She did just that… returned as a counselor last year to TLC at age 22. Sandra is working and attending college part-time. You can find her tweeting @sheRepsCHRIST – her profile reads : sinner SAVED by grace through FAITH* in Jesus Christ!| Student of KJV Bible, the living Word of God| a daughter, sister and teacher|

The youth who attend Teen Leadership Camp bring with them horrific stories of neglect and pain.  They leave with the power of hope and faith to drastically alter their courses of life.

This is a reminder of our campers’ resilence,

#howTLCchangedme

The journal (which he gave me permission to share) tells me of the awful things that happened in the beginning, his swinging of fists to all that came near due to being angry from the circumstances and his life shift from attending Teen Leadership Camp.

He goes on to write, “Just because bad things happen to you doesn’t mean you are bad…. keep your head up high and believe in God!”

He signs his journal..Christian… the man of God always and forever!

The youth who attend Teen Leadership Camp bring with them horrific stories of neglect and pain.  They leave with the power of hope and faith to drastically alter their courses of life.

Christian (with the help of many mentors) is enrolled in college.  I heard him say recently, “Seek and you will receive!”

This is a reminder of the strength of TLC campers,

#howTLCchangedme

Crystal (with the help of her TLC camp counselor who became her mentor) is finishing the school needed to be an EMT this spring and is looking forward to starting her career.  She is living in transitional housing with roommates and doing great!

The youth who attend Teen Leadership Camp bring with them horrific stories of neglect and pain.  They leave with the power of hope and faith to drastically alter their courses of life.

This is a reminder of our campers’ resilence,

#howTLCchangedme

If you believe in what we are all about, then please help. Let your voice be heard and do something. Let’s keep changing lives together!

Ways you can help!

1.  Give a hollar to @teen_leadership during the campaign on twitter…mention#howTLCchangedme -  Help us reach 1000 followers.

2. Share the stories in your online networks. Blog it – Facebook – Pin it – Instagram- you will get people talking and commenting.

3. Make commitment to help a youth in foster care. Start by tweeting or facebooking this response: “I will mentor” , ” I will attend @teen_leadership camp” , “I will house an emancipated youth” #howdidtlcchangeme

4. If you have contacts in news, print or online marketing email us at info@teenleadershipfoundation.org so we can give you a press release on teenleadershipfoundation

We are thankful for your friendship, support and long term all around love… keep it coming…keep digging in and chaning lives 1 by 1 with us.

… Lisa Castetter

Founder & CEO … TLF

The day began with all they boys running out and immediately starting a soccer game with the men. Together as women and girls we played a” get to know you game.”  We found out names, favorite foods, colors, tv show’s – as simple questions were being answered I noticed the joy on faces of the youth  as someone was taking notice of who they were.  During the game I took a glance at the boys and noticed the intensity of competition even among 10 year old boys and middle aged men.  (yes some men were younger) Later I learned that in the middle of a game of soccer two boys had shared they were meeting new foster parents soon. I wonder in the middle of any game you have played as a child what would have been your conversation?  Would it have been like that?

Women engaged in dress up, puppets and the old faithful game of twister. The men went on to basketball. I sat with two youths playing the game outburst. Our fun and “outburst” attracted a few others as we all engaged in answering questions such as ”name 10 animals you keep in a cage or bowl”? Can you name them? I noticed how the game took us all away from the reality of our world and gave us a feeling of attentiveness. For the two youth having so much fun and fully engaged I image for them it was a brief relief in a life of hurt and pain.

In two short hours 11 kids and 11 adults came together in a circle and listened with eager ears to the story of David and Goliath.  In the beginning they knew Goliath to be the big pickle in the show Veggie Tales and in the end they learned the story of David and his great faith being courageous and conquering the Goliath of the Bible not Veggie Tales.  We closed with the question what does being “courageous” look to like to you?  As we went around the circle young boys and girls ages 6-12 had answers such as:

”If you don’t know how to read or write and never went to school its ok you will learn”

“Even if you are shy keep trying to make friends”

“If someone is picking on you at school it is ok to tell the teacher”

“Keep trusting God like David did”

At 7 years old what courageous would have looked like to me would have been if I could jump the bike ramp my brothers set up and dared me to take on.  Today I learned a little something about courage from 11 youth living a life of abandonment and neglect.

As I journey into the new year I resolve to continue to look at the word “courageous” and what that looks like in my life.  How do I continue to stretch myself to continue to be a warrior on the frontline.

I wonder what does it look like for you?     I look forward to hearing that answer……..

James 1:27 reminds us of the simplicity of true ministry: “to visit the orphan… in their distress… and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”  Kids who are today a part of the state foster system, are the modern day orphan.  Some are truly without parents or family.  Others are from homes where they’re experience physical and/or sexual abuse or neglect.  Others have parents who have chosen drug use over good parenting, and/or one or more parents are in prison. According to James 1, these kids need people who are willing to spend significant time with them.  Short of actually becoming a foster parent, spending time with hurting kids at camp is the quickest and most effective way to let them know that there is hope… that someone cares… that even if they don’t know or trust God,  that someone who does trust God, cares about them in a meaningful way!

