I have been a volunteer at the Freedom for Youth center in Perry since it first opened in the fall of 2013, and to this day I still refer to its location as “where the bridal shop used to be.”
I often wish that Freedom for Youth was so well known in town that its location could stand on its own, but I recognize the impact of the bridal shop on Perry and why Freedom for Youth might be forever be known by its previous occupants.
I bought my wedding dress there, and like me, hundreds of brides stood looking in those mirrors, hopeful and excited about the new life before them. Not only that but when Georgene found me just the right beautiful dress, I had a renewed confidence that I could conquer the world.
The name might have changed, but what goes on inside that building hasn’t. Not unlike the many brides before us, our goal is to mentor, support and love the youth of Perry so they have the confidence to go out and achieve their dreams.
The mission of Freedom for Youth is “to empower youth across Iowa through the love of Jesus Christ to break bondages, discover their God-given talents and lead transformed lives.”
The center is not affiliated with any particular church or denomination. It represents the one church of Jesus Christ. In fact, one of our goals is to deepen the relationship the youth have with Jesus by planting them in a local congregation. Those of us who volunteer at Freedom for Youth believe once Jesus enters their lives, they will never be the same.
During my time at the center, my heart has been broken when hearing the situations of the kids that come each week — their struggles at home, the issues they deal with in school and a general sense of hopelessness that comes with growing up in this crazy world.
But more often than not, my hope is renewed when I run into one of the youth around town and they hardly say hi before reporting to me that they are getting all A’s and B’s this semester. By our investing in them, they begin investing in themselves.
One of our volunteers tells the story of a young boy who has two sisters who have come to Freedom for Youth for the last few years. Being too young for programming, he had to stay behind and watch his sisters walk through the doors each week. This fall, a brand new kindergartner, he was at the doors on the first night of programming, with his nose pressed against the glass, eager to experience what they had.
When the doors opened, he ran around the center determined to play every game, read every book and do everything they had done in his very first night. A few weeks later, a volunteer had the opportunity to tell this young boy that Jesus loved him. His response was a mixture of disbelief and pure joy.
“He loves me?” he asked, pointing to himself. “Me?”
What joy he had simply learning this new truth!
We recently hired a new site director for the center. Diana Yepez, a Marhsalltown native and recent Iowa State University graduate, began work in Perry last week, and the whole center is buzzing with excitement. Diana will be in charge of programming, organizing volunteers, arranging meals and promoting the center.
Diana is bilingual, which is a great asset to serving our location. She is still getting to know the kids and the community, but her excitement for where God has placed her is evident.
“It’s so exciting that the kids are so hungry for the Word,” she says.
In high school Yepez thought she wanted to be a police officer but as her relationship with Jesus has grown, God has given her a heart for working with kids.
Diana’s goal, one she shares with all of us who volunteer at the center, is for what we do to not stay within the walls of the youth center.
“It doesn’t have to stay here,” she says excitedly. “The kids will share their faith with family, friends and the community. What we do will last through generations because hope lasts forever.”
If you want to learn more about getting involved with Freedom for Youth, check out our Freedom for Youth website, or stop in and see Diana at center. If you haven’t seen or heard of it, it’s where the bridal shop used to be.
Jody Lutterman is a volunteer and Advisory Board member at Freedom for Youth
