“He’s a totally different kid from two years ago. Remember that Summer when he first started attending the Cellar?...”
This was a conversation that our staff team recently had while reflecting on the growth we’ve seen in one of our kids. We’ve seen such a transformation in him that you almost wouldn’t recognize him as the same kid we met 2 years prior.
Words we would have used to describe him back then? Defiant, rude, disrespectful, stubborn. He hated participating in group activities, would constantly ignore us, and wanted nothing to do with the leaders at the Cellar.
Now he listens and responds when we speak to him. We have actual conversations with him! He joins in group games and activities and has made numerous new friends during his time here. He’s growing in his self-awareness and will even call himself out on being too loud, unkind, or inappropriate. He recently participated in our 13-week alpha course and took part in discussions with the group. He identified that he has an easier time broaching difficult faith topics now and is able to talk about his faith in a way that he didn’t initially feel comfortable doing.
Words we would use to describe him now? He’s growing to be a gentle, kind, self-aware, helpful, and teachable young man.
This is a big part of why we do what we do at The Cellar Youth Centre. We long to see full life transformation as kids accept Christ into their lives and allow change from the inside out. But we also love to see those little changes that happen as a result of kids being loved, mentored, nurtured and modelled good life choices. In this specific youth’s life we are getting to see both- and that is truly exciting for us. I can’t wait to see what God will continue to do in his life in the next year!
