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

Ah, to dream the impossible dream. I have dreamed since I was a kid.  It was pretty much daydreaming when I was a little guy.   I would pay good money to remember some of those dreams.   It just so happens that I do remember many of my teenage dreams though.   Animals were always a favorite of mine so I had this ‘Pet farm store dream’ that I had all drawn up.  This one never got off the dream pillow.

Not long ago I started putting quotes in the Bridgebuilder newsletter.  Dale Carnegie’s quote recently caught my eye. “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all”.  I can personally relate to this quote and the ‘no hope at all’ journey that we have experienced at Bridges For Youth.  

 You talk about excited, I was energized in February of 1994 when God gave me the vision for Bridges For Youth.  It turns out I was the only one excited though.  The best I could get out of anybody I showed the vision to was a smile and a pat on the back. Things didn’t go as I expected, and no youth center was opened in 1994, or 1995, or 1996 or 1997. 

I dealt with disappointments and the unmet expectations much the same as Theodore Roosevelt’s quote: “Do what you can, with what you have, were you are”.    Things didn’t look good 6 months after the vision was birthed, in the summer of 1994.   July saw the introduction of the Bridge Builder newsletter to kids.  It was published weekly for 3 years and reached over 800 kids at its peak.  There was only an occasional donation back then, so Kathryn and I funded the postage and printing out of our own pocket.     Then in the fall of 1994 we invited 18 middle school kids to our home and started meeting on Monday nights.  We did what we could with what we had, were we were.  

 It took us four and a half years to get to a place were we had an opportunity to get an actual youth center and we still had only one hundred dollars to our name.   God opened the doors for us to proceed, otherwise we would not be were we are now.   We have had no worldly hope or provision at all to get were we are.  This is why I get so excited about what God has done and how He has provided for these youth centers. I know above anyone else that it was absolutely impossible.   In fact, guess what, it is still impossible right now. 

There may seem to be no hope at all, but we boldly go forward with confidence in our God.

Pastor Steve hare