Donald E. Woods Opportunity Center
Don Woods School- Every Tuesday 7:30-8:15 am= Girls Small Group
Every Friday 7:30-8:15 am= Girls One to One Follow Up and Boys Small Group
Every Friday 7:30-8:15 am= Girls One to One Follow Up and Boys Small Group
Formerly the Polk County Opportunity Center, Bill Duncan Opportunity Center was renamed after the well-respected “Father of Discipline in Polk County Schools,” upon his retirement in 1992. In 2005, it became Bill Duncan Excel Center as established by The Excel and ResCare Company as an alternative behavioral management school which followed the Excel-ResCare Alternative School plan.
In 2009, the 300 student maximum facility was re-staffed with Polk County Schools personnel, including a principal who also serves to oversee the Don Woods Opportunity Center in Dundee. Bill Duncan Opportunity Center is located on the same campus as Traviss Career Center and serves students in grades 6 through 12 from a multitude of middle and high schools in Polk County.
In 2009, the 300 student maximum facility was re-staffed with Polk County Schools personnel, including a principal who also serves to oversee the Don Woods Opportunity Center in Dundee. Bill Duncan Opportunity Center is located on the same campus as Traviss Career Center and serves students in grades 6 through 12 from a multitude of middle and high schools in Polk County.
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We are a ministry that reaches out to the "At Risk Youth" population here in our community and we have just finished two rap concerts at our local opportunity schools. The first group at Bill Duncan was filled with high school students that have suffered many forms of abuse and are living on the edge of life. It is always hard to discern the depth of despair that our young people are dealing with so we rely on the Spirit of our God to bring those that He touches to our attention. Monday was an incredible day as we witnessed Jesus arriving at school in a very powerful way…He came and touched the lives of kids outside the borders of the city.
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Ten desperate, without hope, young people gave their lives to Jesus in a school lunchroom after they heard someone enter their world with their music. The group of rap artists shared their testimonies and rapped their songs with clarity so that the Word of God was without emptiness in their hearts. In a room filled with over eighty despaired lives, I respectfully witnessed ninety-nine percent of them bowing their heads in reverence to our God with the need of someone to give them hope. Jesus walked into our world as they prayed in that moment and set ten of them (that we know of) apart for Himself
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The next school, even more incredible, was filled with over one hundred and thirty “troubled youth.” I have been doing ministry with our population of young people for twenty one years and I am more convinced today, than ever before, that revival will come through our hurting, unruly and outcast kids “IF” we will just go outside our comfort walls and reach out to them. The challenge is to enter their world with social activities they understand, love them not because we want to change them - but - because Jesus loves them while they are yet sinners. Hard to do, yes, but while Jesus was on the cross and had suffered through the beating, ridicule and unbelief of those He came to save, He said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
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Is rap glorifying God? Nope. People giving into His offer of Hope and Salvation is what glorifies our God. We know what He wants and it is the hearts of His children. Let’s pray as we join together with believers in the faith and go get those that Jesus has set apart for our family!
Heb 13:13 That's why we should go outside the camp to Jesus and share in His disgrace.
Blessings,
Mike Young, Executive Director
Youth For Christ of Polk County
Heb 13:13 That's why we should go outside the camp to Jesus and share in His disgrace.
Blessings,
Mike Young, Executive Director
Youth For Christ of Polk County
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