When I was in 7th grade my friend invited me to Youth Venture for the first time. It was a place where a lot of the kids in the neighborhood hung out. Although it was full of pool tables, video games and more what drew us back again and again was that they let us break dance. Break dancing was really important to my friends and me. We tried to dress like the more famous break dancers and emulate the way they talked and danced. We must have looked strange to the adults who volunteered to work at Youth Venture. But because (as I later learned) they really cared for us they made a place for us to dance by sectioning off an area, getting us a stereo system and even sponsoring us as a team.

We made Youth Venture our regular hangout. I had been to church on and off at different points in my life and it had always seemed irrelevant to me. But God began to become relevant as the YV adults took my friends and me through the mentoring lessons. These adult relationships at the Center made a huge impact on me. With my dad temporarily out of my life and my mom consumed with her own problems these adults became like solid anchors in my life. Pastor Mark became the man that, as a youngster, I needed. 1-le was always checking up on me and holding me accountable.

The special events and trips began to make a difference in me as well. Every week during the summer they would take us all to the beach. Afterwards we would go to Loren and Paula Naffaiger’s house and sing worship songs. I remember how good it felt to be in the Lord’s presence during those times. It felt so positive, loving and encouraging (ali of which were in short supply in my life) and I began to eagerly look forward to those times.

One day Pastor Mark encouraged me to go to a week long camp at the beach. I told him that I didn’t want to go, but he kept encouraging me, so I finally admitted that I didn’t have any money. He said that he knew a businessman who would pay for me to go. That week really was a turning point for me. Growing up is not an overnight event or a single choice and I had some ups and downs over the next few years. But Youth Venture was always there. It provided me with the truth, loving support, a solid foundation, and the opportunity to make a permanent choice to walk with the Lord.

Today I am married (to Pastor Mark’s niece) and have two beautiful daughters. I own two businesses (a construction company and Kingly Coverings—a clothing company). I am active in my church and have had many opportunities to give back at Youth Venture.

Just as important, God has touched my whole family. My dad is now a Christian and has a successful construction business. We often work together on projects. My mom also is a Christian and became drug-free 10 years ago and is now happily married to a Christian man. Youth Venture helped open the door to huge blessings for me and my whole family.

We have some powerful testimonies from some of our success stories. This is just a small part of the impact that Youth Venture Teen Centers have had on the youth of today and leaders of tomorrow.

Today’s youth desperately need guidance and direction.

Use of the center is available to kids ages 10-18 at no charge.

Membership is simple, a signed permission slip from a parent or guardian, with OKs for all our “athletic activities”, and a commitment to complete at least 3 one-on-one mentorship courses with a trained Youth Venture volunteer.

Course lesson plans are available for parent’s review at the center and will soon be available online.

I started volunteering at the Lakeside center when it first opened, but had to quit when my wife, Sheila, became ill and I was needed at home. I wasn’t able to give my time, but I hoped some day to be able to give financially to support Youth Venture.

For many years I wanted to start my own business and finally it happened. God granted me my desire. I was able to open J&S Restaurant Services Inc. Right away, Sheila and I decided to give back to God by financially supporting Youth Venture.

It was not until last week that I realized something quite amazing. Something I had forgotten from some 40 years. The doors, from which we stood collecting our food, were the same doors I tore down recently to enlarge my business. You see, the building my business is in is the same building where I stood as a kid with my mom. The same place that once caused me shame and embarrassment now brings me joy and pride.

I now give to Youth Venture helping kids in my community though my business. Money was something we didn’t have as a kid, but now we are able to give from our abundance. God took a low point in my life and turned it into good. I have to believe He knew all along I would walk through those doors again, this time in victory.

Every member of our family has served at Youth Venture in some way. Youth Venture provides a safe, fun, family-type atmosphere where kids can hang out and learn from real people who they really are in Christ Jesus. Our desire is to see a change in the youth of our community. It’s not a burden; it’s something we just do.

Joe Schworm and his wife Sheila have helped Youth Venture over the years in many ways along with their three children, Jesse, Cody and Stacy. Their business, J&R Restaurant Services Inc. is located in Lakeside at Woodside Ave. and Wintergardens Blvd.

On the night of April 14, 1912, the great ocean liner, the TITANIC, crashed into an iceberg in the Atlantic and sank, causing great loss of life. There were not enough lifeboats for all and so women and children were seated first. One wealthy woman who had a place in one of the lifeboats asked if she could return to her state room for something and was given just 3 minutes to do so. As she hurried through the corridors, she stepped over money and precious gems littering the floor where they had just been dropped in haste. In her own stateroom she ignored her own jewelry, and instead grabbed three oranges. Then she quickly returned to her place in the lifeboat.

Perhaps, the woman had spent her entire life collecting her jewelry and fashions, but on that day her values changed, as she recognized that food was necessary for life, but jewels were not.

Like her, sometimes we grab for things that seem to sparkle, glitter and shine and forget about things that are far more important and necessary. Many people struggle to gain possessions or fame and yet neglect something far more important, their inward character.

Your character is whom you truly are inside. It is the combination of habits, traits, strengths and weaknesses that make you who you are. It is possible to develop good character; it is also possible to develop bad character.

1. First, as a Christian you get a clean, FRESH START.

Nobody would like to step up to the plate to bat and have two strikes against them. You want a new count every time you come up to bat.

In life, many people feel like they are already behind in the count. Perhaps because of some bad things that have happened to them, or because of mistakes they have made they feel like they already have two strikes against them.

However, when we give our life to Jesus and invite Him in to be Master of our life, we get a new, fresh start. Having Jesus in your life changes everything. It changes how you feel and think. It changes how you treat people. You may have failed at things in the past (like school or getting along with family members) but now with Jesus’ help it can be different.

You are a new person-the past is finished and gone. You have a new count. You’re at bat with no strikes against you in the game of life.

Some of the greatest heroes in the Bible were wicked men, terrible failures and giant screw-ups until they tried again with Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It is still the same today. Every church is full of people who had terrible problems and got a fresh start with Jesus.

Why should I care?
Why should I try?
Do you ever just feel like saying, “WHATEVER . . .WHO CARES” about everything?

Most young people feel this way sometimes. It’s easy to become confused about how to fit in, how to succeed or where our life is going. Sometimes it seems that the people around us don’t care very much. Sometimes they don’t seem to be trying very hard. So why should you? I mean, what’s the point?

Everyone, at some time, asks themselves:

How did I get here?
Am I here just by accident or was I specially designed and planned?
Is there a reason that I am here on earth?
Is there a plan for my life?

Our answers to these questions determine how we look at life and feel about
ourselves. In fact, our answers to these questions determine how we feel about our
future and whether we believe we can overcome our problems.

You’re gonna need a YV Permission Slip to ride here, so save it now, have a parent fill it out and sign, then grab your helmet and bike, and take your chances on the jumps.