By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org

The Wedgwood Christian Services (WCS) LOVED program is intentionally “wowing” youth with extravagant love.

“The majority of the kids that come into our care have been chronically neglected and abused,” says Brooke Jevicks, VP of Advancement at WCS, adding that many youth go through 7-12 failed placements before being referred to WCS for help.

When youth are critically neglected and abused, it reinforces doubt and the question: Am I worthy of being loved?

“It’s critically important for a human to know that they are valued and worthy, and that they are loved,” says Jevicks. “You want to work on yourself differently when you know and believe that. You work harder for yourself, you fight for yourself, you advocate for yourself.”

Love – with intention

Youth pastor Steve Carigon founded LOVED when the previous WCS youth ministry faltered under pandemic gathering restrictions.

Based on bible verse John 3:16, LOVED was born shortly after – with intention.

“It’s something that the kids need,” says Carigon. “These kids have not been loved properly, and we’re going to do everything we can to show them that they are loved by God, and by us, any way we can.”

LOVED is held at 4 p.m. every other Thursday and is open to all WCS home residents. However, attendance is not mandatory.

Even the bubbles are intentional

LOVED begins at the front door with a bubble machine and a red carpet.

“We want them to feel like stars and that they are awesome,” says Carigon.

Jevicks agrees. “Staff are cheering for every kid. They are seriously in the business of making sure those kids know, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are worthy of being loved.”

Upon entering the building, youth choose a flavored sucker and receive a raffle ticket. They are then ushered into the music-filled chapel where kids can sit or play games before the program begins.

A countdown on the screen gets things rolling. After the welcome and a reminder that they are loved, an interactive on-screen game begins that typically involves a lot of…yelling and candy-throwing.

For the next game (anything from flipping bottles to using sticky gel hands to retrieve items off a table), youth approach the stage when their name is drawn, are introduced, and then cheered on by everyone in the room.

Raffle tickets, crab legs and a…unicorn?

Next onstage is the…raffle unicorn.

“We have a unicorn costume, and kids always want to be the unicorn,” says Carigon with a laugh.

Raffle numbers are read, and winners choose what they want for lunch the next day.

“They love it,” says Carigon. “The kids are starting to understand that I literally will get them anything they want for lunch. Last week I went to Red Lobster and got crab legs.”

A 10-minute talk on God’s love wraps up the program.

“They’re getting it.”

“I see a bunch of kids receiving and expressing love in normal conversations,” says Carigon, noting that a large portion of that happens outside of actual LOVED events.

One of Carigon’s favorite things is hearing youth shout, “You’re loved!” across campus.

“It means they’re getting it,” says Carigon.

Carigon also enjoys seeing WCS youth wear LOVED wristbands, shirts and hats around campus.

“They wear the shirts, and it’s like a proclamation saying, ‘I’m loved. I’m wearing the shirt, I’m loved.’”

That declaration is about more than shirts – it is about relationships.

“It’s me, the leaders, the other chaplains building relationships with kids,” says Carigon. “We’re well-known around campus because we work at doing rounds and seeing kids in between classes, at lunch and after school. We try to intersect their lives as much as possible.”

Loved people…love people

“The same question all humans ask is, am I loved?” says Carigon. “I’m also a human, so I feel that too. Our own brain is really good at telling us that we’re not good enough.

“Even though you may not think you’re enough, you are exactly enough.”

Carigon firmly believes that consistently hearing we are loved and valued changes the way we interact with ourselves and with other people.

“When you feel love yourself, you start loving other people,” says Carigon. “[And] we’re supposed to love other people. My hope is when these kids feel loved, it changes their outcome.”

Jevicks says that is the heart of LOVED. “They’ve put so much thought and intention into it, [and] there is a meaningful message for youth so they know that they are loved by their Heavenly Father. Exactly who they are right now, today, He loves them deeply.”

That extravagant love is why Carigon loves his job.

“When you love people – especially kids that haven’t been loved well – how can you have a bad day?” 

Refusing to abandon our youth

“What sets WCS aside is that deep love for these kids – and not abandoning them,” says Jevicks. “LOVED is not a mandatory program to receive good care and to be loved. We’re going to love you anyway. That’s the gift of Wedgwood.”

WCS staff continue demonstrating support and love even when youth push them away.

“We anticipate that, we understand it, we’re not surprised by it,” says Jevicks. “It’s a trauma response; it’s protection. It’s all they know.”

When youth push, WCS staff plant their feet, respecting boundaries while continually acknowledging and caring for them. Over time, youth often take steps to close that gap.

“Those are powerful moments,” says Jevicks. “It illustrates the power of love. True, sincere, Christ-like love. Go ahead and push me away, because I understand why you’re pushing me away. You do what you need to do, and I’m going to keep being right here for you.

“That’s what Wedgwood does for these kids, and they get even more of that at LOVED.”

For more information on LOVED and other WCS programs, click here.