The teenage boys I minister to each week are open and teachable. Well… most of them are. If I told you there are times when I deal with a hard case I really don’t think you would be surprised. A couple Monday nights ago I had one of those “hard cases.”
We began our usual Bible study and Darrel sat way over to the left of everyone else and was pretty disconnected from the group. I didn’t know him. Darrel had been admitted to the detention center and assigned to my unit just days before. I knew this about him though… he looked mad, uninterested, hardened and a little intimidating. A few minutes in to our study I looked at Darrel and told him to slide over closer to the group and be a little more engaged with us. He did what I said but he wasn’t a very “happy camper” if you know what I mean.
During the study I asked a question that I wanted everyone to answer. Darrel’s turn to answer was just what I expected. He was continually staring at the floor and looked up and said, “I don’t have an answer.” I said, “It’s no problem… keep thinking about it and I’ll let you answer later.” Obviously, this young man was carrying some heavy burdens. I’m for these guys… not against them. God has the power to change, convert and transform them. I closed in prayer and offered an invitation for any of the guys to accept Christ as their personal Savior. Four guys prayed to receive Christ. At the end of our Bible study Darrel and I had not connected in any way. At least that’s what I thought. I was about to find out how unbelievably wrong I was in thinking this way.
After our closing prayer I thanked the guys for their attention and closed my Bible. Darrel looked up at me from across the room and said, “Are you leaving right away?” I said I would hang around a few minutes if anyone wanted to talk.” Darrel grabbed his chair and darted over to me and pulled up under a table. I sat down and just looked at him. He leaned forward and looked straight into my eyes and said, “I need to be saved. Can you please tell me how to be saved? Can you show me from the Bible how a person gets saved?” I said, “You know… I think I have a minute or two!” As I began to read the passages of scripture he put his finger on the pages of my Bible and touched each word as I read it. I offered to pray with him and he prayed and asked Jesus Christ to save him from all of his sin and he became a child of God. But there is more.
On my way out of the detention center I ran into one of the directors of the center and told this story to her. She was amazed to hear of Darrel’s decision to accept Christ. It was somewhat of a miracle to hear that he had made the decision to come to God. Out of approximately 100 young men in the detention center, God had touched this young man’s heart and the change in his spirit was noticeable right away.
I truly hope this story excites you and motivates you in your own relationship with God. He can reach the hardest one of a hundred men. When I saw Darrel the other day, he was smiling and vibrant. He told me he is reading the Bible and praying every day. Thank you for your prayers and financial support of this vital ministry to troubled youth!
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UPDATE ON THIS STORY – March 22, 2009
15 Year Old Dies In Indianapolis
By Ken Turner
On Saturday, March 21 I learned of the tragic death of this young man. When I write to you about the youth I minister to, I use an alternate name to protect their privacy.
The “Darrel” I mentioned last week was released from the juvenile detention center on Monday, March 16 and was killed on Friday, March 20. Please pray for his family as I meet with them today to tell them of his recent decision for Christ and seek to help.
He is the Daniel mentioned in this news story…
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?s=10042731
http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/crime/Police_investigating_citys_latest_homicide_20090320
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UPDATE ON THIS STORY – March 23, 2009
Pray for the Daniel Ferguson Family
By Ken Turner
I met Daniel Ferguson within the past two weeks through my ministry to youth in the inner city of Indianapolis. Daniel was tragically killed on Friday, March 20, 2009.
Thank you to all who have offered prayer and support to the family at this time. If you would like to offer support to the family please feel free to contact me.
Funeral arrangements are with:
Lavenia, Smith & Summers Home for Funerals
5811 East 38th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46218
(317) 547-5814
www.laveniasmithsummers.com
The day and time of services are as follows…
Daniel T. Ferguson
(April 17, 1993 – March 20, 2009)
Friday, March 27, 2009
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Lavenia, Smith & Summers
Chapel of Peace
Service:
Friday, March 27, 2009
12:00 pm
Lavenia, Smith & Summers
Chapel of Peace
Burial:
New Crown Cemetery
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UPDATE ON THIS STORY – March 27, 2009
A Funeral and the Power of Prayer
By Ken Turner
The story of Daniel Ferguson and his recent decision to accept Christ followed a few days later by his untimely death at the age of 15 is one that is so shocking.
I met Daniel on Monday, March 9, 2009 and had the opportunity to lead him to Christ. I saw him again on Thursday, March 12 and he told me how different life was already after just a few days which he described as a life that was now “completely different.”
On Friday, March 20 Daniel was tragically killed in the street.
Today is Friday, March 27. I just returned home from Daniel’s funeral. Now I know more of God’s hand at work in his life. When I walked in to the church in the inner city of Indianapolis the crowd was very large. There was not enough room for everyone to sit. About 250 people were there to express their love, support and sadness. The director of the Good News Youth Center approached me and said, “Ken, we are seeing somewhat of a revival at the youth center through all of this.” He went on to explain that so many of the staff and neighborhood teens had witnessed to Daniel recently but Daniel was not receptive. They were so sad when they learned of Daniel’s death and were so concerned about his spiritual life. Those who knew Daniel went through the weekend following his death full of sadness until they heard that Daniel had actually just recently made a decision to accept the Lord. The staff told the kids at the Good News Youth Center on the Monday following Daniel’s death and as you might expect, a spirit of revival and excitement replaced the sadness.
Today at the funeral I had an opportunity to say a word to those who were there. When I stood before this packed crowd in this inner city church and told them Daniel had recently come to me and asked me to show him how to be saved, the church erupted with cheers, clapping, crying tears of joy and shouting praises to God.
It will be interesting to see God’s unique plan unfold. I have no idea what God has in store but I know God will continue to do His work in the inner city youth of Indianapolis.
I covet your prayers and thank you for your support in this vital ministry to troubled youth.
