Martina Narris, Youth for Christ
Martina has been part of Youth for Christ for seven years, and came to the club meeting to explain more about the organization. They are actually a youth outreach program, not a church program. The heart of what they do is to share stories; the student’s story, their own story, and Christ’s story.
Youth for Christ (YFC) has programs in such places as Garner, Mason City, Clear Lake, Eldora Detention Center, West Hampton, The Waterloo/Blackhawk Detention Center, and the Polk County Detention Center. They are now working to add programs at Fort Dodge Middle School as well as the Ames Youth Shelter Service Center. Each location has a Board member governing the operation. Rotarian Dave Bowser is on the YFC Board representing the Fort Dodge area.
YFC has three programs:
- A juvenile justice ministry, reaching kids where they are at, and then “Fresh Start” that matches a youth to a mentor from a church,
- Another is called “Parent Life,” reaching out to pregnant and parenting teens, and
- Campus Life, their largest program.
YFC is working to bring Campus Life into the Fort Dodge Middle School. The work of Campus Life includes contacting students, attending school-related events, building time outside of school, Club (a large group that meets weekly), small groups, and appointments. Martina has built relationships to the point that she “is the emergency contact for a lot of the kids.” Counselors have referred kids to YFC, especially those who are in a lot of trouble and who need extra attention.
YFC is working to raise funds so they can expand their staff and their programming. They had a fundraiser at Fort Frenzy where they raised $27,000. Their goal is to raise $110,000 so they can hire another staff member.
YFC is not affiliated with any particular church. Martina shared that students will go where they know people. Students tend to go to the churches where their peers have invited them or where they know a YFC volunteer. Jesus said, "The harvest is plenty, the laborers are few." We pray for the Lord to work among the harvesters, for the need is great.