Here is the link to the local news story…

http://www.indysportsnation.com/videobeta/?watchId=b9496a27-2d7a-4676-abea-3ccab35d8002

“I have served side-by-side with Ken Turner and know his heart and his leadership capabilities. He has the unique ability to connect with diverse groups of parents and kids…from struggling  youth at the juvenile correctional facility, all the way to college bound high school football players at All Pro Dad’s community events held at the Colts Complex. His love for the Lord is always evident. If you need to learn more about Ken call me at 813.777.3140.

Darrin D. Gray, Director of Partner Development, All Pro Dad, “The fatherhood program founded by Tony Dungy” Indianapolis, IN (National Offices in Tampa, FL)

I have found in Ken a kindred spirit! His passion for people is marked by his entrepreneurial outreach to the lost, the last, the least, the locked in and the locked out. Clearly a man of integrity and character, Ken’s abilities to articulate the Good News and mentor disciples of the Lord Jesus are supported by his lifestyle of evangelistic faith. He has been a great blessing to me personally and to our local church!

Curt De Graaff, Senior Pastor, Bethesda Baptist Church, Brownsburg, IN

I am honored to recommend my friend Ken Turner whom I have known over 13 years. I have had the pleasure of serving with Ken on several occasions and have found him to have a true heart for the youth he ministers to. Ken’s tenacity and selfless drive to help young people who may not have known the love of an earthly father to come to know the true love of our heavenly father is an inspiration to me. Above all his professional qualities and achievements, the things that I admire the most in Ken is his dedication to follow his calling and his God given ability to connect with and impact the mission field he has been given.

Kurt Hufford, Commercial Airline Pilot, Skywest Airlines, Colorado Springs, CO

“Ken, has a zeal to serve our LORD by working with youth and teens. Though his efforts and prayers many have come to know the LORD and grow in grace and knowledge of him. Ken is diligent and unselfish in his work and I am honored to serve our LORD with him.

Ralph Wendel, Owner, Breakers Unlimited Inc., Westfield, IN

“I have known Ken for many years and God has clearly gifted him with a calling to impact today’s youth for the cause of Christ.”

Jeff Leffew, Servant HR, Fishers, IN

“What an encouragement it is to hear of the work that the Lord is doing through Ken Turner for Indy’s troubled youths.  It’s not just Ken’s burden for these young people that is so exciting, but his ability to break down the walls that these kids have built against adults they don’t trust.  Ken is truly gifted in his knowing how to reach them.”

Ryan Donovan, Principal Financial, Indianapolis, IN

“Ken is well organized, efficient, and a visionary. He is always looking to get better, and will work tirelessly to be productive. He is personable, and makes the lives of people a priority. Good men seem to be hard to come by, and this is a good man.”

Jack Woodring, Missionary, Baptist World Mission, Nashville, TN

“Ken has been working with the Juvenile Detention Center and provided an excellent mentoring program.”

Douglas Hairston, Front Porch Alliance, Indianapolis Mayor’s Office, Indiana

“Ken Turner has a unique ability to understand the challenges that young men of today are facing. Ken is dedicated, persistent and a great leader. His life and work have positively affected many young people in the State of Indiana.”

Melissa Thompson, Clerk of the Council, City of Indianapolis, IN

“I truly believe that ministering to the next generation, to underserved people and communities, and to those on the fringes of society are three of the most important areas in which a person can minister. Ken has not only shown a commitment in these areas, but great effectiveness! I would whole-heartedly endorse his ministry!”

Dave Jamerson, Minister of Local and Global Partnerships, Traders Point Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN

Former NBA, Houston Rockets

“I have known Ken since 1984. He has always demonstrated a passion to help people and make a difference. He is unselfish, an extremely hard worker that will not give up. He has been tested through many fires and passed the test. Any further questions? Feel free to call me to ask anything – 423-727-7436.”

Glenn Ransom, Sales Manager, Varsity (Formerly a division of Thomas Nelson Inc.)

“Ken is a compassionate believer in the positive role that faith can play in young people’s lives – where its just a matter of how you can present this good news to them (that he does very very well). I have personally witnessed remarkable transformation in many of the young men in the juvenile detention facility where we have mentored together. I would trust him with any aspect of dealing with my friends and family should that need ever arise.”

Mike Cline, VP, HWC Engineering, Indianapolis, IN

“Ken Turner is doing an excellent job making a difference in the lives of teenagers. Especially those teenagers whom a lot of people would just write off as hopeless. His ministry in the Juvenile Detention Centers and other places is excellent, and I’ve been honored to be a small part of it.”

