Saturday will mark a week since Jared Plesec was shot dead outside of Euclid Beach Villa apartments on Cleveland's east side.
Friday was a day to celebrate Jared’s life, the incredible legacy he left, and the manner in which made his mark on so many. Those who knew and loved him, and some who had never met him, sat shoulder to shoulder, standing-room-only at the Salvation Army in Collinwood.
This is a guy who in his 21 years, made more of an impact than maybe even HE realized..
But what Jared Plesec brought to this world, was OUT OF THIS WORLD. And it was impossible to miss Friday night.
When Jared was gunned down last Saturday, he was on his way to teach bible study. He was in full Salvation Army uniform. He died holding his bible.
Plesec could never have seen it coming.
But every person who packed Friday's service knows exactly where he went.
"He is in the eternal presence of the one he served," they said.
His life was a crusade for Christ. A quest to change lives and get souls in good standing.
He was a recruiter for this Salvation Army.
"When we shovel snow we were like oh man! We need to run by before Jared sees us! Because he used to always tell us, Come to church!” said 17-year-old Joseph Houston.
"We just got tired of him begging us to come to church so we were like fine," 17-year-old Amonte Crawley smiles and adds, "That wasn't even his job. He just wanted to see everybody come to God."
Now Grovewood Street, out front of the Salvation Army where Jared Plesec chased down kids for Christ, will be named in his honor.
And it is the GIFT of Jared's life well lived that KEEPS ON giving.
"He changed everything, my perception of life, the way I speak and talk to people. I'm going to carry on his legend, tell people to come to church, tell people to do better. I'm going to try to better myself more just for Jared," says Houston.
Friday it was clear, Jared Plesec is still changing lives in death, in heaven, exponentially more than he could have ever gotten around to down here.
Just take it from the legacies he leaves behind.
"If one person can change that many people, Just think if many more did it this world would be a different place,” says Crawley sounding wise beyond his years.
So many inspired by Jared Plesec, it’s no surprise he was named 2015 Salvation Army Youth Soldier of the year.
On Friday he was awarded the highest privilege in the Salvation Army: SOLDIER OF THE YEAR for 2017.
WATCH: WKYC was there for the Jared Plesec's memorial service. Watch our Facebook Live coverage in the player below: