Why? Because There's a Need

After 15 months, I got the opportunity to go back into a couple of detention facilities to see the youth.  I visited four different pods with between 7-10 children inside each pod.  It did not take long for me to remember why the Lord wants us there. Here are some questions we ask to start relationships. The answers received signify the reasons why I believe the Lord has us inside these facilities.

Question: When are you getting out of here?

• They are giving me six years, so I’ll be in till I am 21
• They are trying to give me life.
• I don’t know when I will get out, they are charging me as an adult.
• They are trying to find a place for me to live.  If they can’t find one here, they will send me out of state.
• I don’t know, I have court on______day.

                 
                  How is your family?

• Mom is on drugs and living on the street. Stepdad is abusive, don’t know where my sisters are.
• I do not know my mom or dad.  I have been in foster care most of my life.
• Parents are in a gang.
• Six brothers and sister are all in jail.
• Mom and dad are into drugs.
• Been in foster care since I was nine.
• Two 16-year-olds said they are expecting to be dads later this year.

             
               Did you go to church on the outside?

• Several said grams took them when young.
• I don’t need God.
• I worship a different God.
• I do believe in God, but have been staying low.
• The church doesn’t care about me.
• What is the difference between you and a Mormon?

As you can see there is a lot of brokenness.  They have all been through years of trauma, abuse, and neglect.  Last night we met with a group during outdoor recreation.  When the youth go back in, they must report what the group did well while outside and what was done wrong. One young man said “a good thing was that he could talk to us”

Please pray that we will have full access to all the facilities soon.  We only have access to about a third of the youth in custody.  Pray for our volunteers, that they can stay on the plow and break up the hard ground.  Please pray for the funding required to continue this ministry.
Have a blessed summer.


Andy