The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches has been improving the lives of at-risk children
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1546265
"I stood up at the podium and took a deep breath. I told myself, 'I'm just going to go with the flow.' By the time I hit the five- minute mark, I knew I had it, and I started going to town." With the help of the translator, Shalyn spoke for several minutes, sharing the gospel with this crowd of strangers. "Peter spoke these words boldly before the religious leaders after healing a lame man," Shalyn said, pausing to let the translator repeat the words. "He was not pointing to himself, his strength, or human effort, but to Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. This verse reminds us that the human heart cannot save itself." The crowd offered words of agreement, and Chaplain Young proudly encouraged Shalyn from the sidelines. "So, remember," Shalyn finished, "the name of Jesus is not just a title to admire. It's the name that brings life, forgiveness, and hope." Shalyn is a young man who has seen the hand of God move in his life. He was able to break free of darkness and grief and see hope for his own future. No matter what struggles he faced, he always kept trying. Shalyn graduated from high school this past spring, and will be moving into the Scholarship House to begin his journey into college. Over the last year, Shalyn has been studying Information Technology. He interned with the Youth Ranches IT Department and was dual-enrolled at a local technical college while attending high school. His path forward seemed clear, until this summer. "The people who support me, they have all asked me, 'Is this going to be your last mission trip?' " Shalyn said. "This is not my first and only, I've just started changing the world. I want to keep going and make this a career. I'm still going to college, and I'm going to finish schooling first and become a paramedic. And once I'm in a good place, I want to go out again." Shalyn has a big support system, both at home and at the Ranch. After completing his mission trip in Romania, he turned right around and worked at Youth Ranches Summer Camp as a Group Leader. "We played some of the same games we did at camp in Romania, and it was so weird to be doing the same thing, just in another country." There are mission fields all around us, something Shalyn learned firsthand this summer. While he made a huge impact sharing God's love with strangers in a foreign country, Shalyn also spent the summer encouraging campers who were going through the same struggles he felt at their age. "Before the trip, I had so much fear. And maybe you're afraid and you don't know what it's going to be like, but you just got to go anyway!" Shalyn said. Whether it's about traveling out of the country or packing up and starting college, we're proud to hear Shalyn offer the wisdom he's earned: "Keep your head up, and don't always be stuck in the past." Facing page, left to right: Shalyn works with the missionary team to make sandwiches for hungry residents of the community. Working with a translator, Shalyn shares his testimony and spreads the word of God. While in poorer sections of the city, Shalyn hands out food to local residents. The Vacation Bible School ministry team stands on stage, looking out at the full audience of children. Using his training as a Group Leader at summer camp, Shalyn leads a group of Vacation Bible School kids in an arts and crafts session. T H E R A N C H E R FA L L 2 0 2 6 9