about us

Lloyd and Maryanne Ward Bio:

When Lloyd, his wife Maryanne and young son Sebastian moved to Colville in 1993, they had a vision for serving others but did not know it would be centered around youth. Having retired from the military and an their active role in Prison Fellowship Ministries in San Antonio, Texas, Lloyd was soon asked to become a youth pastor/Sunday School teacher-alternative school worker-Colville youth center director. That led to being a k-12 school counselor, homeless youth program founder and director and currently, executive director for Stevens County Youth Outreach. Before leaving this earth, Sebastian loved to be at the youth center with Lloyd and taught many youth how to play again and how to view their seeming tough lives through the lens of his joyful life in spite of a terminal disease. Lloyd and Maryanne know their greatest gift to youth is to love them with the love that has been showered on them from the Lord. We have 7 remaining adult children between us. Once a young single mother, raising 3 of those children, Maryanne identifies easily with single moms and growing youth. Her career with Employment Security centered around helping unemployed individuals find work though training, counseling and support services. She also worked for the University of Oklahoma as a program coordinator. Together, Lloyd and Maryanne trust that God will lead in sharing their life experiences and training in helping young people find their way in life – the mission of Stevens County Youth Outreach.

I am a Colville native and attendee for many years at the prior iteration of the Aspiring Youth Center.  After graduating high school I moved to Spokane where I met my wife and we headed on over to Seattle for more opportunities.  After realizing the big city wasn't our cup of tea, we embarked on a country wide road trip for a year before returning to Colville and starting our family.  I am currently in school for software development while my wife teaches Transitional Kindergarten here in Colville.  I am very happy to work with the people who fostered quality attributes and habits in myself and to help our youth grow to learn skills needed in todays world and in life.

I served as a member on the board as well as the Secretary.  I have known the founders and directors of the youth centers in Stevens County, LLoyd and Maryanne Ward, for 25+ years now and am excited to be part of this new vision in helping to train and equip our Youth.  I share their vision and hope to help inspire change and enhance teens lives, especially in education.  I have been a teacher all of my life, first homeschooling my own children, then para-educating at Hofstetter Elementary School, and now Columbia River Christian Academy and private tutoring.  I became a licensed teacher two years ago and am currently pursuing an Orton Gillingham Associate certificate to be able to help kids and adults with dyslexia learn to read and write.  I am passionate about education and am personally a life-long learner, always improving myself and looking for opportunities to help others.  I strongly believe reading and writing are essential to becoming successful adults and citizens and am so thrilled to use these skills to help youth in our area.  I am blessed to be part of this organization and enthusiastically anticipate God doing amazing things through it and us.