A Message From the President
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:9–11 (NKJV)
Dear LifeQuest Change Makers,
Advent reminds us that love came looking for us. God did not wait for us to reach for Him. He reached for us first. He sent His Son so we could live. This is the center of our faith. This is why we celebrate. This is why our hearts should be filled with gratitude. We love because God loved us first. We give because God gave to us first. Everything begins with His generosity.
As we enter this season, we are reminded that generosity is not just something we do. It is something we are shaped into because of Jesus. When God’s love takes root in us, it changes the way we look at others. It moves us to serve. It moves us to give. It moves us to stand in the gap for those who feel forgotten. Gratitude becomes the fuel that pushes us forward. We give, not to earn anything, but to reflect the mercy we have already received.
This month, we are fundraising so that we can pack and deliver over 300 Christmas Care Kits. These kits will give young people something many of them have never received before. Simple items that help them feel seen. Simple gifts that remind them that their life matters. Simple messages that tell them they are not forgotten. These kits will go into facilities where hope is often missing. They will go into homes where the smallest act of kindness can open the door to something bigger. They remind each youth that there is a God who sees them and loves them.
December is also our end-of-year giving season. Your support strengthens every part of this mission. Your generosity helps us mentor youth who are looking for direction. It helps us show up with consistency and care. It helps us speak truth into lives that have been shaped by pain. When you give, you help us create the space where a young person can hear that God loves them. You help us take the message of Christ into places where darkness has been winning for too long.
I am grateful for you. I am grateful for every prayer and every act of kindness you share with these youth. I am grateful that we get to serve together in a season that points us back to the love of God. Advent reminds us that God sent His Son so we could live. Because of that, we choose to love one another. We choose to give. We choose to spread hope where hope is needed most.
Humbly,
Ryan C. Butts
President, LifeQuestUSA
“Stories From The Youth”
Wow, what a month we’ve had. First, we had our 4:13 graduation, where both the Hoffmantown and Bernalillo groups graduated. I was part of the Bernalillo group. We also had our Thanksgiving dinner for our 4:14 group. The food was great, and I made buffalo chicken cheese sticks. This month has also been really busy, but sometimes that can be good.
My dad went to Las Cruces and told me that one of the kids in the facility gave their life to the Lord. In this season, we should think about what we’re thankful for, and I am thankful for my family and that we get to do these wonderful things. I am also thankful that I know I am loved and that I get to share the Gospel with others.
Harleigh
Getting to Know You
We’re settling into our new office and getting ready for a busy Christmas season! This month, LifeQuest will be hosting events at seven different facilities, and two more will receive Christmas Care Kits to distribute. For the first time we will also be distributing Christmas Care Kits to youth in the community. Altogether, we’ll connect with more than 400 young people. What a strong and hopeful way to end the year.
As we continue to follow where God leads, we invite you to consider making a year-end donation.
To be eligible for the 2025 tax credit, gifts must be postmarked by December 31.
Thank you for your support. Merry Christmas!– Tiffany Jabour
The Community Column
4:13 Journey / 4:14 Continuing Journey
Greetings for this Christmas Season,
Jim here,
As we celebrate this season of hope, joy, and gratitude, I’m reminded of how thankful I am for the incredible young people we have the privilege of serving. Their resilience, courage, and potential inspire me every day. Being alongside them as God shapes their stories reminds us that His light is at work in every life, guiding them toward a future filled with purpose and a legacy rooted in faith and love.
This season at LifeQuest, our hearts are focused on reflection and gratitude.
Our mission has always been Christ-centered and youth-focused. We believe every young person is fearfully and wonderfully made, created with a unique purpose and calling. Yet life’s challenges can sometimes make it hard for them to see God’s plan clearly. Serving them is not just something we do it is who we are called to be. Jesus came as a humble servant, showing us that true greatness comes through love, compassion, and putting others first. When we serve, we meet needs, build relationships, restore hope, and remind young people that they are deeply valued.
Investing in others isn’t always about material gifts; it’s about presence, encouragement, and consistency. Every kind word, prayer, and act of love is an investment that reflects God’s heart and bears eternal fruit.
During this Christmas season, we are reminded that serving others is one of the purest ways to express our gratitude to God. He has given us the greatest gift of all Jesus and through Him, we have grace, forgiveness, and purpose. Sharing these gifts with the young people we serve is our way of celebrating His love and light.
Thank you for being part of this mission. Together, we are investing in what matters most: people. And as we invest in their lives, we partner with God in shaping futures, building legacies of faith and hope, and spreading the true joy of Christmas to those around us.
Thank you for believing in our mission, supporting these young lives, and walking with us on this journey of faith, purpose, and love.
With gratitude and Christmas joy,
What’s Happening in 4:13 & 4:14?
November was a great month; we graduated our 413-fall semester with a hike at the 5 Volcanoes trail with a wonderful potluck with friends and families. This was a great semester with both groups. Our 4:14 group has grown because most of the youth from the fall 4:13 semester have joined us on Tuesday nights! As far as JJS goes, we have started doing programming in the D-Home which began the last week of October. Chance and I have been going to Las Cruses to visit the youth at JPTC. We recently did a 3-point basketball shootout tournament the 19th of November and one young man come to faith in Christ! The next couple of weeks we will be busy in the facilities as we will be doing a Christmas party and delivering Christmas care kits in all of the facilities! Lastly, we have been meeting with the education collaborative and are wrapping up building the curriculum for Calvary Christian Academy.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Jim Bayne
Program Director
Volunteer of the Month
Esther Taylor
As most of you know, Esther is the go-to here at LifeQuest, but what you may not know is that she also volunteers with LifeQuest. She volunteers every Tuesday night at the 4:14 and every Hoffmantown semester, she also spends a tremendous amount of her time keeping the wheels rolling for us! Esther brings positivity and a heart of service to the youth of LifeQuest. Thank you, Esther, for your time and the rides for the youth on Tuesday nights! You are very much appreciated!
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