Last Tuesday, near the end of drop-in, the room had that slow, restless energy it gets when most of the crowd has gone home. About ten students were still hanging around, not quite ready to leave. I was standing by the counter with Leslie, talking through the food schedule for next week, when Tyler wandered over.

That’s what our teen center is about. Being open. Being consistent. Creating a space where students like Henry know they belong, where volunteers show up day after day, and relationships are built over time. We don’t force conversations about faith—we offer an invitation. And often, that invitation looks like listening, laughing, and showing up consistently.