Salem4Youth is wrapping up a busy season of ministry to troubled teens, with several youth graduating from the program over the course of the summer. This year, thanks to a new emphasis on working with families in addition to youth, those graduates aren’t just leaving the ranch with new hope in their hearts. They’re returning to a new environment at home. “These young men come to us struggling and in need of direction,” says Terry Benge, executive director, “but the families are hurting, too. That’s why we’ve started requiring families to participate in counseling as well. It’s a great opportunity to evangelize and disciple families as well as their sons.” As a result, two parents have come to faith in Christ, and all parents are better equipped to handle conflict at home.
“If all we did was work with the son and not the family,” explains Terry, “the risk of failure would be much greater.” Instead, through faith, counseling, and love, families are discovering new hope for a peaceful home environment. As one parent remarked to a son in a recent session, “We’re very proud of your changes, but we want you to know that we’ve changed, too.” To learn more about how God is changing lives at Salem4Youth, visit salem4youth.com.
