Bekah is a Ministry Leader (volunteer) who serves with YFC’s Juvenile Justice Ministry. Below, she shares her experience of loving and bringing the hope of the gospel with one of the residents.
“I heard about ‘Monica’ well before I met her. The other residents told me she proudly described herself as an atheist. For two weeks, she refused to come to Bible study, making it clear she had no interest in hearing what I had to say. Eventually, curiosity got the best of her. The day she finally came, she seemed determined to show me she was in control. While the rest of us discussed Scripture together, she sat reading a novel, making little attempt to engage. The only word she said that day was a simple (and skeptical) ‘Goodbye.’
“The following week, Monica returned and immediately announced that she would not be participating. Rather than being discouraged, I simply smiled and continued our study. Within just a few minutes, I watched the Lord begin to work in a way I could never have orchestrated. Monica moved her book aside, looked up, and asked if she could have one of the devotional sheets and a highlighter. She spent the rest of the study following along with us. By the next Monday, the same young lady who had refused to participate volunteered to read Scripture aloud to the group.
“Over the following weeks, I witnessed God continue to soften Monica’s heart. During a one-on-one session, I explained Romans 10. She was especially interested in what it means to have a believing heart and a confessing mouth. She asked thoughtful questions, listened, and was genuinely curious about God’s plan of salvation. It was a beautiful reminder that the Holy Spirit is always at work, even when we cannot see it!
“Monica’s story has reminded me that our calling is simply to be faithful in showing up, opening God’s Word, and loving these young women well. We cannot change hearts, but God can. Watching Him transform a self-proclaimed atheist into a young lady eager to hear the Gospel has been one of the greatest blessings of my time serving at the detention center. I pray that the seeds planted in Monica’s heart will grow and bear fruit for years to come.”
If you are interested in learning more about Juvenile Justice Ministries, go to our WEB PAGE HERE.