As a Chaplain for Olive Crest Homes for Children for the past 26 years, and having attended several Teen Leadership Foundation Camps, I can highly recommend this ministry of hope and rescue.  Their philosophy of love, acceptance, safety and community provides an amazingly unique environment that even the most resistant teen usually ends us thoroughly enjoying their weekend at camp!

We at Olive Crest have had the blessing of having dozens of our youth attend TLF camps for the past several years, and God willing, will do so for years to come!

When a young man or woman emancipates, many remain either close or distant member of our Olive Crest family.  As the Chaplain, I have the great blessing of hearing from some our former youth, sometimes years after they have moved on.  As we reminisce, they will seldom mention a Super Bowl Party or an Outreach Event, but almost without fail, the memories of camp will surface.  Like most of us, the specifics of the “normal” days of their teen years will blend together, but something that stands out clearly, is a weekend away from the normal day-to-day world, in a beautiful setting, surrounded by people who seem nicer than humanly possible… which is exactly right!  Because it is God in them, listening, playing, loving and treating them like they desperately need to be treated!

I can not think of a better camping experience to invest in the lives of hurting kids… their earthly future, as well as their eternal destiny!

Everyone can do something: the existence of Teen Leadership Foundation is a Godsend!  To join with this effort is to join with God, loving the fatherless! Start today:DONATE NOW! 

Most sincerely,  Frank Fried, Olive Crest Chaplain

Having a safe place for foster teens to go to like Teen Leadership Camp is such a blessing to the teens as well as the foster family. The foster teens are blessed by camp and in turn it also blesses the family caring for the youth.

As a  foster mom who was able to send 3 of my teens to Teen Leadership Camp for 2 summers now I was able to see firsthand all the good that came from taking part in is camp. it was a really great experience for the kids. They had the opportunity to get away in the mountains for 3 days, with peers and great counselor/role models. They loved the ropes course and team building activities and well as the special speakers and the opportunities to share their story with other teens who have gone through the same kind of things. Camp was a mountain top life changing experience. Something that so many foster kids need and few get the opportunity to experience. The program is well planned. The teens have lots to do over the 3 days, and when it is time to go home, they are all emotional because of the positive impact the camp has had in just a few days. The camp is very positive for all involved and makes a positive impact on the youths lives, that will last a lifetime.

I am thankful for the many blessings this camp gives these kids and all those who are lucky enough to be involved!  Please ask how you can help bring more camps to your community, county, state!

You’re needed: DONATE NOW! Every little bit counts!

Jaci Hayesmeyer; Foster parent & Founder FACTOR

A mentor once told me  that you cannot be angry and grateful at the same time.

That statement really stuck with me. At the time, I was so angry at the world, I felt as an outcast, taken advantage of and truly in despair. It is from this place that my gifts were born, where God showed me that I am responsible for the way I chose to interpret my life.

As I began to take hold of my narrative, I saw a multitude of stories. In one, I was the charity case, another the Selfish Taker, the survivor, a constantly cared for foster youth who was always at the mercy of those who provided for her, so that when they no longer saw my “need,” I would no longer be of importance. On the flip side, I could decide that I was not entitled to anything, that I was part of God’s plan and my purpose required a diverse upbringing that made me relatable to so many more people because of my experiences. This may seem a cliché twist to see the good in the suffering, but by this I stand.

I believe transformation took place in my life when I quit looking at it through the lens of scarcity. As a foster youth many of us are born into the mentality of having our worlds defined for us. Consequently, when given the opportunity to choose our own, it is a scary place. A place where we feel ill-equipped and at times at a standstill to even accomplish the ability to give love. When I looked around however, I saw this “illness” abundant in other people as well, people from completely different situations or circumstances than mine. It was then I decided that I was going to allow Love to win. Each family that said “yes” to provide for me became a winner in my story, a champion of my cause, an opportunity for me to practice demonstrating love. The result? I am now a healthy 24-year-oldc ollege graduate, who is living independently, seeks to have a family, and hopes to be a foster parent myself someday.

At 24, I see a bright future ahead for my brothers and sisters in foster care and it is organizations such as Teen Leadership Foundation who continue to improve the statistics by improving the ability for foster youth to truly connect through relationships. It is this mission to not just raise funds but to maintain a clear action plan that inspires me to want to support this community in any way possible . As the 2012 year approaches it is my prayer that Teen Leadership Foundation receives abundant supply so that lives of foster youth are changed and that the next generation will look back unlike the generations before and say, LOVE WINS!

Please Donate Now. Every little bit helps!

- Annette Jordan, Foster Youth Alumni, Entrepreneur and  Speaker

“I will not leave you orphaned”- Jesus Christ