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Kivlan said participants typi-


cally have a history of trouble with the law. “Now we can give them resources to help and support their transition into adulthood,” he said. “They want to change for the better, and we can help them with the skills, encouragement and love needed to make that transition.” In a recent group of 19 partici- pants, all were either employed full time (14), enrolled in college (12) or attending high school/earning a GED certificate (7). As they move from getting help to giving help, the men have a mantra: “We attempt to do what is right, not what is easy. We now look toward the future and our goals instead of living ‘in the moment.’ We want the best that this world has to offer and we’re now ready to go after it in an honorable way.” Tom, who grew up middle-class in the Philadelphia suburbs, went through the Flight Program three years ago. The party scene and sell- ing drugs was about “easy money and instant gratification,” he said. Getting caught put him under the control of the juvenile court system. He traveled in and out of alterna-


tive schools and the court system. When he was court-ordered to spend time at the Wilderness Center, he changed. Yet he faced the old chal- lenges when he returned to high school. He tried to start over, but in reconnecting with negative peers he made impulsive decisions. Today, Tom has completed his


GED diploma, graduated from com- munity college and transferred to a four-year school where he is study- ing English and psychology. Now there are people who care. “If I say I’m [thinking about drinking alcohol], my Flight Pro- gram partners hold me accountable,” Tom said. “They help me make that attitude and perspective shift.


They’re helping me work on a model of what it means to be a good per- son, and that can be very hard work. More and more I want to give back to the community because we got a second chance.” Then there’s Keith, whose family emigrated to the U.S. from Kenya several years ago. In his early teens, his mother died. When his father unexpectedly had to return to Kenya, Keith stayed in the U.S., with no family support, to finish high school and college.


In his last year of college, Keith


carried a full course load, a part-time internship and part-time work. Fol- lowing a car accident he felt over- whelmed and alone. Keith fell into depression, wondering, “Who will know if I’m not [here]?” His college roommate, Luis, a Flight Program participant, con- nected him with Kivlan, whom Keith describes as “a good Samari- tan who found [me] by the side of the road. [The program] provides me with family and community, with people who care about my well- being.”


At the core of these stories is one word: change. Thanks to this ELCA ministry in the outdoors, all three say they are experiencing new life. But change takes time, Kivlan emphasized. “I made a lot of mis- takes when I was growing up,” he said. “I’m grateful for the people … who showed me that Christ’s love makes a positive difference in the way we live.” So Kivlan teaches oth- ers what life in Christ is about. It’s not a formal part of the pro- gram, but staff don’t shy away from talking about Jesus. “In everything we do, we try to be a conduit of Christ’s love,” Kivlan said. “While we will talk about faith and spiritual growth, we let program participants raise the issue first.” Flight helped Keith put “words


of faith into action,” he said. “We’re always searching for something— and God is the only one who can fill that void.” Tom said, “When we talk about evangelism [at the church I attend], we say, ‘show, don’t tell,’ It’s easy to say ‘I go to church’ or ‘I pray’ or ‘I read Scripture.’ I’d rather show them with my life.”


Flight began with the faith of a mustard seed, Kivlan said, add- ing, “We’re filling a gap and meet- ing needs that are overlooked. … Through Christ, we are changing the world one life at a time.” 


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