Way of Life Village » gangs

Prayer, then people

Phil — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 13:00:00 +0000

Here is a story about why we’re trying to put make prayer our priority.

It is Tuesday, Oct 16. I devote the morning to praying for opportunities to initate a faith-based conversation with someone for the first time. God answers yes.

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A promise for gangsters

Phil — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:00:07 +0000

Is God’s hope really for the hopeless cases or just for those who haven’t totally gone off the deep end? I’ve been thinking a lot about Christians and gangs lately because I keep meeting gangsters and families affected by gangs. Although our mission here is not a “gang ministry” per say, it seems that every family in our community has been impacted in some way by this aspect of life in the city. Two nights ago I was standing outside at 10pm with a mom who was nervously smoking a cigarette, anxiously waiting for her son (who joined a gang and just bought a gun) to come home. How many moms know her pain and the years she is losing from worry and lack of sleep? Years ago we temporarily housed a single mom and her two boys whose apartment was burned up by a local gang for saying the wrong thing. I’ve met a killer was nearly killed in a driveby and now regrets his past and wants to change his life. I feel for victims of gang brutality, for all the moms and dads, and for the kids in gangs. I think most Christians are in agreement that it’s a struggle to break free from gang life. The endless supply of gangsta movies have taught us that. But when I hear Christians talk about it, it’s as if they’ve resigned to give movies, news reporters, jaded police gang units, and even gangsters themselves, the final say. Yes, it’s a complex and many-faceted problem, long in the making. But people don’t get the final say. God does! If God says anything is possible with Him, then anything is possible (Matthew 19:26). Anyone can be saved from the hell they are living in (and have helped to create for themselves). The promise is for gangsters, too! Church, please don’t forget His promise is good for everyone! Please!

Ghetto hospitality

Phil — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:00:43 +0000

A young man in the neighborhood with a shaved head, baggy shorts and bloodshot eyes asked me once again how things have been going since we moved in.

“You need any help? How are your kids doing? Anybody messing with you? You need us to take care of anybody for you? If you ever need anything, just let it be heard. Come over to my place. I live in this apartment right here.”

This offer has been made to me a few times now. The first offer was made by his friend Lost, the kid who got shot in April and whom I prayed over until the ambulance arrived. “Thank you so much for praying for me,” Lost said. “If there’s anything you need, anything at all, call me. If somebody messes with you, I know people. We’ll get him.” It is both refreshing and unnerving to receive these street-level expressions of hospitality, welcoming me to the hood. While I am thankful to be making headway with this sub-culture of our community, I am proceeding with caution. I’m not choosing a side here. (more…)

Gang intimidation & the power of two

Phil — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:00:57 +0000

“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.”

– Jesus Christ
(Luke 10:1-3)

—

Here’s one of our stories on the power of village faith…

It is July 21. Ed and I pay our bill at an El Salvadoran restaurant and begin walking through the Village. We are looking for opportunities to meet new people and “be Christ” to those who presently lack the joys and purpose of a Jesus-centered life.

Even though this should be easy by now (we’ve done this in other settings through the years), we each comment on how much easier it is for our social-butterfly-wives to engage new people. All the more reason to be doing this together, we conclude. The truth is, sometimes I chicken out by myself. But the power of even just two Jesus-followers doing the Cross-life together has proven to be utterly amazing. Today is no exception.

As we approach an intersection, a car comes to a near-halt in front of us. Inside two heavily tattooed young men with shaved heads and angry faces are staring and looking us over. One of them shouts the name of their gang at us. (more…)

Drive-by shooting

Meredith — Sun, 27 May 2007 16:11:17 +0000

I am confident that in just a short time, our best stories will be about God transforming lives of people who are becoming devoted to Jesus and growing in community as they share Christ with others around them! For now, the best stories are of how God is opening doors, choosing which people and when we begin those relationships. This one’s about a guy I’ll call Memo (I’ve changed his name).

After I broke my ankle, I was really depressed. A big part of that was wondering why God had allowed a huge STOP sign to enter into the stream of relationship-building that I had been involved in with ferocity. Not only did it stop me from going out every day and visiting or doing things with other moms in the neighborhood, but it prevented Phil from having the time to commit to the people he had been getting to know because he had to be home much of the time to care for me and the boys. We felt frustrated because we couldn’t be working to form and build relationships like we wanted. No “street-work” was getting done…or so we thought!

One evening (about 11:00 at night) I was lying in bed feeling useless. Phil was working in the other room on some long overdue emails and administrative work. All of a sudden we heard gunshots ring out on the street outside, with a car screeching away down our block right afterward. Then I heard Phil’s feet pounding down the stairs and the door slam behind him as he ran out to investigate. (more…)