Where are the fathers?

I don’t have anything profound to say today (do I ever?). Maybe later, but right now, I am still just absorbing a hefty dose of reality.

I have been working with inner-city kids for over 13 years. In doing so, one can’t help but be aware of the realities of single-parent (and no-parent) households. There are some amazing single moms out there (and more than a couple great single dads). There are also some really messed up families with two parents in the home. Yes, it is a prevalent reality, but it would be naïve to say that it is ideal (or good, or even no big deal) for a child to be raised without the presence and care of two stable loving parents.

Last week Vinny (our camp director) and I were talking about fathers, and now, four days later, I am still struck by it. We had 51 boys attending our last boys’ week of camp. Out of those 51 boys: zero, not a single one, had a father living in their home. (out of the 26 girls at camp last week, only 3 had fathers in the home)

Zero...out of 51 boys...
…only 3...out of 77 kids.

Where are the fathers?

-Jack Crowley, Teen Haven

Back at camp

I spent the morning down at camp again yesterday and I was privileged to spend a little time with the young ladies who are serving as cabin supervisors and junior counselors.

One of the things I love about Teen Haven is the fact that we get the kids involved in leadership at a young age, and we give them real responsibilities. Out of the 8 leaders serving at camp this week, 7 of them are products of the Teen Haven program in Philly, and 6 of them are still in high school.

This has not been an easy week of camp for the girls (although they insist it hasn’t been any harder than the previous ones). The heat and humidity combined with negative attitudes from some influential campers have caused the counselors to lean on each other and God, a lot. As they shared about how God is teaching them to be patient and to love in the midst of being “spit at” and cursed, I couldn’t help but smile.

I tried to provide some encouragement and perspective to help them through the last couple of days. Hopefully, my chat helped them a little (probably not), but a couple of testimonies they shared, provided me all the encouragement I needed to know they’ll be alright.

Two first time junior counselors shared about their experiences:

One had been hit in the eye with a pillow Wednesday night as she came out of the bathroom to get ready for bed. The immediate surge of anger and urge for retribution were there, but she held back, took a deep breath and allowed the Cabin Supervisor to diffuse the pillow fight, confiscate the offending pillow, and get the girls settled for bed. The anger is gone, and forgiveness demonstrated to a young girl who has not received much of that in her short life.

The other first time JC was still bubbling with excitement as she shared about leading a camper to Christ for the first time. The joy in her face as she shared how blessed she felt to be used by God to have an eternal impact on someone else’s life reminded me what Teen Haven (and Water Street) is all about.

-Jack Crowley, Teen Haven

The power of forgiveness

Broken relationships, friends lost, families torn apart….

How many of us have experienced these things, either in our own families and lives or in the lives of others? It’s tempting to blame it on the other party involved and fall into the trap of being a victim. But this is not what God has commanded of us. In fact, he has commanded us to forgive.

The Lord’s Prayer says that we should pray that God will “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” In Mark 11:25, we are told that if we are praying and remember that we have something against someone, we are to forgive them so that God can forgive us.

I know some of you may be saying, “Well, the person that wrote this has never suffered the hurts and wrongs that I’ve suffered.” First of all, you’re dead wrong. I have suffered an enormous betrayal in my life. And I can stand here today and say that I have forgiven the person and only wish for God to bring them to salvation. In fact, I pray daily for that very thing.

The amazing thing is that in forgiving I have come to have an incredible love for that person. Second of all, Jesus suffered the largest betrayal perpetrated on a person in human history. The smallest of our sins put him on the cross, yet he forgives us and loves us. So, if your prayers seem ineffective, or you just don’t have any joy, ask God to show you if you have an unforgiving spirit. Then, in an act of the will and obedience to the Lord, forgive that person. Remember, the priests of Israel had to step into the Jordan River before the Lord parted the waters. (Joshua 3:13) STEP INTO YOUR JORDAN today. It could be life-changing.

-Deb Heffner, Development Department

Reminder of His work

I was cleaning off a part of my desk today (it's too big of a mess to tackle all at once) and I reread a letter that I received a short while ago. A great reminder to me of the impact this ministry has had on so many lives through the years:

Dear Mr. Crowley,

I received your letter responding to my United Way donation. I just wanted to tell you what you did for me.

