“Change for Teens” Program ready for 2013 holiday season

The namesake of the donation program, “Change for Teens,” is both literal and figurative. The Joy House has honed the program for it’s second year of operation and is ready to roll out those tiny blue houses for donations. Change for Teens is a fund-drive for the Joy House program, collecting “change” through the holiday season to help them “change” the lives of those teens who enroll in their program.For those unfamiliar with Joy House, it’s a 30-acre campus just outside Jasper that serves as a faith-based program for troubled teens and their families seeking help within a 60-mile radius. The program is comprehensive in its approach to family building and individual needs.

With girls and a boys homes staffed by house parents, an on-site accredited school and an on-site counselor, rather than providing the basic needs most state-run programs can offer, the Joy House is much more. Troubled teens ranging in ages 12-17 along with their families commit to the program through personal requests, church referrals and even occasionally from youth court recommendations.

Seven families have completed the program this year, the most since it’s inception in 2001. Programs are needs-based rather than time-based although most generally succeed to their final completion within 12-18 months.

Center director Steve Lowe knew he’d been called in this direction with his first interaction in this manner. The story of Joy House began with him, at the time a youth pastor, and a troubled teen, Chris Tucker. Lowe felt the power of God calling him when he allowed Tucker to move in with him for 24-hour help. Tucker, under Lowe’s tutelage and direction, was the first success story. Since being influenced by Steve, Tucker has gone on to serve in the Iraq War, marry, become a father and is now serving as a police officer in Savannah.

Lowe, seeing his God-given ability to relate and help teens, kept moving in this direction. He finally married the love of his life, Wendy Lowe, who also has his vision in her contributions to the Joy House and by serving as chair of the Pickens County Board of Education. Celebrating their success of following God’s plan in their lives, they named their son after Chris, calling him Tucker.

Their dedication to each other, God, community and family has seen their dreams blossom into the current Joy House. The organization has been able to do what so few have, depend solely on public donations and find success in doing so. They currently have a $500,000 yearly budget which they’ve been able to sustain without incurring debt.

Lowe said,

“The Lord’s provided for us. We have not gone into debt.”

But that is a goal they have to continue to pursue and one of the ways they do this is through the Change for Teens collections. The program is simple: one who wishes to serve as an ambassador may contact The Joy House to sign up. At that time, they will be issued a change bank or banks (a small blue house with the Joy House emblem on it) to take to their civic organizations, churches, work, etc. to collect money. It’s really quite simple and easy to manage but does wonders for the program. The collection drive begins November 24, running through December 22.

Anyone interested in the ministries of the Joy House or participating in the “Change for Teens” program is encouraged to contact Steve Lowe at 706-253-7569 or steve@thejoyhouse.org. Their website may be accessed at www.thejoyhouse.org.