For Rev. Randy Boone of the Salvation Army's Northwest Community Center in West Palm Beach, one motto sums up the ministry: "It's all about my kids!"
As executive director, Randy considers his work to be more than a job. "It's a mission. It's my mission," he says.
After 21 years in the U.S. Army, Boone retired and felt led to work with an international youth ministry called "Young Life." He spent nine years with that organization, and then he founded his own group, "New Life Youth Ministries" in Clearwater, Fla.
Boone led his group in various aspects of community service. One favorite among the kids was volunteering to stand at a Christmas kettle for The Salvation Army. Boone developed a wonderful friendship with Majors Tom and Sue Overton, who were Salvation Army area commanders. Through that association, Boone's awareness of the Army's mission grew, and he became an advisory board member for a Salvation Army church in Clearwater, Fla.
The more Boone learned about Salvation Army programs, the more impressed he became—particularly with youth services.
"When the Overtons transferred to West Palm Beach, we kind of lost contact," Boone says. "That is, until one day when Major Tom telephoned me with a wonderful proposition."
Overton explained that the Army had formed a partnership with the city of West Palm Beach to start a new youth community center.
"I asked the Lord about who I could get to run this, and He gave me your name," Overton said to Boone over the phone. "To be honest, yours is the only name I have—so there is no 'Plan B'!"
Boone visited the area and prayed intensely over the matter. "It was like the Holy Spirit was saying to me, 'Welcome home,' " he says.
Beginning in 1998, Boone spent the next two years promoting the project to area churches and community groups. He told about the Army's plan and what he envisioned could be done for children and young adults in northwest West Palm Beach. Support for the project grew steadily, and today, a beautiful 26,000-square-foot facility stands on what used to be dumping grounds for refuse and junk.
"The Northwest Community Center is vital to this community because the children here absolutely have no place else to go," says Major Charles Smith, West Palm Beach area commander. "The center fulfills a real need in this community. It is a safe haven for [kids] and a place where they can both learn and play."
A computer lab with 20 stations provides means for homework and tutoring. Another room is for video games, and yet another is packed with exercise equipment. The full-size gym is home to several basketball leagues. The center is also used for community meetings and for church gatherings.
Boone says character-building is just as important as organized activities to him and his staff. Young Ladies of Grace is a group for girls aged 7–13. The girls learn self-respect and self-worth.
Boone's staff partners with Urban Youth Impact to provide an after-school program that serves about 70 children during the school year; up to 50 attend a summer day camp. About 200 kids in the area hold membership cards to the center.
But just as important as the programs and services happening inside the facility is what happens away from the center—hundreds of miles away, in fact.
Boone takes about 40 high school students on a college tour each year. His intent is simple: to show them the value and accessibility of a college education and what they need to do to pursue it.
Three geographic tracks for college exploration have been developed to allow students to determine which school best fits their needs. The tracks branch across the Southland, taking the students as far as Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Houston, Texas.
"The Salvation Army and our advisory board have really supported us with these college tours. The benefits of these tours are invaluable for our young adults," Boone says.
Even before the tour leaves West Palm Beach, Boone arranges for seminars on scholarships, grant applications, and each school's curriculum.
"We teach [teens] how to budget their money and at the same time avoid the dangers and pitfalls of credit card abuse—that is a problem not just in college but in real [adult] life," Boone said.
Of the three tracks, Boone said that the most fun is probably the one to the nation's capital because the group visits national museums and monuments.
Overall, the success of the college tours can be measured by one statistic: over 67 percent of students participating in a college tour have gone on to enroll in one of the universities visited.
"As a minister, I love the fact that we require the kids to attend devotions every morning of the tour. Out of 39 students who went on our tour last year, 32 gave their hearts to Christ for the very first time," Boone says with a broad smile.
"For me, that's the icing on the cake!"
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