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Okay some background on this one:
This summer, I am working at a youth center in the heart of Cincinnati. As a result of our location, the children that come are almost completely inner-city, black children. Many of these kids do not have godly father figures, or ANY father figure, in their lives. Their experiences with men have consistently been that they are abandoned; the presence is inconsistent, so there is a level of trust that must be earned that is greater than any group I've been with.
For the summer camp that we are in, Bible study is a necessary time that each group of kids, and being in charge of the 4-8th grade boys, though I have a partner and volunteers to help, my hands are full because I am primarily in charge of the Bible lesson. I guess my issue is, this group is SO hard to reach. Today was my first day with them and I can just tell it's going to be difficult. I'm not ready to give up; I WANT to share God's Word with them no matter what, it's how I do it that worries me.
These kids have seen everything; these are the kinds of kids that have terrible family lives, see "dirtiness" everywhere they turn and as a result see that as acceptable. It's "manly" to protect yourself with force, or show dominance with fighting. It's "manly" to resist authority and be the "big guy on campus." This is so far from the truth that I just want to yell it at them...that what they are doing is not manly...it's cowardly and immature. But this is how they've grown up...and I'm the new guy.
I need God to speak to their hearts, not me, so pray that I give what God wants me to give. These guys are at the perfect age to start sewing some seeds in them, but the soil is hard and unyielding at the moment. Pray that God transforms the soil and provides the seeds.
This summer, I am working at a youth center in the heart of Cincinnati. As a result of our location, the children that come are almost completely inner-city, black children. Many of these kids do not have godly father figures, or ANY father figure, in their lives. Their experiences with men have consistently been that they are abandoned; the presence is inconsistent, so there is a level of trust that must be earned that is greater than any group I've been with.
For the summer camp that we are in, Bible study is a necessary time that each group of kids, and being in charge of the 4-8th grade boys, though I have a partner and volunteers to help, my hands are full because I am primarily in charge of the Bible lesson. I guess my issue is, this group is SO hard to reach. Today was my first day with them and I can just tell it's going to be difficult. I'm not ready to give up; I WANT to share God's Word with them no matter what, it's how I do it that worries me.
These kids have seen everything; these are the kinds of kids that have terrible family lives, see "dirtiness" everywhere they turn and as a result see that as acceptable. It's "manly" to protect yourself with force, or show dominance with fighting. It's "manly" to resist authority and be the "big guy on campus." This is so far from the truth that I just want to yell it at them...that what they are doing is not manly...it's cowardly and immature. But this is how they've grown up...and I'm the new guy.
I need God to speak to their hearts, not me, so pray that I give what God wants me to give. These guys are at the perfect age to start sewing some seeds in them, but the soil is hard and unyielding at the moment. Pray that God transforms the soil and provides the seeds.
