Just How Close At Hand Their Savior Is
Posted on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 by
By Cindy Nick, Juvenile Justice Ministry Chaplain
The following are conversations I’ve had with incarcerated youth recently. Hopefully it gives you an inkling of what some of them are going through. And hopefully you realize how your support and prayers help ensure that these struggling kids get the pastoral guidance, healing love and prayer support they would otherwise be denied:
“Where’s your teddy bear today, James?”
“In the washing machine,” he responded, with tears in his eyes. Eleven-year-old James is having a hard time being away from home. “I won’t be getting him back till bedtime.”
“Are you still trusting Jesus, like we talked about Sunday?”
“Yes, but I miss him.”
“Who, Jesus?”
“No! I miss Tedley!” He managed a chuckle then and we talked more about the comfort and strength Jesus can give in the Bible and when we pray. After reading some verses and praying, James learned how God’s peace can find us anywhere and hold us together like a big, fluffy, invisible bearhug.
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“Hi Francesco, how’s it going?”
“Doing good. Earned my level so I can talk on the phone to my mom. Please pray she gets stronger cause this is hard on her, me bein’ here.”
“Yes, of course I’ll pray for her, and will ask others to as well.” This made him smile. “By the way, Ethan told me you talked him into giving Bible study another chance when he felt like giving up on everything.”
“Oh yeah, I talk to him a lot. He’s probably facing life in the adult system and only 16….man, that be messed up. But he be like all smiling since he started coming to Bible study and praying again. That’s how it was for me when I found out how many years I might be facing but getting back with God is helpin’ me through all dis stuff so I told him it could help him too.”
“Way to go, Francesco! Didn’t we tell you God can use you to serve Him wherever you’re at and whatever your circumstances! Well, there you go!” This caused him to smile and blush, and the rest was just fun talk.
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What a privilege we have in helping these young believers realize just how close at hand their Savior is!
Thank you for being a part of the ongoing conversation with youth in our city and helping us share God’s story. It's our honor to be the storytellers on your behalf who meet kids right where they are and give life to their story.
Providing young people in our community with the opportunity to make an informed decision to be a follower of Jesus Christ and become part of a local church.