Defiance Area YFC and Juvenile Court Partnership Is Changing Lives
March 24, 2022 – Through a partnership between Defiance Area Youth for Christ (YFC) and the Paulding County Juvenile Court, local youth who find themselves in contact with the juvenile justice system are discovering there are people in the community who care about them and their well-being.
YFC has offered programming over the past few years to youth referred by the Paulding County Juvenile Court. Youth have participated in a 10-week cooking class at the Paulding Church of the Nazarene and a 10-week fishing program at the Paulding Reservoir. The program is called LIFT, which stands for Living in Frustrating Times, and is led by Kari Gathany, who coordinates the Juvenile Justice Ministry at YFC.
“Being able to work with the Juvenile Probation Department has been an encouragement as we all seek to encourage teens during these difficult days,” said Gathany.
Paulding County Juvenile Court Judge Michael Wehrkamp is grateful for YFC’s ministry. “Kari has done a tremendous job with our youth, who often find themselves in discouraging life circumstances with little stability,” said Wehrkamp. “They find out in the LIFT Program that there is hope for them and that there are people who care about them and their success.”
Gathany leads the classes and is aided by several community-minded volunteers. Some of the bonds formed have been life-changing for the youth. “Providing a fun and interactive way to discuss life issues and skills that teens can take with them throughout life through the means of mentoring relationships is impactful in the teens’ lives,” said Gathany.
Wehrkamp was a guest at the final cooking class of the 10-week program. “As the children prepared and served the food, you could see on their faces just how impactful the program had been on them. Their faces told the story,” Wehrkamp recalled. “And all the while, they’re learning a valuable life skill.”
Future classes are scheduled for 2022. Next month, the LIFT Program will return to fishing while incorporating outdoor cooking skills.
Youth participating in the LIFT Program are not required to participate in any faith activities, and a youth may request an alternative to the YFC programming if he or she wishes. “We respect the varying religious beliefs of the children who participate,” said Gathany.
