Love in Action: Building Men of Character at The PAYH

By Dr. Jeff Padgett
Chief Communications Officer, Paul Anderson Youth Home

February is often recognized as the month of love—a time when hearts, cards, and kind words take center stage. At The Paul Anderson Youth Home (PAYH), however, love is not confined to a single month or expressed only through words. It is demonstrated daily through commitment, discipline, accountability, and genuine care for the young men entrusted to us.

The love our young men experience at The PAYH is not always easy or comfortable. It is the kind of love that shows up early in the morning, sets clear expectations, and refuses to give up when things get difficult. It is love that corrects, guides, and challenges—because true love seeks growth, not convenience.

Many of the young men who come to The PAYH have experienced love in inconsistent or unhealthy ways. Here, they are introduced to a different model: love rooted in structure, faith, and responsibility. Through mentoring relationships, consistent routines, shared meals, work projects, athletics, and worship, our staff and supporters demonstrate what it means to care deeply while holding high standards.

At The PAYH, love looks like teaching a young man to shake hands firmly and look someone in the eye. It looks like encouraging him to finish strong when he wants to quit. It looks like celebrating victories—both big and small—and walking alongside him through setbacks. Most importantly, it looks like pointing him toward God’s love, which is steady, unconditional, and transformative.

As these young men grow, they begin to understand that love is not just something to receive, but something to give. They learn to respect others, be grateful for opportunities, and take responsibility for their actions. These lessons shape how they will one day love their families, serve their communities, and lead with integrity.

This February, we are reminded that love is not merely a feeling—it is a choice and a commitment. At The PAYH, love is the foundation upon which character is built, and futures are changed. Thank you to our staff, donors, families, and supporters who continue to show love in action and make this life-changing work possible.

Strength For The Day

Each week, PAYH shares a devotional; “Strength For The Day,” by Chaplain (Col) Stephen W. Leonard, USA, Ret. In addition to being a retired US Army Chaplain, he is also the husband of our Co-Founder, Glenda Anderson Leonard. His writing is both moving and inspiring and will most certainly lift your spirit and encourage you in your walk with Jesus. To receive his weekly writing, you can subscribe online at payh.org. You can also read past writings by clicking here.

Sweet Success!

A huge congratulations to our Gingerbread House Challenge winners! Your creativity, teamwork, and holiday spirit truly stood out this Christmas season.

To celebrate, our winners enjoyed a well-deserved lunch at Hardware Pizza and finished things off with dessert at Scoops —the perfect way to sweeten the victory!

A special thank you to Shuman Farms for generously supplying the gingerbread house materials and providing the lunch and dessert. Your support helped make this holiday experience extra special, and we are truly grateful!

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this festive tradition such a joy.

Celebrating a Major Milestone: Congratulations, Jack & Camden!

We are proud to celebrate the graduation of Jack and Camden from the Paul Anderson Youth Home (PAYH) program. Their time here has been marked by hard work, growth, perseverance, and a commitment to building strong foundations for their futures.

Jack leaves PAYH with clear goals and a strong sense of purpose. He plans to attend the Fire Academy and pursue his calling to serve others as a firefighter. His dedication, discipline, and heart for service will no doubt make a positive impact in the communities he serves.

Camden is also stepping forward with determination and vision. He plans to attend lineman school to become an electrical lineman. This demanding and essential profession requires grit, focus, and responsibility—qualities Camden has consistently demonstrated during his time at PAYH.

We are incredibly proud of both young men and the progress they have made. Jack and Camden exemplify what it means to set goals, work hard, and move forward with confidence. We look forward to watching them succeed as they take the next steps into their futures.

Congratulations, Jack and Camden—you will always be part of the PAYH family!

Save The Date!

The Chick-fil-A Vidalia Road Race is coming your way on Saturday, March 7, 2026! Lace up your shoes, gather your friends and family, and get ready for a day of fitness, fun, and community spirit.

Register today at runvidalia.com and secure your spot!

More details coming soon — but for now, mark those calendars and start your training!