History

In the summer of 2003, the Des Moines Register ran a series of articles on the growing problem of homeless teens in Des Moines. The articles included interviews with some of the teens who were products of abuse, abandonment and caught in a cycle of addictions and criminal activity.

Mark Nelson, who left his corporate career in 1998 and later worked for an inner-city ministry in Des Moines for five years, read the articles and felt the call of God to reach out to these homeless youth. Unlike the other agencies trying to help the youth, Mark’s passion was to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, the only true source of hope and renewal. God transformed the life of one young girl addicted to methamphetamines and she began to share her testimony with area churches.

God used this young lady to birth Freedom for Youth. Mark began looking for a building, somewhere the homeless teens could come and be loved and hear the truth of God’s word. In two days he found a building near downtown with a lease payment of $1,500 per month, with the first month free. The name “Freedom for Youth Ministries” was chosen after Isaiah 61, where Isaiah foretold how Jesus would come to “bind up the broken-hearted and set the captives free”.

In February of 2004, having received its tax-exempt status in record time, Freedom for Youth Ministries held an open house to invite the community to see what God was forming and to generate volunteers and donors. The open house was well attended by the Christian community and included several of the homeless youth.

A few volunteers dedicated their lives to coming daily to love the group of youth which had grown to over 40 on a regular basis. Over the first year over 250 young homeless people came to the center, all hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the second month of operation the initial contributions were gone and rent was due. Mark went to the post office to retrieve the mail finding a check for $10,000 from a person he didn’t know and leaving no contact information! God was true to His word and ministry continued to grow.

In 2005, God led Mark to begin plans for the purchase and renovation of a transitional home to provide a discipleship program along with a warm bed and three meals a day. The Christian community responded and in September of 2005, Freedom for Youth Ministries opened the Promise House for boys, ages 18-22, who were serious about wanting to change their lives.
In 2006, the ministry that Mark worked for from 1999 to 2003 approached him about the possibility of acquiring the youth campus Mark helped develop under his former employment. In May of 2006, Freedom for Youth Ministries was given a six-acre parcel of property with six buildings from the former ministry. God’s plan to reach more youth was continuing to unfold. In September of the same year, Freedom for Youth moved from the small building they were leasing to the six-acre campus, located in Des Moines’ inner city. Over the next year, the staff continued to work with the homeless youth who expressed a desire to change. However, during this time, major renovations were taking place to the existing buildings in need of much repair. A new building was also built to house a new art studio.

In November of 2007, after many roadblocks and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the City of Des Moines granted occupancy permits for all buildings on the campus. Freedom for Youth Ministries now had a facility complete with a fully equipped woodworking shop, welding shop, worship center, teaching kitchen, computer lab, recreational center, art studio, mechanical shop and office space for staff. God had continued His faithfulness against all odds and was preparing an oasis for the lost and hurting youth of Des Moines, including at-risk youth ages 6-17.

In 2009 the ministry began construction of a new transitional home for girls and also started a rural outreach ministry to empower rural communities to begin reaching the hurting youth in their own communities.

God has brought a dedicated group of staff people willing to leave careers to follow His call. Every person, including hundreds of volunteers, churches and donors know that this ministry is directly from the hand of God.

We give God all the glory for revealing His plan to rescue the lost and hurting youth, some orphaned, and calling Christians from all walks of life to join Him in His plan. Praise be to God Almighty and His son Jesus Christ for the grace, mercy and blessings upon Freedom for Youth Ministries.