As a substitute teacher at a school that serves military families, Chris Martin sees firsthand that some students lack reading and math skills. Chris is Campus Life Military Director with Youth for Christ. As a military veteran himself, Chris shares, “The thing that I do know is that we have military personnel who have helped with Christ-centered programs all over the world.” These men and women, who get transferred every few years, are often eager to find a way to serve in the local base community. And MacArthur Middle School at Fort Meade, Maryland, is the first school to benefit from the tutoring program, which is supported by Youth for Christ. Students in grades 6, 7, & 8 can get tutoring and encouragement from those who also serve in the Armed Forces.
[We have a full podcast available]
During break times, the tutors and students can talk about life issues, things the kids are struggling with. Chris says a frequent finding is “there is no male leader in the home,” a gap that can have considerable negative side effects. “And they’re looking for somebody to speak into their lives.” Other troubles include bullying, along with the various temptations most all teens and pre-teens face in today’s culture.
Complicating things, COVID-19 restrictions have made a lot of the contact virtual, but Chris and other team members are doing their best to keep relationships moving in a positive direction.
When trust is established with a young person, there is often an opportunity to share faith. For example, Chris is gently opening the door to faith with one student who believes people go to heaven by ‘being good,’ which is a common misconception. There was no concept of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross offering the way to heaven – the only way. But Chris knows he must listen to the Holy Spirit about sharing deeper things at just the right time. Some relationships require a considerable time investment, which Chris and others with YFC are very willing to do. Ultimately, Chris will let a student know, “God has a plan for your life, and you are the only person who gets to have the final decision in it.”
In our podcast below, learn how Chris’ own “101% Principle” helps him reach kids, getting them to open up about life struggles. And he patiently allows the young people to use the coarse language they normally use with friends - words that might offend someone else. But Chris is convinced it’s important that “they know that they are being heard” in their own way. It’s no time to correct them.