- November 26, 2024
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Who would’ve known that a country as beautiful as New Zealand would be filled with such hopeless-feeling young teenagers? This near-depressing thought has gripped my mind ever since I got on the plane to come home, and it hasn’t stopped.
While there for six days, I was asked to preach the gospel of Jesus and share my life story -- which was also once submerged in hopelessness -- on a number of occasions, and I preached to countless young teens, who don’t envision a bright future for themselves.
I made tons of new friends, and I hope to return there soon, so I can cultivate what I planted in my short stint there. My wife, Jessica, was afraid that I wouldn’t want to return, and she was right. There’s such a great need for people of hope to wrap their arms around that country, but there doesn’t seem to be enough arms willing to go.
While there, I made history for a group of native middle school and high school dropouts. My brother, Clarence, and I became the first African-Americans these kids had ever seen face-to-face. I never thought anyone would be so excited to see two black men. But, after they settled down, I told them my purpose for being there, and I tried to persuade them to get back in school and to pursue a different life path.
That took place on my last day there, which made it all the more difficult to leave, but what made my return necessary is the fact that America, or our surrounding areas, share this same story.
Kids struggle with depression, drugs, violence and all things bad at such young ages, and, as a youth minister, I see and hear about this too often. Just as I spent nearly every day in the land down under the land down under, talking about a Savior who has come to give hope, I’m all the more encouraged to do the same in this community…and I’m glad I have lots of help.
I recently attended a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting, where members of the community discussed the establishment of a leadership board and the desire to provide resources to middle and high school students who want to have an FCA Huddle (club).
FCA believes that significance, meaning and purpose are found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and I couldn’t agree more. So, I’m excited to be back, and I’m ever more excited to team up with this organization to give hope to those who need it most, especially our youth.
To listen to my life story on New Zealand radio, please click on the following links:
