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Hooping It Up In Shelby Park: How Sojourners Are Ministering To Kids In The Inner City
Posted by SojournAdmin Sep 3, 2009 Category: Blog 2Hello Sojourners! My name is Jeremiah Taylor. Several times a week Sojourners are building relationships with the kids in the neighborhood of Shelby Park after they get out of school. This is a recap of what happened this week:
Monday afternoon I picked up Kenny (who is a Junior in Quest) and took him to Shelby park. We ran into about 12 young men. Some of them were in High School and some of them already graduated or dropped out. We hooped it up for about an hour and a half. During the course of the games, we learned everyone’s names and a little about their lives. We had a great time playing and got a great work out.
Afterward, I was able to talk to a guy named John. He’s 18 years old and has his GED. He wants to go to college but doesn’t know how to apply in order to get accepted. In response, we’ll be getting together soon and working out that stuff (hopefully). I was able also to share with Him the gospel and he said he will be meeting me at Church this Sunday night! Praise God!
On Wednesday, we went to the park again and played some ball with about 10 guys. No conversations really, but that’s ok… can’t force it. I am hoping by our consistent presence, we as the body of Christ will be able to build relationships with some of these young men and point them to Jesus Christ. These first two times weren’t as awkward as I thought they would be. The kids are pretty cool and are way better at Basketball than me!
If anyone wants to come out to Shelby Park with us and get to know some of these kids/adults, I will be out there at the basketball courts every Monday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:15pm-5pm. You can reach me at Jchristsetmefree@aol.com if you have any questions.
Godspeed,
Jeremiah Taylor
Thanks for the encouraging story, Jeremiah! I’ll pray for you and for John.
Update!!!
The past 6 weeks of playing ball in Shelby Park have been great. Relationships are being built and the gospel is going forth slowly but surely. I know the names and a little bit of the lives of several kids and they know me as well. I think that they have been surprised by the consistent presence of some dude from Sojourn and are giving greater respect. Come surprise the kids with me! Let them know that I am not the only dude from Sojourn who interested in their lives!
Pray for Steve. Last week I met him, and it was one of those ackward encounters. He was rapping the whole time in his conversation with me. He was trying to push my buttons as he subtly threatened me…
But not at one point, was I worried, and by the grace of God I didn’t feel the need to react, I just kept conversation (Or perhaps it would be better to say interaction with his monologue) going. Eventually he told me I wasn’t real! And then I told him about what being “real” is really all about! I let him know that I was there because I love Christ and his community and that I am living for God’s kingdom and not all the petty crap that I used to live for. I left that day on descent terms with Steve. Two days later I showed up again and Steve remembered my name and said that he thought I was “legit.” I have took Daniel’s admonishment and have been praying for him. I will be looking for an opportunity to share the beautiful Gospel with him.
In other news, I got my lip busted by an elbow going up for a rebound this past Wednesday. It bled for 6 hours. Men, come see how tough you are by playing ball at Shelby Park! I will be looking for you! Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00pm. FYI, there has been a couple time no one has showed up. But hey, that gives one time to work on free throws.