Bridges for Youth

There were over 80 murders in the big bad city last year.  Rapes, child abuse, drug abuse and other statistics were rising higher and higher.  Poverty imposed its walls around the city and only small rays of hope ever pierced through its ugliness.  A circumference of fear dictated the dangers of entering here.  Certainly the wise would not venture here, for what good could come of it.

The innocent children of this urban place, placed thoughts of survival above all else.  They thirsted for love in their ragged attire, and hungered to know why on earth they were born.  Their strength, it was failing, and corrupt voices were crying to serve a lying master. Vessels of truth and Good News were but few, so the  children  they faltered and followed deceptions.    A stronghold for Satan had arisen and therefore the light of God’s love had been all but extinguished.

These are words that came to me this morning, as God suddenly laid big cities on my heart. Shall  we call the task of reaching kids in big cities impossible when we have the Lord as our strength.  Well, the answer is certainly “No!, a resounding NO!, with a big swallow following”.   As a missionary  who is called to reach hurting kids in areas of poverty and neglect, the thought of going to big cities seems to overwhelming to even consider.  The thought keeps reoccuring in my mind though, that it may well be a sin not to go.   While I was writing this blog I was particularly enthralled at an interruption  and attempted deletion of my words.    The interruption occurred as I was posting the descriptions of Satan and how He had built a stronghold in the midst of kids in the big city.  As I was looking at the screen, hands in my lap, the cursor started going backwards over my text deleting it. After pushing a number of keys without success, the cursor finally stopped. Then I had the realization that Satan did not want anyone taking an interest in his territory.  I really feel led to go to the enemies camp and take back what he has stolen.    God wants these kids back, and he wants their moms, dads, and neighborhoods back.    If anyone is of the same opinion, and stands for the almighty maker of heaven and earth, would you join me in this.  Stand with us on behalf of children and lets go to battle. Is someone reading this who will pray, someone who will join us on the frontlines, or someone who will support our vision? Our provision  for battle is  God, His Word and His Holy Spirit.  More than enough for an epic battle for truth.  There is a kid praying for deliverance now, who is in the midst of unbelievable hardships and poverty. Wouldn’t it be great to be there and give that kid a hug right now, andOnline Poker ist eine wunderbare Alternative für das online Poker casinospiele gratis???????? ????? ???????? im traditionellen Kasino. to be there for them with a Bridges For Youth Center in their neighborhood?   I think it would be grand.

Pastor Steve

This is child abuse awareness month and probably just about everybody has heard that Greene county has a big problem in this area.   I believe the statistic is 62 out of 1000 in Greene county are victims of child abuse and neglect.  I’m sure anybody who hears this has to be appalled.  There are like 23,000 students just in the Springfield Public school system alone, so thats about 1400 kids impacted right there.  This doesn’t even include all the kids that are not school age.  I heard on a radio talk show today that a large segment of the child abuse and neglect reports are for kids ages 6 and under, so this is a mountain of a problem.  Kids are crying out for help, but who will hear them if there is no one around they feel they can trust to report it to. 

Child abuse and neglect are difficult to deal with, especially when you are on the frontlines. We are in a place that we have voluntarily put ourselves, because we are passionate about helping kids and their families.  Compassion and involvement in the needs and hurts of kids illuminates the need for caring intervention through reporting, and paves the way to restored relationships and stronger families.  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 

I say often that the Bridges For Youth Centers are on the front lines and in the trenches as we work with kids.   This year alone we are serving 969 registered kids, ages 6-18. These types of numbers always reminds me of the fishes and loaves incident in the Bible.  Two loaves of bread and five fish to feed 5000.  Bridges is on the front lines with our 2 loaves and 5 fish, trusting in God and standing amazed at how He provides to fill the needs of kids, day after day. It should be no surprise that a large segment of these kids are victims of child abuse and neglect.   We have had dozens of  instances down through the years when rape, neglect, physical abuse have been shared with us by kids.   It never gets easier to deal with, and it always leaves a sick feeling in your gut.  Sin is like that. The sin really does make you feel sicker when its close to home though.  Child abuse and neglect is present right among the kids you want to love and protect. Its the kid you played pool with or watched a movie with just last week.  Or its the kids who proudly told you they memorized the Bible verse today. And many times its the kids who has suddenly changed due to abuse. All of a sudden the childish prankster is gone and it seems as though someone has stolen their soul.

