Purpose Statement
The One-Eighty Teen Center is dedicated to impacting the lives of high school and junior high students by providing a safe, fun, positive place for teens. This is accomplished through meaningful activities, mentoring relationships and support systems that encourage spiritual growth and promote positive development and healthy decisions.

One-Eighty’s Story
The One-Eighty Teen Center began as a dream in the minds and hearts of two Lodi youth pastors in the summer of 2000. They had collectively done over 20 years of youth ministry and were determined to use their experience to create a safe, fun, and positive place for teens and eliminate the phrase, “There’s nothing to do in Lodi!” from teenagers’ lips. The task of opening a teen center from scratch seemed monstrous, but through prayer and faithful servants, miracles began to happen. A 5,300 square foot warehouse was purchased in August, 2001 and leased to the One-Eighty Teen Center at the cost of one dollar a year. Then dozens of individuals and businesses caught a glimpse of the vision and stepped out in faith, donating $75,000 in cash and $205,000 in in-kind donations for remodeling and equipment. In addition, United Way awarded One-Eighty a $130,000 two-year grant to assist the Center in getting programs started. By May of 2002, the One-Eighty Teen Center was in full operation and had touched the lives of more than 1,000 teens during its first two months. Today, One-Eighty continues to impact hundreds of kids’ lives each week by offering creative programs, meaningful relationships and being the “something to do in Lodi” for teens.

What is One-Eighty?
The One-Eighty is a faith based, private, non-profit organization that collaborates with community resources in order to provide cutting edge events, programs and authentic mentoring relationships that positively impact kids’ lives. One-Eighty is solely funded through community donations, grants, and fundraisers.

The Name
The One-Eighty Teen Center derived its name from its vision to turn kids’ lives around one-hundred and eighty degrees for the better.

Interships at the One-Eighty
Ministry at the One-Eighty happens primarily through one-on-one relationships. The One-Eighty purpsosefully hires mature, Christian college students; the kind of college student that radiates the love, freedom, and grace that only Jesus offers. The One-Eighty most often attracts skaters, latch-key kids, and “at risk” youth. They don’t have the type of encouragement, love, and support Jesus meant for each child to receive.

Through mentoring relationships, One-Eighty staff are able to point out and encourage student’s talents, skills, and dreams. Many individuals have responded to the truth that they were wonderfully, beautifully, and purposefully created. With this healthy motivation to pursue dreams, the One-Eighty has already seen several students turn from the possibility of gangs, drugs, and violence to the safety and hope of Jesus.

By providing these students with caring staff and a place they can call their own, the One-Eighty is making it that much easier for student’s to say “no” to the pressures of the world. However, there is still much work to be done. Many students are still in bondage to sexual sin, drugs, gang related issues, and peer pressure.

The One-Eighty is currently looking for college students who share God’s heart for the “at risk” teen. Every person, every conversation is appointed. Is the Lord asking you to come and serve? We are currently accepting intern applications for both month-to-month and one-year internships. Please contact us to get more information about these.

Volunteering at the One-Eighty
One-Eighty is always looking for adult volunteers who have a heart for God and teenagers. Whether you have one afternoon a week open or simply would like to help occasionally for big events we are always in debt to our volunteers who donate their time and resources. Please contact us to see about getting an application and becoming an adult volunteer.