We’ve all heard the old saying, “Change is the only constant.” Change can bring relief, but it can also bring challenges. The last day of school for the Spokane Public Schools was on June 17th. The transition to summer is a change that our students face every year, but not every student is as happy about this as others. One student dreads time at home, where they live in a turbulent environment and often go without reliable meals twice a day. Another needs to babysit a younger sibling while the parents are at work. Many more look forward to time alone, with countless hours wasted on social media, video games, and streaming services.
As YFC transitions to summer, we are adjusting our hours to provide respite during the midday. We’ll be providing lunches three days a week at noon and offering meal boxes to anyone who needs them. We’ll offer an assortment of workshops this summer to stimulate minds and creativity, keeping students engaged in the real world. And we’ll be doing some super fun things, such as a variety of adventurous day trips: a 3-day rock-climbing and rafting trip, and Collide summer camp!
Looking back at the last semester, we’ve seen some ups and downs. We’ve had excellent opportunities to build fruitful relationships with some core students as attendance fluctuated during May. We also received some challenging news from a few students: incarceration, parents divorcing, court dates, moving to different areas, and sick family members. Regardless, Youth for Christ stood as a bastion of stability for Spokane’s youth, always there with a homemade meal and a listening ear.
For those of us who would like to see numbers:
- Hillyard Average Weekly attendance is 65 youth.
- Downtown Average Weekly attendance is 5 youth.
- Total Unique Visitors totalled 206.
- First-time Visitors totalled 57.
Amid the trials, a few students are taking the next steps with Jesus and considering baptism! Our goal this summer is to be more intentional with our core students, teaching them in small group settings and everyday life. We are hopeful to share big news with you next quarter about the fruit of our work!
As we move forward into Q3 of 2025, we look forward to several significant events upcoming for our organization. We are hosting Spokane Prays for a 12-hour prayer on July 18th at our downtown location. We would love to see you there! Please consider joining us for this powerful event. We’re also hosting our annual Back-to-School Block Party on August 18th! Last year, we had over 600 participants and distributed more than 400 backpacks and meals, and close to a 100 haircuts! We’re also excited to announce the Keys of Hope Event on October 25th! This event will be an excellent opportunity for the community to hear more about the ministry and see the result of what God is doing in our midst. We hope to see you at these events!
As always, Spokane YFC is unwavering in our commitment to making a difference in the lives of every youth in Spokane; continue to pray that the Lord would bless this work.
Scroll down for some awesome pictures of this quarter!
