Polk County Ministry in Action:
WHAT WE DO
- Youth for Christ of Polk County is focusing its attention on the troubled youth of our community through six distinct ministry areas:
- Institutional Work includes weekly services, one-to-one mentoring, Bible studies, evening services and more at Polk Halfway House, Polk Juvenile Detention Center, Sheriff’s Youth Villa, Avon Park Youth Academy, and George W. Harris Jr. Run-a-way Shelter. Youth for Christ is the only national organization involved in juvenile prison ministry.
- Alternative Schools such as Don Woods Center, Roosevelt Vo/Tech, and Bill Duncan Opportunity Center present unique opportunities to reach kids each week. Semi-annual assembly programs are also a part of this ministry outreach.
- Neighborhood Services through weekly small group meetings give concentrated time for training and mentoring. Our staff develops helping, caring relationships with troubled kids who live in neighborhoods that dictate delinquency. This program helps focus our attention on prevention … reaching at-risk kids before it’s too late
- Wilderness Stress Camping often provides troubled young lives outdoor opportunities that they have never before experienced. Week-long camps for both girls and boys are conducted each summer.
- Lifeline Youth Ranch for dependent and delinquent youth is in the planning stages. This has become increasingly more important as our ranch development committee is actively pursuing this residential project. We will focus our energies on preteens (8-12 yrs old) that have nothing more salvageable in their homes. Property acquisition is under way as we watch God turn this dream into reality
- Referral/Networking is a way of tapping a multiplicity of resources to meet the needs of youth and their families. Since Youth For Christ cannot in itself meet all the physical and psychological needs of young people, we have developed this program which helps locate and refer children to organizations, primarily residential, that can help troubled youth and their families. Hundreds of families have been helped during the past several years!
Youth for Christ of Polk County
P.O. Box 2584
Winter Haven, FL 33883
(863) 325-9220 YFCPolk@tampabay.rr.com
