Jacob's Story

One Less Youth Abandoned

As Told By Mark Snee, Pastor at City Church
Pastor Mark Snee shares how prayer, faith, and community brought one foster child from crisis to care—one less night without hope in Our Valley.
A man sits on a blue stool against a white background. Large blue text above him reads ONE LESS and orange text in front reads Youth Abandoned. He wears a dark shirt, jeans, and red sneakers.

For the protection of those involved, names have been changed or omitted, but these stories are real.

When addiction and neglect tore a young boy’s world apart, a neighbor prayed he would find safety—naming specific families in faith, not knowing that God was already answering. The next day, that boy was placed in the home of one of the very families that the neighbor had prayed for.

At first, the boy’s days were quiet and heavy. When his foster father—Pastor Mark from City Church—told the boy’s biological parents they were praying for reunification, a shift happened. Trust began to form. Love began to heal. And when reunification wasn’t possible, that same love became home.

Today, that boy is a thriving nine-year-old. He is a student, an athlete, and a believer who recently chose to be baptized at City Center, the first child ever to do so there. His life is a picture of what can happen when faith and community walk together.

Because Our Valley cared, one more child found safety, family, and hope. And there’s one less youth abandoned in our Valley.

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