September 14, 2024
Your prayers, contributions, and support are making a tangible difference in the lives of young people in East Asia. The Youth Self-Defense Project, an initiative in Asia Rim, is a powerful example of how your generosity is impacting communities. For countless youth in the area, life presents significant obstacles. But through this project, we’ve seen lives transformed, including that of Dasher*, who arrived at the project carrying a heavy burden of shame.
Dasher’s home life was a battleground, filled with the constant turmoil of his parents’ alcoholism. Desperate to escape this toxic environment, he fell in with the wrong crowd and turned to destructive behaviors. Robbing others, neglecting school, and adopting his parents’ harmful coping mechanisms, Dasher was on a path of ruin.
But through Send Relief’s Youth Self-Defense Project, Dasher’s life and the lives of almost 700 youth have changed. These individuals learned vital self-defense skills, which prioritizes defusing situations first. They also received emotional and spiritual support. From January to June of this year, 479 of them heard the gospel message and 47 decided to follow Christ.
Dasher’s story is one of the many testaments to the project’s impact. Once a young man consumed by anger and shame and struggling to find his place, Dasher’s life took a remarkable turn. With the help of the Send Relief team, Dasher began to open up about his struggles. Through self-defense training and a supportive listening ear from team members, he began to unravel the complexities of his past and discover a newfound sense of hope and purpose through Christ.
Dasher’s journey was not solitary. His transformation extended into his family. His parents, influenced by his positive changes and through shared conversations about faith and hope, made life-altering decisions too. The once unstable household became an environment of peace and love, marked by shared prayer and a renewed sense of family unity.
This project is more than teaching self-defense. This project is about building resilience, restoring hope, and sharing the love of Christ. Your support is instrumental in making this possible. By providing a safe space to heal and to learn, you are investing in their future, their families, and their communities.
The numbers are impressive, but behind these statistics are stories of transformation, like Dasher’s, that remind us of the power of your generosity.
