By Curt Williams, Founder & Executive Director
When a boy enters Youth-Reach, makes it through the Evaluation Stage, and then commits to the full Youth-Reach process, we also make a commitment. We mark this exact moment with a simple olive green T-shirt. On the front is the familiar Youth-Reach logo, and on the back, in three bold letters, is the word SON.
From that day on, we have adopted this young man into our hearts. He is no longer referred to as a resident, but as a son. We do not call him anything other than his name or by the intimate word son. What is also clear is that this commitment is not terminated on the day he leaves; it is lifelong. If he completes the program or walks out early, he is still a son. If he leaves as a strong graduate or leaves angry, he is still a son. And if he loses his life, we grieve as if we lost a son.
Sadly, that occurrence has taken place more times than I would like to replay.
One of those sons was Simon Billiot.
Simon came into Youth-Reach many years ago at the age of 17. He was born and raised in Golden Meadow, Louisiana, 78 miles south of New Orleans. With his thick Cajun accent, Simon quickly stole our hearts. His sense of humor and consistent mischief were clear to all, but so was his love of life and his gratefulness for what he was receiving. Of all the guys I have cared for over these last 42 years, Simon was indeed a standout.
Simon later came back as an intern, but after a season, it was time for him to return to his family. We kept in touch and spoke by phone often. He got married and had a son, but the ghosts of addiction never left him. He struggled with consistent employment, and over the next 15 years, he defied death on several critical occasions.
Yet, on a day I will never forget, Simon lost the battle and died, leaving his family and his Youth-Reach family crushed. Kelley Leger, now a soul-winning evangelist, had been in Youth-Reach with Simon as a kid. He shared the pulpit with me as we together preached Simon’s memorial down in bayou country. It was there that I met his teenage son, Jean Mikel (pictured above).
At his dad’s memorial, Jean Mikel told me that his dad had once told him that if anything were to happen to him, he needed to connect with me. Jean told me that at his dad’s funeral, we have stayed in contact since that day.
Simon, a son, passed his son on to me, and I am so honored.
Last month, Jean Mikel came to Houston, and we were able to spend some great time together. I am proud of him. He has stepped into manhood well and is now closing in on becoming a journeyman electrician. We speak often of his dad. He told me that Simon told him he gained his work ethic at Youth-Reach, and Jean says that his dad passed that on to him.
Sometimes, sons have sons who need us.
On several occasions, we have had the opportunity to care for the sons of our sons. Jean Mikel Billiot is one of those treasures, and this has been an ongoing and beautiful honor.
So when you give to Youth-Reach, you are not just investing in the boys of today; you are supporting a legacy of care.
Thank you.
