The Union Gospel Mission’s Youth Outreach Program seeks to meet the needs of at-risk children in our community in a variety of ways:  Tshimakain Creek Summer Camp, which is provided free-of-charge to children from low-income neighborhoods, year-round partnerships with local youth groups, and a weekly ministry at juvenile detention.

Juvenile Detention Ministry:

This scene from a recent Wednesday night at Spokane County’s Juvenile Hall might surprise you . . .

Dressed in varying shades of surgical-like scrubs and rubber flip-flops, 23 of the 31 youth currently under confinement were gathered in the detention library for worship and Bible study with volunteers from the Union Gospel Mission. The girls sat up front, the boys in back.  They held worship books in their laps, requested favorite songs and sang with apparent sincerity:  “Holiness.  Holiness is what I long for.” Afterward, they divided into small groups to read the Bible, talk about changing their lives, and share prayer requests with this faithful group of adults who keeps coming back week after week.

Benny King, the guitarist who led the group in worship, was in juvenile detention himself back in 1977.  Now, he’s a business owner committed to helping kids turn their lives around.  Jill Wyrick, who played the jimba drum, is a second-generation volunteer.  Her mom, June, has been coming on Wednesday nights for 28 years.  In fact, many of the volunteers in the juvenile detention ministry are among the Mission’s longest serving:  Danny Beard, 28 years; Jerry McGlade, 26 years; Sherri Hopkins, 24 years; Roy Croswhite, 24 years; Benny King, 20 years; and Don Smith, 18 years.

Danny Beard, who leads the group, explained the motivation behind his long-term commitment:  “Jesus has called me to be faithful.  We come every week and talk to the kids about what it means to know Christ and live the way He wants. Someone plants, someone waters, but God causes the growth.  I keep motivated because we are planting seeds in hearts, and if we don’t, who will?”

Prayer requests from Juvenile Hall:

• Pray with me that God takes charge of my life and that I stay on track.
• I would like prayer that I stay clean, that my child is born healthy, and for my family and friends.
• Pray for me as there is no one to pray for me and my brother.

New Cabins at Tshimakain Creek

Roy Croswhite, one of the long-term volunteers with the Mission’s juvenile detention ministry, is passionate about reaching kids before they get in serious trouble.  “Prevention is better than detention,” he likes to say.  Toward that end, Roy headed up an aggressive fundraising campaign to finance the construction of new cabins at Tshimakain Creek, and the response was incredible.  The Dealers Auto Auction, local car dealers and area churches came together to raise over $43,000, enough to construct two new cabins, and those two cabins will allow 216 more kids to experience a week at camp each summer.