Robin Joyce found God in a closet eight years ago. Now, with her husband Robert, she is helping troubled youth find God in their own lives.

The Joyces, who reside near Harrisville, operate Rejoyce Moore Ministries, which ministers to at-risk youths in juvenile centers in Franklin and Emlenton.

As chaplains through USA Youth Outreach, the Joyces lead evening Bible studies at the centers and also teach a character-building class at one of the facilities.

"The kids respond very, very well," Robin said. "So many have never heard about God and Jesus. A lot of them have questions about God."

The Bible studies are usually attended by 40 to 50 youths, who come from Pittsburgh, Erie and as far away as Philadelphia.

Now full-time youth ministers, the Joyces were originally both public school teachers — Robert in the Shenango School District and Robin at the Intermediate Unit IV in Grove City.

They met when Robin took a motorcycle safety course taught by Robert. As their relationship grew, Robert encouraged Robin to pray when she was searching for her favorite pair of ski socks about eight years ago. After praying, Robin found the socks in a closet and has believed ever since that God cares about even the small things in her life.

The Joyces eventually married and became youth chaplains through their involvement in the Christian Motorcyclists Association. When a chaplain for USA Youth Outreach moved to the area, he asked members of the CMA chapter to consider becoming chaplains at the local youth correctional centers.

"We immediately volunteered," Robin said.

Though new ground for Robin, the endeavor was not too large a stretch for Robert, who several years before had served as a chaplain's assistant at a juvenile center in New Castle. Robert said he believes ministering to that population is important on multiple levels.

"The juvenile problem is greatly increasing," he said, pointing out new youth correctional facilities are being built all the time. "It's important to work with these children because they go back into the same environment. Unless you change something inside of them, the outside influences bring them right back."

Once the young people get a glimpse of something different, they don't want to return to the life of hopelessness they often left when sent to the juvenile center. Maintaining that hope is difficult when they return home, Robert said.

He cited as an example an e-mail message he received from one boy who returned to his home in Butler after a stay at the Vision Quest center in Franklin. The boy was in danger of being sucked back into his previous lifestyle. Because the boy knew he could reach out to Robert, Robert was able to put him in touch with a Christian mentor in the area.

Robin, too, knows the youths are returning to difficult situations.

"It breaks my heart to see those kids because they've lived a tragic life, and they're only 15. Their hearts are hardened because they have no way of dealing with that," Robin said.

"People are hurting, and they need to know God loves them."

It is that idea the pair tries to infuse into the youths they minister to, which is sometimes difficult, since many of them have no solid basis for knowing about God. Instead, Robert explained, the youths know "bits and pieces scattered all over that they picked up who-knows-where."

To lay a foundation for talking about faith, the Joyces have learned it's best to begin with the biblical account of creation and the origins of sin, found in the early chapters of Genesis. From there, they can explain the work of Jesus, Robert said.

Robin said young people are looking for acceptance and love. She recalled how in the character-building class she and Robert teach she once read a story about a teacher who takes an interest in one child who later becomes successful.

"I questioned whether they would laugh at me," Robin said. "When I was done reading, they applauded. After that, I just went after it."

Now, she doesn't hold back her love for the at-risk students, which, when she was a public school teacher, were her nightmare. In going to the students with her love, she said she is modeling God.

"The thing we know about God is that he meets you where you are," she said. "If you are sincerely seeking the true God, ask the questions, and He will show you."

Robin has written about God's love and giving spirit in two self-published books: "My Sheep Will Know My Voice: Hearing and Discerning God's Voice" and "Will the Real God Please Stand up."