Inner City Ministry
Thursday, January 12, 2006
I have been involved in Inner City Ministry for many years, nine of which are at a Juvenile Correctional Facility. We have forty eight teenage boys ages 13 to 18, who are sentenced to nine months of incarceration. Their crimes range from Unauthorized use of a Motor Vehicle, to Possession, to Burglary of a Habitation, etc. Most have some type of Gang Affiliation.
Our facility is a drug treatment facility, it is also minimum security. The average length of stay is fifteen months. The boys come in and they are street wise and think they can work the system. In this facility you work the program or you stay until you do. By law they could be incarcerated there until they are twenty one years of age.
There are two types of boys I work with. One is the Hard Core, gonna do it my way type kid and the other is the meek mild manipulator who shows you everything you want to see. I have learned the kid who is hard core is normally the one who isn't playing you. They don't put up a front, they are angry, they are lonely and they would give anything for someone to love them for who they are. Believe it or not, this is the kid who usually makes it, they are usually the one who truly wants to change. They usually denounce their gang affiliation and they don't go home.
I share all of this with you to say Inner City Ministry is very tiring. These boys are incredibly easy to reach with the Gospel. They are hungry to learn, to know and to be loved. They hate authority and discipline, so in teaching and discipling them you have to continually teach them about staying under the Authority God has placed over them because this is the place of blessing and protection. When they get out from under that authority is when they start to go back to their old ways. So it is a continual accountablility teaching. If they can manipulate they will, you have to talk to them in the only way they know and that is straight forward and let them know you aren't going to play games. They don't like it, but they respect you for it. So pray for me as I continue to stand fast and watch God take a mess and make a Masterpiece.
Our facility is a drug treatment facility, it is also minimum security. The average length of stay is fifteen months. The boys come in and they are street wise and think they can work the system. In this facility you work the program or you stay until you do. By law they could be incarcerated there until they are twenty one years of age.
There are two types of boys I work with. One is the Hard Core, gonna do it my way type kid and the other is the meek mild manipulator who shows you everything you want to see. I have learned the kid who is hard core is normally the one who isn't playing you. They don't put up a front, they are angry, they are lonely and they would give anything for someone to love them for who they are. Believe it or not, this is the kid who usually makes it, they are usually the one who truly wants to change. They usually denounce their gang affiliation and they don't go home.
I share all of this with you to say Inner City Ministry is very tiring. These boys are incredibly easy to reach with the Gospel. They are hungry to learn, to know and to be loved. They hate authority and discipline, so in teaching and discipling them you have to continually teach them about staying under the Authority God has placed over them because this is the place of blessing and protection. When they get out from under that authority is when they start to go back to their old ways. So it is a continual accountablility teaching. If they can manipulate they will, you have to talk to them in the only way they know and that is straight forward and let them know you aren't going to play games. They don't like it, but they respect you for it. So pray for me as I continue to stand fast and watch God take a mess and make a Masterpiece.
posted by Live, Love, Laugh | 1:10 AM
16 Comments:
What you do is incredible. I praise you for your patience, understanding, and love that you have to be able to share it with these boys. Using it to show them God's love and understanding is an even more beautiful thing! I have always felt that no child is born 'bad' and has the ability, with God's Grace, to find that inner good and reform. I will keep you in my prayers.
I'll remember you in my prayers.
You who do good works will be blessed, both here and in heaven.
The pay may not be the greatest but the rewards are eternal.
You know you have my prayers! I'm grateful that someone will take their time and go out and help these children. Some people just have a knack for it and it sounds like you do. Keep it up. You are doing the Lords work.
that's right: a mess into a masterpiece.... so amazing.
You are so right about the hard core kids. I ran a program for first time offenders and would much rather deal with hard core kids - you knew what were dealing with. You are also very right about it being tiring.
Ralph
Your job sounds very rewarding; if these boys turn their lives around, they have you to thank for it. What a gift.
Prayers continue - good for you. ;)
Praying for you Dana. Your ministry is such a blessing to those boys. More than you'll ever know.
Thank you for sharing your heart. I can't even begin to imagine what you go through each day. Yes I will keep you in my prayers.
It's so easy to fall in love with these needy kids and just as easy to know the heartbreak when it isn't going right. God bless you and strengthen you for the task at hand.
All things work together for good for those who love the Lord.
I have been a youth worker, but I am in absolute awe of those skilled (gifted) in working with inner city youth.
I need to get involved in meaningful work like this when my own life isn't so complicated, when I can give something back.
I see what your commitment to this group does for these kids and it's encouraging.
I will pray for you. It's tough, and I know that first-hand. My mother was involved in the prison ministry for many years.
I give you an incredible amount of credit for the work you do. God Bless you!
I don't know how you do it, Dana. May God heap mountains of blessing on you.
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