The Long-Term Joy
Curt WilliamsBy Curt Williams, Founder & Executive Director

By the time you read this, Youth-Reach will have eclipsed the 40-year mark. As the founder of this ministry, I am humbled and even astonished that all of this has occurred. Truly, the Father deserves every ounce of honor. He has provided from that first faltering year to our present day. I’m not sure if this hits you as it does me, but the fact that we have been in 24-hour-a-day uninterrupted operation for over 40 YEARS is a tremendous testimony of the provision and power of God.

Today, one of my greatest joys is connecting with my Youth-Reach sons. They are in every imaginable market, venture and occupation you can imagine. There’s Tim Coman who is pastoring in Kentucky, Brett Medlin who leads a lifesaving ministry in Cambodia (rockfoundationcambodia.org), and Kelley Leger who is an international evangelist (spearheadmissions.com).

Chris Webb is a CPA, Huy Dang works for Tesla, TJ Martin is a successful businessman in Seattle, and Ben Haugh owns the largest independently owned remediation company in Austin. Many have earned college degrees, and a few have advanced degrees. They are in finance, the automotive industry, sales, ministry, IT, education, the oil field, social services and the military.

Marcus Cravens, Christian Powell, Lance McClure, Adrian Valdez, Eric Boothe and Dan Stratton have all served in the military. Jeffrey Mathis is an active-duty Marine, and Zachary Armsbury is active in the Army.

Some of my greatest joy is linked to these past residents. I cannot help but call them sons. I love to meet up with them for lunch, catch up with them when I am traveling, stay connected via social media, and have the opportunity to see them grow into strong men. It has been a joy to baptize many of them, to stand before them when they make their marriage vows, or show up when their children are born. So few of our boys have a present father, so it is an honor to share this role.

I have also officiated the funeral of too many of them, and I have some who are serving time in prison or have done so. It doesn’t matter, though—they are always a son. Some are struggling with the horrors of their childhood they have yet to overcome, but I love them. Many of the men who serve here at Youth-Reach stay in contact with these guys, and we will seek to always be there for them.

All of this is only possible because people like you invest in these young lives. Your giving to Youth-Reach empowers us, equips us, and pays the bills so that these and many more in the future can enter a true home—one where joy, laughter, safety, and respect are commonplace. Thank you for that investment, and please do not forget to pray for Youth-Reach.