Last December *Anthony’s story was almost too much for me to take. I have heard a lot of stories from teens in 20+ years of ministry but this story left me stunned and speechless. He walked out of the room and up to his cell in the detention center crying pretty hard.
After praying with a few teen guys I asked the youth manager if I could help *Anthony. She said I could have permission to go speak to him in his room. There he sat on his bed with a toilet and sink and small window to see outside. It was just before Christmas and he was crying so hard. It was the kind of cry that made me think, “His muscles are going to be so sore when he wakes up tomorrow.” He was so tense. I put my hand on his shoulder and it was as hard as the steel holding up the bed.
I waited for Anthony to catch enough breath top talk. He began to say in very broken phrases he was so scared because he was all alone. He had no dad and his mom lost custody of him when he was two years old. What can I say to that? I couldn’t think of anything. Nothing was coming to my mind that sounded in the least bit hopeful.
Then it hit me! You need a father. You need to know someone will be there for you. I couldn’t promise to be his father but I could promise to teach him about God as his Heavenly Father. We talked about that for a while. I prayed with him. His hard shoulder became soft and he started breathing without effort. He smiled and said he felt so much better.
That was December 2008 and I have been on a mission this past year. A mission to help give hope and answers to hundreds of fatherless and troubled youth.
I have had a few people ask recently if I could send them a document they could share with others explaining the ministry I have to troubled youth. People who have had a part in this ministry during 2009 are wanting to know what they can do to spread the word.
At the beginning of 2009 I could never have imagined the year God would have given us. It has been pretty incredible seeing over 160 teens come to Christ and watching God open new doors in so many ways.
I thought I would attach this 3 page PDF file for you to save to your computer. Feel free as you are talking to friends or associates to share this ministry with others you feel may be interested in partnering with us.
God bless all those who have faithfully prayed, supported and encouraged our ministry to troubled youth this year!
Sincerely,
Ken Turner
*(For the sake of confidentiality I must use alternate names when sharing about the youth I serve)
