3/27/08

Youth outreach builds dynamic relationships

by Beckye Randall

The entrance to the Mud Hut is less than impressive. A plywood sign stands by the open door that leads to a long, dimly-lit stairway. At the top of that landing is another flight of stairs, up to the third floor of Arlington’s American Legion building on Olympic Avenue.

For dozens of Arlington kids, that nondescript entrance is actually a path out of desperation and hopelessness. Every Wednesday afternoon, Youth Dynamics is “in the house,” offering friendships, healthy role models, advice and activities for kids who may have none of those things in their everyday lives.

Youth Dynamics (YD) is a non-profit Christian outreach mission dedicated to youth in the Pacific Northwest. Stuart Delony is director of the Arlington program, a non-denominational organization that partners with local churches and other community groups to provide a helping hand to kids in crisis.

The Mud Hut is an informal gathering place, filled with air hockey and pool tables along with comfy couches where kids can just hang out and talk. The espresso machine gets a workout, as does the game console loaded up with Guitar Hero.

Delony is a comfortable presence in the midst of this activity, making time for the kids as they talked about happenings at school or at home. As we chatted about the organization and its purpose, kids stopped by the table to tell Delony about a doctor’s appointment or a successful test grade or an encounter with a fellow student. His place in their lives seemed more like a big brother than a religious leader.

Part of the reason for that may be Delony’s own youthfulness. At 30, he’s married with four children of his own, but he exudes a young exuberance and casualness.

But the former youth pastor’s mission here is clear: to build healthy relationships with these young people as he models an authentic Christian life. Religious participation and study is not required of the teens, but it is encouraged.

“We strive to be a positive presence in kids’ lives,” said Delony. “We go to the schools, have lunch and hang out with these guys. If they need someone to talk to, we try to be there for them.”

That presence has made a huge difference in a number of lives.

Manny, a freshman at AHS, wandered into the Mud Hut two years ago to get a free drink and found an environment that has helped her through some difficult times.

“In seventh grade, I was really depressed and doing some bad things,” she said. “Without YD and Stuart, my life would still be like that.”

The Mud Hut gives Manny a place to hang out “when things aren’t going well at home.” She knows she can call Delony on his cell phone anytime, day or night, even if it’s just to lift her spirits.

She has also joined the YD group on several outdoor adventures, things she wouldn’t have tried without the ongoing support. Youth Dynamics plans rock climbing, rafting, mountaineering and other adventure trips and maintains Stonewater Ranch, a residential retreat center, in eastern Washington near Leavenworth.

About a year ago, Delony said, a group of teens was preparing for a trip to the ranch when a father pulled up and “dropped off” his son at the last minute. The boy was in a near-catatonic state from drug and alcohol abuse and the desperate father had run out of options.

During the weekend, counselors and even fellow teens took turns caring for the boy, listening to his ramblings and providing a loving presence. Delony wasn’t sure the teen was even aware of his surroundings, but that didn’t diminish their efforts.

Around Christmas of last year, Delony got a phone call from the teen. He had just finished months of rehab and was back in school, getting his life straight. The difference, said the young man, was that weekend retreat. He knew that others were really listening to him and loving him unconditionally, assuring him of the value of his own life.

A lanky young man of Russian heritage, Ruslan was also in trouble when he was introduced to YD by concerned friends.

“They didn’t know how I was still alive, because I put everything possible into my body,” said Ruslan. He began to recite a list of alcohol and drugs he’d tried, everything from cocaine to heroine to meth.

“I felt lost, like I had nothing in my life,” he said. “When I came here, I had the best time ever.”

He went on a YD weekend retreat and tried his hand at kayaking and rock climbing. “I felt close to others, close to God,” said Ruslan. “The weekend was perfect, like a dream.”

Ruslan’s father is a leader in his Russian church, and before his involvement with YD the young man felt no connection to his parents’ beliefs. “It had nothing to do with me,” he said.

“Now I can relate better to my parents,” said Ruslan. Thanks to his newfound understanding and acceptance of Christian principles, the teen enjoys a much stronger bond with his father.

A steering committee made up of members of the community oversees the operation of Youth Dynamics. Cheri Bryant, owner of Lenaround Ranch in Arlington, is a current member of the YD steering committee and a frequent volunteer at the Mud Hut.

“We try to provide guidance and support the organization’s mission by helping with fundraising activities and outreach,” said Bryant. A recent fundraising dinner in Arlington was a success, generating $26,000 for YD operations.

“We’re also planning our 17th annual golf marathon this summer,” said Delony. Participants in the event, held this August at Avalon Golf Course in Sedro-Woolley, gather sponsorships and play 100 holes of golf in a day.

In addition to ongoing fundraising to support daily operations at current levels, Youth Dynamics has another critical need.

Looking around the rather shabby rented space in the American Legion building, Bryant said, “We need a permanent building with room for offices and a hangout. That would be a real blessing.”

To find out more about Youth Dynamics, visit www.yd.org.