Youth Venture [teen centers]

My life growing up was always hard. But it seemed to hit a low point when I was 12. My parents were split up and my mother had another boyfriend. My father was in prison and I only saw him rarely on certain visitation days and even then there was always a glass window between us. I lived with my mother and two sisters in a run-down apartment in El Cajon. We lived on welfare but there was seldom any food in the refrigerator because my mother had an addiction to crystal meth. There was no structure to my family or my life.

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.