2022 Christmas Store Update: From Jacki Patten The Christmas Store is a one-of-a-kind event that truly captures the love, joy, and hope of the Christmas season. Each year, the community comes together to serve neighbors by donating toys and Christmas gifts to be sold...
“That’s YOUR house?!” a young student yelled to me as I opened the gate that separates our backyard from Orchard Elementary’s play area. “Why yes, it is!” I yelled back. Later that week, we crossed paths on a neighborhood walk and was greeted with, “Hey you’re that...
Where we choose to live has an impact on who we are in relationship with. Though we can, without a doubt, maintain strong friendships with those we are separated from geographically, the frequency with which we interact with them will likely look different than if we...
*This past July, Ashley Hatmaker, a CLDI Youth Works staff, took one of our South Side youth, Sabrina, on a 3 week mission trip to Uganda. We have been blessed to work with Sabrina the past six years and watch her grow into a young woman passionately in love with...
*The following is a reflection from our Youth Works staff to give testimony of the ways the Lord was at work in the lives of our students last summer. As we lean into a fast-approaching summer, perhaps this will lead you in how to pray for our Youth Works staff and...
This summer Youth Works has been filled with taking our South Side youth on day hikes, camp trips, and backpacking. As we looked towards the last stretch of summer, Ashley (fellow Youth Works staff) and I were hoping to take some of our friends in 4th, 5th, and 6th...