By Curt Williams, Founder & Executive Director
How Can You Place a Price on a Life Changed?
For over forty years, a cornerstone of Youth-Reach’s work has been to provide all our services free of charge. This is only possible because people like you believe in the mission of reaching and ministering to troubled boys in very tangible ways. It is more than evangelism, as our focus is on the oft-neglected concept of one-on-one discipleship. And for us, it is even more than that. It is teaching boys everything from proper hygiene to how to use hand tools correctly. We teach them proper behaviors without destroying the wild elements of authentic manhood. We teach our guys to honor and protect women—and how to change the oil in a car.
What they are receiving is a total redirection of the trajectory of their lives. In the relatively short time we have them—in comparison to their entire lifetimes—our goal is to walk with them and teach them not only how to succeed in life, but also to consider the claims of Christ. From there, the course of their lives is altered. They will be different husbands and fathers. They will excel in the workplace due to the work ethic instilled in them here at Youth-Reach. And they will have no excuse when they one day stand before God, as they have heard and seen demonstrated the gospel message.
I asked one of my Youth-Reach sons, Caleb Combs (who is now 43 years old), to consider sharing with you his experience at Youth-Reach, and here is his unedited testimony:
Last week, I found myself on the phone with my college-attending daughter offering her unsolicited life advice—as fathers are wont to do. Her eye rolling was as audible as it was silent, but she offered a polite segue by asking me to explain my last comment. “Be careful of your choices,” I cautioned her. “History has a way of repeating itself.” I suddenly remembered it was the same advice my own father had given me many moons ago. Irony, it seems, is not without humor. Conversely, it’s not without tragedy either.
Some of you may understand where I’m coming from: having a father who wanted to impart his experience and wisdom on you in the hopes you would store it away for just the right occasion. Alternatively, your father may have had only ineffectual teachings to offer. I’m sure there are more than a few of you whose father was absent, and you would have been happy to have either. But as of today, there are several thousand boys and men who have found that exceptional fatherly leadership through the staff of Youth-Reach Houston.
Youthful foolishness, a sharp tongue and my equally scornful behavior were undoubtedly not what my parents had expected for their firstborn. I figured that I was the smartest person in the room—especially when my folks were around—and I made quick work of breaking as many of their rules as I could. As I stepped into Youth-Reach at age 14, I did my best to continue this same pattern. It didn’t take long for Curt and the staff to reveal a powerful truth to me: I wasn’t quite as smart as I thought—not by a mile. It was a difficult journey for me at Youth-Reach, and admittedly, there was a steep learning curve. Curt had explained to me how some boys weren’t ready to make changes until they reached a bottom point. After almost a year of watching that bottom get closer, I finally surrendered myself to God’s will and the providence He offered me through Youth-Reach. I struggle to think where I would be had it not been for this program.
Caleb Combs, Curt Williams & Cameron Combs
Those who know me also know that I lost my son Cameron tragically and unexpectedly several years ago. But not only was he my son, he was a Youth-Reach son. History had found a way to repeat itself: Cameron went through the program as well and found the same salvation through Christ that I had. In my time of grief and despair, Curt and Youth-Reach once again brought me up from that bottom.
If you’ve given to Youth-Reach in the past, I’m truly grateful for the investment you’ve made in me, Cameron and the countless others who have passed through the program. Perhaps you’re considering giving or are curious what exactly your donation goes to. I could offer you figures on how more than 70% of every dollar has gone to helping almost 4,000 kids. But the truth is so much bigger than that: your contribution has a lasting and generational impact on boys who will learn what it means to be a respectable member of society, who grow up to become principled husbands and fathers, and who honor God in everything they do.
As you can see, our work has lifelong, generational impact. We are not raising boys, we are raising men, and all of this is possible because of your support. You have a share in every life changed, and we are deeply grateful. Thank you.