There are a few in the Springfield and Marshfield communities who know the value of having the Bridges for Youth centers and our caring staff available to kids. Our prayer is that more people will discover us and understand that we need and value their support.

 I love pictures of Jesus surrounded by children, because that is real to me. Now, we must be Christ like and surround ourselves with children we can embrace and love through the pains of child abuse, neglect, and poverty.

Pastor Steve Hare

Since I take advantage of this blog to express my disappointments and discouragements, I have to take this opportunity to rejoice in a recent victory for our Bridges for Youth Centers.  Being financially dependent on God is a difficult thing to communicate and deal with , but the inevitable deliverance of God is something we have grown to expect. God never fails us.

Last week we received a matching donation opportunity of $10,000. Every dollar up to that amount will be matched by the anonymous donor.  It is God’s deliverance for us at this appointed time. The memorable times in the Bridges for Youth ministry have been the times that God has delivered, not the times when we were in need.  God has never failed  to deliver us from these difficult financial challenges and that is so thrilling and energizing.   Each new deliverance brings you closer into the throneroom of God and His presence.

Today and this hour is a good time to give God the glory.   I thank Him for the valleys of impossiblilities.   I thank Him for the impossible opportunities in the future that will not yield a sensible worldly way to achieve them.  I pray that we, at the Bridges For Youth centers, will go forward each day in faith and yield to God and His voice.  Laying all impossibilities aside I pray for the strength and passion to minister to the lost and the hurting.  Without faith it is impossible to please Him-so let our faith be action and a moving forward, not yielding to the impossible of what is seen, but yielding to the God who is unseen.

Taking a victory lap and raising the Lord’s banner high, giving Him the glory!

Pastor Steve Hare

      I heard this cell phone ring yesterday and it said something like “Help, I’m stuck in your pocket”.    It really cracked me up.  A  guy really needs a good laugh every now and then and then, every now and then.  

       Anyhow, I got to thinking about God’s people in the Old Testament, after God had given all the tribes their allotted lands, and Joshua had died.   It had been a time that the people had been obedient to God and He had delivered on all His promises. The generation immediately following Joshua’s death was disobedient and took their eyes off of God.

     They were missing out on the blessings, and basically going the opposite direction. Metaphorically, the story of God speaking through Balaam’s donkey is something that came to mind as I was thinking about that cell phone saying it was stuck in the pocket. Then, I started thinking about how so many professing Christians  don’t honor God with their  money and possessions. 

     Now I’m thinking that if God can speak through a donkey, that God can certainly speak through our money and possessions and get our attention. Can you imagine God stopping you in your tracks by speaking out of your bankcard, checkbook, wallet, dashboard of your car, walls in your house?  I believe that would definitely get my attention and remind me that I had been neglecting God.

       So, this is one of my new prayers, that God would speak through inanimate objects  and get Christian’s attention.  God clearly tells us to take care of the poor and needy in His word.   It takes obedient Christians to accomplish this directive in God’s word.  By the way, it is not a directive to just the few Christians who feel that God has laid it on their heart to help, it is a directive to all Christians and all Christian churches to help the poor and needy.  One of the unpleasant things about being in ministry is that you realize after a number of years that only a scattering of Christians and churches fulfill this biblical mandate.

     So how do you fix it? Over and over again, in the Bible, it talks about God’s people crying out for deliverance, and God always responds.  We are in a position at Bridges for Youth were we have financial needs that are not even close to being met.  We are in a position were there are several  identifiable neighborhoods and small towns were we could go and make an immediate difference among the poor. So, we will cry out to the Lord and ask for deliverance.   My prayer will be that God will speak through the hearts of Christians about the needs to be met among the poor and hurting kids all around us.  For those who don’t heed the voice of God in the hearts I pray that he will speak through the inanimate objects all around them and that just like Balaam’s donkey, attention will be given to the things of God and His voice. Pastor Steve