City Life KIX Julieta Vazquez Campus Life Kenson Paris City Life KIX Macrina Perez City Life KIX Mary Ann Draghi City Life KIX Natalie Gomero Campus Life Neil Eskolin Board Phyllis Webber Community Ray Fernandez-Andes Board Ronnie Lillard Juvenile Justice Sean Lopez Office Sonia Lopez Director Sonia Rehder Events Stacy Morales City Life KIX Suly Ashe Office Thalia Elisme City Life KIX Tia Diaz-Balart Director Venia Cadet City Life KIX Will Erwich Board William Rodriguez Office

HELP US FILL THE VOID As a giving partner, you help reach young people at pivotal moments.

MAKE YOUR MARK. Reach young people with the hope of Jesus.

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