"My name is Fred Yosua and I am a special creation!" I say enthusiastically, thinking it sounds too corny. Hoping that others will reintroduce themselves that same way, the next team member follows the model.

Will the young men follow suit? Of course they do, having seen their pictures interspersed in the Creation video.

And with more feeling and enthusiasm than the team members, we continue around the room with the reintroductions. Soon all have spoken except the Correctional Officer with us.

The chants begin and the CO raises his arms--and introduces himself in the same way!

So ends the Friday night session of Torch #1 in Maine.

Earlier in the evening we had met the young men who were pictured in the video–tough looking young guys without smiles in the pictures and without smiles when we met them. On Saturday morning, we know our goal for Friday night has been achieved–19 of the 20 residents return (and we have alternates lined up to take the place of the one person whose special time has not yet arrived).

Our first speaker for the day does a phenomenal job, donning a mask for the scripted portion of the talk, then removing the mask and talking about his struggles with substance abuse and the masks he has worn as a result.

After the testimonial portion of the "Get Real" talk, he puts the mask back on and finishes with the remaining scripted piece of the talk. The discussions get underway, and because of the willingness of the speaker to bare his soul, they are productive from the outset.

Next, each member of the table families (named Chanters, Good Samaritans, Created, St. Joseph's, and Faithful Disciples) makes a personal mask and shares it with all the folks there–the entire team, all the resident guests and the facility chaplain. The masks are profound, beautiful and sad at the same time and often times say more than the explanations the people give about them.

We move to the chapel for some worship songs with video on the screen. These young guys can sing!

Then the first two of the six mask meditations are given and the residents have plenty to think about.
During the break, the Agape team decorates the room we are using.

When the break is over, the "You Are Not Alone" talk is given. This is another talk where the speaker bares his soul. It is about loneliness and about being abused as a child, and finally finding the love of Jesus Christ and forgiving his abuser. General Agape is introduced, as is the brightly decorated and looooong prayer chain (praise God for all the prayers!).
The participants are once again fully engaged in the discussions.

The rest of Saturday flies by. The group photo shows the young men with SMILES–they are terrific looking young fellas. The forgiveness service at the end of the day starts with more music to the video. "Trading My Sorrows" has the place rocking and is perfect preparation for the service to come.

When the time arrives for each table family to drop their masks and forgiveness lists into the God box, the room is solemn and prayerful. Many of the team and residents are tearful as they release their pretenses, hurts, and hurtfulness to the Lord.
The youth come into the room Sunday morning in a Conga line! It is a wonderful day, with plenty of time for one on one discussion between the residents and their guides.

The choices talk is marvelous and compelling. The personal Agape brings tears of joy and abundant hugs.

At the closing, each resident speaks. The impact of the weekend has been more powerful than even our most optimistic hopes. Many of the residents speak about the change that has occurred in them, and how they will always remember the weekend.
For some, it has been the best time of their lives.

The superintendent speaks about the change he has seen in the youth.
On Tuesday, Tim Higgins, the chaplain, sends the following email:

Well--praise God--Where do I begin?? That is exactly where I begin--praise God!! The positive vibes and tentacles of "Torch" are reaching corners of this Institution that have never experienced such goodness and light.

Units are peaceful and calm, residents are treating each other with kindness and love, kids are high as a kite and the love that fills their hearts is trickling out into every facet of life here at Long Creek.
The response is unbelievable and expectations have been blown out of the water. Kids are already beginning to find ways to give it all back--gifts, prayers, thank you's, etc., etc. It is unbelievable!!
The Spirit is a movin all over this land. Tim And the team members? Several have said it was the best weekend of their lives, or the most rewarding weekend of their lives.
They cannot wait to get back to the facility and begin the mentoring process. Oh, and near the end of the closing, one of the residents grabbed the microphone and had everyone say, on the count of three,

"I AM A SPECIAL CREATION!"