StoryLetter February2025

January was a great start to the brand-new year! Our staff is witnessing change among our students and our volunteers. We are seeing growth in many ways and we invite you to be a part of it! 

Ministry Stories

For one of our students, life has never really felt more stable. Moving from place to place, always being the "new kid," never knowing if he would get to stay somewhere - it had become his normal. At home, his big family meant there was always noise, always movement, but not always space for him to feel heard. 

When he first walked into The Next Door, he kept to himself. He sat on the sidelines, observing but never joining in. He wasn't sure if this place would be like all the others - just another stop before he had to move again. But week after week, things started to change. 

One day he hesitated before stepping inside. "You good?" I asked. He nodded but didn't say much. That day, I noticed something different; a few of the other kids started calling his name, inviting him into conversations, passing him the ball during basketball, and sitting with him during Club discussions. He was still quiet, but something in his posture softened - he seemed to be starting to feel more comfortable and as if he belonged.

A few weeks later, he pulled me aside, "I love it here," he admitted. "I have friends here." He paused before continuing, "At home, there's a lot going on, I don't always get to talk but at Club, I can." That moment hit me hard. We often think about The Next Door as a place for fun, faith, and community. But for some kids, it's more than that; it's the first place they've felt truly seen and heard. It's the first place they've been able to be themselves without the fear of being uprooted again. His life is hectic, and his future holds uncertainly. But now, at least, he has a place where he can show up, sit down, and know - without a doubt - that he matters. 

Deandre Sample

North Kitsap Area Director

The Bremerton Center is a bustling place during the week! Students are everywhere - some are playing pool, others are outside shooting hoops, and nearly all of them are getting food. The kitchen at The Bremerton Center has become a well-known hangout spot. Each week, I have more than five teenage boys coming into the kitchen, eager to help serve food or to just chat with us leaders while we work. 

I asked the boys, "What makes the kitchen so special?" Most of them gave entertaining answers such as 'Because I'm your guys' favorite," while one answer stood out, "I just like being here with you." Our donors and volunteers have created a safe, fun, and comfortable environment where students feel recognized and they can actively participate in what's happening at the center! 

We are incredibly thankful for all the work that goes into creating a positive environment at The Bremerton Center for local teens. 

Cassandra Jameson

Bremerton Area Director