Meaningful relationships can make a huge difference in the lives of youth who are struggling with pivotal life choices — and even for those dealing with the consequences of negative choices already made.
In 1992, 15-year-old David Welch was driven to desperation after years of living with an abusive alcoholic father and woke up one fateful morning knowing that he was either going to kill himself or his father. Feeling there was no other way out of the cycle of abuse, Welch fatally shot his father, resulting in a hasty trial and a verdict declaring Welch guilty of first-degree murder. The mandatory penalty was life in prison and the possibility of parole in 25 years.
The situation seemed dire, but God used it for His glory. In prison, Welch met volunteers from Youth For Christ (YFC, www.yfc.net), a leader in missional youth outreach for 78 years. YFC’sJuvenile Justice ministry works inside the justice system, coming alongside youth and building relationships that are sustained through ongoing involvement as young people navigate the different pillars encompassing the juvenile justice system: Community, Courts, and Corrections.
The YFC volunteers told Welch that God loved him and that there was a plan for his life. This new outlook on his life gave Welch’s life a new trajectory — after leading him to Christ, the volunteers helped guide him through his GED and seminary, ultimately inspiring Welch to be a model inmate and lead classes within the prison himself. The YFC staff were so moved by his story and the way the Lord was changing his heart that they sought legal help to get clemency.
While waiting for freedom, Welch taught classes in the Corrections Transition Program, including one whose focus is finding meaning in life while stuck in a situation that seems hopeless. It’s also about learning to accept responsibility.
“I’m responsible for my actions,” Welch said. “But who I am today is not who I was when I was a teenager.”
After 27 long years and many clemency and parole hearings, Welch was granted parole in 2019 and is still using his story to share the Good News.
Eric Holm, YFC Polk County executive director, commented, “While David was still in prison, other prisoners would be released and call YFC to share that they came to faith through David’s witness in prison. After he was released from prison, David has often shared his story with young people and discussed the redemption he found in Christ. He serves our ministry at any chance he gets! Recently, David’s parole was terminated, and he is now completely free from any supervision by the Department of Corrections. He attributes his success and second chance in life to God’s divine purpose and plan for him — a lesson he learned in a juvenile detention center from a volunteer YFC leader.”
YFC chapters impact thousands of communities across the nation, seeking out and serving youth from all walks of life. Young people are silently struggling through a wide variety of challenging issues—and through the YFC ministry, God empowers them and they see the living power of a loving God. YFCtrains its leaders in a proven, relational ministry model called 3Story®, which encourages staff and volunteers to be good news while also sharing the stories of the Good News of Jesus. It involves building relationships through the ups and downs of everyday life to lead people to Christ.
YFC has been a pillar of missional ministry since 1944, when Dr. Billy Graham served as YFC’s first full-time staff member. Since then, Youth For Christ has continued to be both a rural and urban ministry on mission, and it is always about the message of Jesus. Youth For Christ operates in over 100 nations and has over 130 chapters that impact communities across America.
Visit the Youth For Christ media page here. Learn more about Youth For Christ at its website, www.yfc.net, Facebook and Instagram pages, Twitter feed @yfcusa or on Vimeo.