By: Curt Williams, Founder & Executive Director
From the day that the very first boy entered our care in late 1984, the Lord has shaped, led and molded Youth-Reach Houston into what it is today. As the founder of the program, I must confess that there were times when I resisted the Lord’s direction, arrogantly believing that I could see a better way, and that He would soon come around to my way of thinking.
He has yet to ever do that.
After the bruises, wasted time and embarrassments led me to conclude that the Father’s ways were vastly superior to my thinking, I began to watch for His hand in the way He was shaping this work. Early on, most of the kids that came into our care had no parental support. In fact, most had no parental contact, so the notion of charging parents was never considered, as we could not even find them.
In time, the Lord made it clear that this was according to His plan, and we were never to charge a fee for what we provide. Our “business model” does not take into account any financial support coming from parents, so this burden has never been placed on them.
In 1986, as we were applying for a state license to legally do what we had been doing illegally for almost two years, I was approached by county and state child welfare officials with lucrative offers of support. When I looked closely at the contract they were offering it was found to include stipulations that would limit how we shared the Gospel and how we involved our kids in church activities. I rejected those contracts then and we have rejected them many times since, turning away tens of thousands of dollars a month. The Lord has led us to the conviction that troubled kids is an issue best addressed by the Body of Christ, and not a godless state bureaucracy.
Flipping the usual dynamic on its head, applicants are not enticed to come to Youth-Reach with a motive of profit for the ministry, as we do not charge, so boys have to convince us that they are worth our time and the Lord’s money. We will not exhaust the funds supplied to us by generous people like you to care for entitled, lazy or disinterested kids.
They may come to us with felony charges, hearts full of hate and anger, violent pasts, or simply as spoiled brats, but all of them must bring along a teachable heart. They must, even if begrudgingly, receive correction and discipline.
This stance creates a healthy environment, where new boys come into a program where the residents are all seeking to reach goals, better themselves, and improve their future prospects. This is what I ask you to invest in…. Not in the lives of those intent on continuing down a criminal path, but to invest in young men who have committed themselves to a very difficult process. Our responsibility then is to make sure that you get a good return on your investment, by pressing these boys to overcome, grow, achieve and excel. This is the process, and we are deeply grateful for the investment you make into the lives of our kids.