Joshua Goodling, Inspirational Speaker, and Director, Web Development, Premier Global Services,  Atlanta, GA

“Ken is a dedicated Christian leader with a burden for teens and a forward thinker in planning activities and programs to meet their needs.”

Sandy Van Vlymen, President, Widow’s Jar Ministries, Inc., Carmel, IN

Special workshops were held addressing topics such as:

How To Really Love Your Teen

Keeping Your Teens Cybersafe

Embracing The Wisdom Of Your Parents

The Presence of the Holy Spirit In Our Home and Family

Communication, Dating, Preparing Our Teens to Live Out Their Faith In The World

I was privileged to be a part of this youth event as a keynote speaker along with Randy Tanis as the other keynote speaker. Randy is a great friend a youth ministry veteran of over 20 years who now serves as director of Camp Chetek in Chetek, WI.

Dwayne Morris is the youth pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, serving with Senior Pastor Bob Loggans.

Over 400 attended the conference including about 100 youth leaders.

The challenge of the day was HE NOT ME. Our messages dove tailed together lifting up a key truth for all youth to embrace… “Live your life focused on God, not to seek the approval of others, not for self, but to sincerely pursue a growing relationship with God and His word and through that strength allow God to use you to impact others for eternity.”

I give the people of Calvary Baptist an A+ for their spirit of hospitality, friendliness and obvious desire to see God work in the lives of youth!

Last week, one of the guys in my Bible study didn’t want to be there. He raised his hand and said, “What would you say if I told you I don’t believe anything?” I said, “Do you mean you don’t believe in God… you don’t believe in the Bible?” He said, “That’s right, I don’t believe in anything… what do you have to say about that?”

I said, “Okay… I’ve heard that before. I will pray that God shows you at some point who He really is. And remember, we all believe in something so my desire for you is that you don’t realize ten or twenty years from now that you have believed in the wrong things. Be sure that what you believe is really true.”

We studied Luke 2:52 and he began to really get excited about that verse. At one point he spoke out and said, “I can’t believe how much is in that one verse. When I get out I’m going to get that verse tattooed on my arm!”

I said, “Well that wasn’t what I had in mind but I’m glad you get the message.”

He came up to me at the end of our Bible study and said, “Will you pray for me?” I asked what I should pray about and his response was, “Just pray for me.” I sure will and I did.

Freddie played football at Penn State as a wide receiver and continued his career in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts. Freddie and I had connected via Twitter a while back and it was great to meet and talk face to face.

We are developing a plan to get his new book “The Dad I Wish I Had” in to the hands of the guys I minister to in the detention center. If you would like to help me and Freddie with this project, please contact me to find out how to help.

A few days earlier he was opening doors of individual cells to take guys to a scheduled event. He looked in the window before he opened the next door. Standing inside was the teenage boy, around 15 years old with a piece of his sheet tied around his neck in several knots. The boy had tied the sheet in so many knots and wanted to get it untied but couldn’t get the knots untied. So, there he stood, waiting for someone to help while tears were streaming down his face.

The man opened the door, told him this isn’t the answer and freed him. Of course this young man is getting the follow up counseling he needs now. The staff member stopped me and said, “Ken, you have been in here several times over the past few days and this young man is in your Bible study. He is now the happiest boy in the room. He is always smiling and he seems so encouraged. You are making a difference.”

I am constantly aware that it is actually a combined effort to reach these youth I meet each week. Those who support me are the arms and legs that bring me to these young men. Thank you for praying for me and for the gifts and donations that make this possible!

I returned to the detention center the other day to meet with a teenage boy who came to me and asked me to come back to  meet with him one on one. He said, “Before I came here I didn’t believe in God or the Bible. I have been reading the Bible and am amazed to see how much truth is there. I believe that there is a God and He placed me here to learn about him”

This young man accepted Jesus Christ and is a new member of the family of God. He has an incredible story already. He was a football player at one of the highest ranked high school teams in the state of Indiana. God has taken him through many trials in his young life but no longer will he travel through life alone. He now has God’s presence, God’s strength and God’s power to carry him through. I sensed today the prayers of others as I talked with him man to man about his soul, his life and his destiny.

There were 6 more teen guys that accepted Christ just over a week ago. There are miraculous things happening and I am praying that this ministry will thrive as God provides. One of “my guys” was released recently and he is begging me to meet weekly to have a Bible study with him, his mom and 12 year old brother.