I am not going back on my old ways!
I promised Trevor (not in the pictures) that I would take him to
La Paz in Frederick for lunch. He is a tough looking young man of 17 years.
Trouble seems to come to him as his looks often invite a challenge. He is on parole for a serious offense. He has his GED but he is leaving the ranch.
I picked him up and we went to my home and played pool. Trevor beat me once
and I beat him the second game. Then it was time to go. We went for a walk on
Carroll Creek. We talked about surface things like sports, school and then it got
serious as we were arriving at La Paz. He talked about his family.
He told me how he was born to a family in Ohio. He was the oldest of five.
Foster care guys never turn down a new His mother and father are but a vague memory as he was given up for adoption
shirt. I gave them shirts and music by with his other siblings when he was around 7. Someone told him that both his
LeCrae as a going away gift.
mom and dad were drug addicts. He and his brothers and sister were adopted
into one family in Maryland and he lived with them until a few years ago. The
family who adopted them had eight of their own children already, but some were
moved out by the time Trevor came. They kicked Trevor out of the home when
he violated their rules. He lived on the streets for a short time and was arrested.
He was told that he is not welcome back in the home and entered the foster care
system. He has been a regular at the bible study for almost 5 months.
At lunch I asked him: Are you right with God?” He answered me: “I prayed
to receive Christ. Then I tested God with my bail and he got me released on personal recognizance.” I said, I remember that. Then he went on..”I prayed that my
case would not go to adult court, because it would stay on my record. God made
it stay in juvenile court.” I said :I remember that too. Then he said: “I prayed
that I could go to a new placement where they would help me get into college.” (And he had just talked to me about how he was going to be entering
community college in the fall). God got me that too!” “I even got baptized last Sunday.” he added. “My church
heard that I was leaving and Pastor didn’t want me to go without getting that right. So they baptized me right on the
spot.” He ended with: I’m not going back on my old ways because God is helping me! I’m still not welcome at
my home, but if I get into a church in my new placement, I think I will be ok.
II Corinthians 7:9-11 NIV
I am convinced that God sent Trevor to the ranch for a reason. As I listened to
yet now I am happy, not behim, he told of sleeping on the streets and with friends and going to school. He would cause you were made sorry,
get a meal wherever someone would offer.
but because your sorrow led
you to repentance. For you
His incarceration brought him face to face with his sin. His conviction brought sor- became sorrowful as God inrow and remorse. The court case and being kicked out of his home worked toward ul- tended and so were not
timately bringing Trevor to a place where he understood the seriousness of his sin.
harmed in any way by us.
Godly sorrow brings repenTrevor’s trials have been God’s message of mercy. His isolation might be God’s
tance that leads to salvation
way of making Trevor able to know when Jesus is near. He talked of loneliness and
and leaves no regret, but
that could be his draw to church. I don’t know. I just know God’s grace and how it has worldly sorrow brings death.
worked for me. Maybe you are experiencing trials. Don’t doubt me when I say this,
your trials might very well be God’s love concealed in an ugly package. But the end result might very well be your
saving grace.
P.S. We had two months of difficult finances. Please consider a gift this month. We really need the help.
Arn Bjorndal, Executive Director, Central Maryland Youth for Christ, P.O. Box 3944 Frederick Maryland 21705
Www.yfccm.org, 301-663-0561 Juvenile Justice Ministry Monthly Letter