Ben’s Story - And That’s When I Sold My Soul To Jesus
Posted on Monday, December 12, 2016 by
Ben, you and I met for the first time at the detention center last night. I’m glad we got to have some more time together today.
Yeh, the other kids were watching a movie.
When did you get here?
Just a week ago. But I really wanted tell you guys how blown away I was that people cared enough to give me Christmas gifts, cuz I didn’t deserve it.
Why do you think that?
It goes way back. My dad left me when I was just a kid. Then, my stepdad knocked me around a lot and mom wasn’t ever home. The only real family that paid attention to me was my uncles and they led gangs and stuff. And I guess you could say they’d showed me all the stuff with drugs and violence and how to live that way.
It looks like that didn’t work out for you.
It didn’t. It just got me thrown into a ton of group homes and centers and now — now I’m here. And it’s Christmas time.
Is Christmas important to you?
Yeh, and when they told me about the YFC church service thing on Sunday I went cuz I was feeling pretty bad man and because that’s pretty bad timing to be here on Christmas. But that’s when things started changing.
Your volunteer lady was passing out these gift bags with candy and gifts and a Bible. I haven’t ever had a Bible before. And in the bag was a Christmas card thing signed by somebody I don’t even know.
Yeh, kids from a local church helped us put the gift bags together and they wrote and signed all the cards.
Man, that really meant a lot to me.
I heard that on Tuesday you talked with another one of our volunteers.
I wanted to him to know that those gifts had really softened me up and I wanted to talk about it with someone. He was great and was really cool about helping me understand that I am worth something. AND THAT'S WHEN I SOLD MY SOUL TO JESUS.
Why are you smiling?
Well, I’ve never heard it said quite that way, but it’s the best news I’ve heard all week. Now that’s my Christmas present, Ben.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I came that they may have life,
and have it abundantly.
John 10:10 NASM
Our ministry is built story by story. It always starts with the ultimate story composed by God’s own hand. Then the story is shared through a conversation just like the one we’ve shared.
Every day we have conversations with kids like Ben who’ve never had anyone tell them how precious they are and that they’re worth the sacrifice of God’s own Son. A Christmas gift that isn’t deserved, but given to us all by grace.
Surprisingly, Ben’s story isn’t unique to our Juvenile Justice ministry in Denver’s juvenile facilities. These same kind of stories are told in Campus Life meetings, or over coffee at Starbucks where teen parents sit wide-eyed with a new baby in their arms.
Our staff is devoted to introducing life into the story of today’s kids who aren’t told about the bigger promise of the abundant life available to them — a life that will shape their future, families and ultimate story.
And during Christmas, it even finds its way inside the walls of Denver’s juvenile facilities and giving life to the story of a new believer named Ben.
This Christmas, will you help us give life to the stories of more kids like Ben?
With your one-time or monthly gifts, our ministry together finds its way to thousands of youth who can experience life through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
We need you to be part of the ongoing conversation with youth in our city and to help us share God’s story. It’s our honor to be the storytellers on your behalf who meet these kids right where they are.
Thank you for your generous gifts and prayers this Christmas that will genuinely give life to their stories.
