Jackson

Today after worship, I went with some of the youth to Remand Home, a juvenile detention center near the church.

We visited with the boys in small groups—told them about Jesus, prayed with them, listened to their stories, if they were willing to share.

One boy, Jackson, told us that he hadn’t committed the theft that had landed him in the home, that he’d been framed by an enemy of his family. He said that these enemies had killed his father when he was a small child, because they suspected the father of being involved with witchcraft. Whether his father had been involved in witchcraft or not, it was clear to us that he’d come from a background where fear and the occult reigned, and where the love of God was unknown.

Jackson asked us how he should respond to those enemies. And possibly the most difficult answer I’ve ever had to give was: Forgive them. Love them. Pray for them.

He told us that he didn’t know how to pray, and so we offered to pray with him and for him. And he told us that he believed that Jesus was the Son of God.

Please pray for Jackson and his ongoing spiritual development. He clearly longs for the peace of God to transcend the fear and anger and revenge that have been such a part of his life.