Incarcerated Youth Update!

Last year 2011: Pacific Youth Correctional Ministries came in contact with 13,000 teenagers!!!

It will be interesting to see what the total # will be at the end of 2012.

In 1985 Pacific Youth was started because of the desperate need to reach out to the incarcerated youth in Orange County and to share the Gospel and make disciples. The majority of prison ministries in America are focused just on adults.The youth have been severely neglected,outcasted & overlooked. Pacific Youth is a very unique ministry and one of a kind in the nation!

More than half a million young people are currently being imprisoned each year in more than 100 juvenile detention facilties across America. Criminal statistics of the FBI show that aggressive crimes committed by adolescents are close to exceeding in number the total aggressive crimes committed by all other age groups.

And THIS is my DAILY /FULL TIME/MINISTRY/ life mission!! Lots of work to do, as you can see!!

****THIS WEEK ALONE i personally had the chance to interact/minister to over 100 teenagers!!!!! (67 at church this morning, 10+ at Mon/Tues Bible studies, one-on-one discipleship counseling, & other encounters on the "Outs")****

If you have prayed for me, encouraged me, financially supported me or volunteered in any way=YOU have invested in all of these youth & families' lives also! Every Salvation is added to your account also!!! Can you imagine the impact on His Kingdom if the  majority of those teens believed in Him, put their FAITH in ACTION, & went out & changed ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, AMERICA AND THE WORLD FOR HIM?!! It is happening folks! Believe it or not, i have been eye witnessing it firsthand!

Wednesday-  I met up for an hour with a young 17yr old young man full of energy in Intake Unit Z. He had attended my Bible study Tues evening & then requested to see me & get his own Bible. I delivered his own new Bible and sat down to hear his life story.He really opened up to me and PASSIONATELY shared with me how he wants to be a pastor someday or a military chaplain. He has a HUNGER to study His Word and share it. He was thrilled to get his own Bible. I told him that i have been ministering to incarcerated youth for about 8yrs & i have NEVER met a teen so enthusiastic about sharing with others. He is also a talented rapper  & wants to rap for the LORD to glorify Him & reach out to other troubled teens. How refreshing this was for both of us: for me to hear it & for him to get encouraged by me. God was/is at work within this boy! We have a future leader and pastor here! He is a skilled football player,on top of that!Please pray that he stays on track with the LORD & that his fire & passion for sharing the Gospel never gets extinguished!  I saw him at church in the Hall this morning & he came up & shook my hand & had a big smile on his face- he was excited that i simply remembered his face & his 1st name. (they get called by their last names all day)

Thursday Discipleship!-   God calls us to share the Gospel & make disciples (followers). I have had the honor of discipling a young woman the last several months. I meet up with her for an hour each week  & study the Bible with her/go through discipleship materials. She has been incarcerated for 10 months now. She placed her faith in Jesus Christ when she came into Juvenile Hall! She has about 14 months left of time & i get to spend that time with her. This girl has a 1yr old little boy, who i have met. I have been able to see the GROWTH & MATURITY in her over the past few months. I have witnessed BIG changes in  her attitude, thoughts & actions. She is extremely grateful for the time we get to meet & we walk through life together. She is my little sister in Christ & i am extremely PROUD of her! She is already being a leader to the young ladies in her unit & standing up for what's right, even when it's difficult. Please pray that she continues to be strong in Christ!

THANK YOU for your prayers and support! Please feel free to share this blog/blog link with anyone/post on Facebook... spread the word! If you would like to receive my weekly email with the specific names/prayer requests from the youth, please let me know! God bless you!

Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Isaiah 58:6 "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?"