Straight Ahead Ministries

It's Minisode Monday! Here's a free preview from our online series of courses for anyone working with justice-involved youth. If you'd like to see more go to https://buff.ly/3NMrbNw.

Home | Institute of Juvenile Justice Ministries Courses are eligible for academic credit for students enrolled at Gordon College. If you are not enrolled at Gordon, you'll receive a certificate of completion from the Institute of Juvenile Justice Ministries.

These young women at Lexington Christian Academy just made our day! They created these beautiful homemade Christmas cookies and handwritten notes of encouragement for girls who are spending Christmas in lock-up. These gifts will go to girls who are the same age (and younger), celebrating the same holiday, but in very different circumstances. And the message of love will shine through. Thank you, friends!!

This project is incredibly good in so many ways! Young people in a DYS secure facility in Taunton, MA have been given the opportunity to construct greenhouses and launch a horticultural program. Our Southeast YRP team recruited a carpentry instructor and look at what a great job these young men are doing!

Huge thanks to Joyce and everyone at Christ Community Church in Blackstone, MA for providing Gifts of HOPE for youth in lock-up! It means so much for kids to know that people are remembering them and caring about them this time of year.

And thanks to our very own Marc O'Neil, MA State Coordinator, for criss-crossing the state, collecting and sharing wish lists, picking up and delivering gifts, and making sure no one is forgotten this Christmas!

Celebrating God's goodness at yesterday's Straight Ahead Ministries staff brunch. This team has come together from all walks of life, from juvenile jails to the White House, from the streets to doctorate programs, and we are so grateful to be working together! We shared both laughter and tears as we looked back over the year and remembered the God-moments of transformation in our lives and the lives of the young people we serve.

We're so grateful for your generosity this time of year! These Gifts of HOPE were delivered by our friends at New England Chapel and will be distributed to youth in lockup this week!

This is so exciting! Our Southeast YRP team is working with youth in the DYS Goss Facility to build greenhouses for their horticultural program. They will be building the greenhouses, learning about growing and cultivating plants, contributing to a healthy environment and enjoying the harvest!

It's a Christmas Tree Jubilee! Our Southeast Youth Reentry Team joined local community partners for this event benefitting youth organizations. Lots of creativity and compassion at work here!

We're excited to welcome two new volunteers! After a longer-than-usual wait for clearance, Calvin and Josh (middle, right) have just started meeting with youth at the Nauset Academy on Cape Cod. Last night 100% of the youth and staff participated in the group discussion!

And big thanks to our Southeast YRP reentry specialist, Stephen Rodriguez (left) for building relationships and our MA State Coordinator Marc O'Neil (not pictured) for facilitating the launch of this new program.

Experiencing the joy of connection and communication through equine therapy. Anferny, from our Northeast Youth Reentry team, is a natural out here!

Huge thanks to Kyle for giving voice to the importance of vision on our We're Still Standing podcast. You'll want to hear his story -- and his thoughts on how focus, commitment and trust help build a new future.

This episode was just released and you can find it anywhere you get your podcasts. Starting here...
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/we-re-still-standing/episodes/Kyle-Vision-e2c66oo

Equine therapy offers up some powerful moments. We're experiencing what it is to be fully present inside and out.