I was a single parent, living from paycheck to paycheck. Through you, I was able to send my son to camp. He came back singing, "If I was a butterfly..." and talking about devotion. Bottom line, he and his cousins remember their days at Teen Haven. Two generations of our family came to Teen Haven. Today, they are fine young men - church going men with families. Teen Haven helped us keep these boys off the streets. Two are policemen, one works in electronics, and my son is a lawyer. Thank you, Thank you.

Praise God for the lives He has touched through Teen Haven, and for the work He continues to do today.

-Jack Crowley, Teen Haven

Proud of my humility?

D.A. Carson’s comment from christianityonline.com (“Is Tithing Biblical?”) struck me—if we give God extra and are inebriated with our generosity, we have pride.

What a thought, to do God’s work and be prideful about something that, in and of itself, is not prideful. This is religious pride. Carson’s statement described me. This followed my hearing Biblical Concepts Counseling’s John Regier speak of hidden versus overt pride.

I had believed pride was wrong—but this subtle pride was something I was just now seeing… but I needed to grasp what I was touching on the edges. Grabbing a legal pad, I began writing to get my thoughts on paper (my professor, Dr. Elmer Towns said we do not own a thought until we write it down). I recalled a similar experience a famous pastor had.

Dr. Harry Ironside was once convicted about his lack of humility. A friend recommended as a remedy, that he march through the streets of Chicago wearing a sandwich board, shouting the scripture verses on the board for all to hear. Dr. Ironside agreed to this venture and when he returned to his study and removed the board, he said "I'll bet there's not another man in town who would do that." (Donald Campbell, Daniel, Decoder of Dreams, p. 22.)

Seeing the problem, I spoke to a retired pastor about this matter and he gave me the illustration of a person who got a ribbon for humility--and wore it. Pride to make yourself look good to others is one thing, but religious pride can take a different form. I realize now it is possible to be prideful about any virtue, including love (1 Cor. 13:3 even says we can sacrifice without love). A person can have mercy, kindness, gentleness and patience, and be proud about possessing them. What a thought.

Two aspects of the solution I found were 1- facing the issue, with honesty (vital) and being grateful for what God has done, and 2- doing for God out of that gratitude, rather than being pleased with what we do for God.

-Michael Haines, Men’s Ministry

Freedom or "a new law"

John 8:36 - "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed"

One of the hardest things to help inner city youth (or our men and women clients) grasp as we try to disciple them is that following Christ is not about obeying a set of rules. The obedience and life that God calls us to go way beyond following some set of prescribed dos and don'ts. Walking in grace and fellowship with the Father does not always mean that there is an easy right or wrong answer to every question and dilemma we face. Then again, this is one of the hardest things I have to learn as I try to follow Christ, too.

Sometimes I wish I had a handy notebook of rules and prescriptions for any and every situation (some of us are tempted to look at the bible in this way). The false impression we have is that it would be easier to have that rule book than it is to wrestle with the Spirit and the Word and pray that the Father will help me learn to live His way in this moment.

A friend gave me Derek Webb's new album a few weeks ago, and this song has been stuck in my head ever since. (www.derekwebb.com)

A New Law
(vs. 1)
don't teach me about politics and government - just tell me who to vote for
don't teach me about truth and beauty - just label my music
don't teach me how to live like a free man - just give me a new law
(pre-chorus)
i don't wanna know if the answers aren't easy
so just bring it down from the mountain to me
(chorus)
i want a new law
i want a new law
gimme that new law
(vs. 2)
don't teach me about moderation and liberty - i prefer a shot of grape juice
don't teach me about loving my enemies...
don't teach me how to listen to the Spirit - just give me a new law
(pre-chorus/chorus)
(bridge)
what's the use in trading a law you can never keep
for one you can that cannot get you anything
do not be afraid
do not be afraid
do not be afraid

-Jack Crowley, Teen Haven

His strength is perfect

Dealing with our strengths without pride and acknowledging our weaknesses without excuse is a struggle. Most of us can think of several areas of strength – talents and skills God has blessed us with and used for His glory. Admitting to our weaknesses is another matter.

Even though we may feel inadequate in some areas, it is precisely those areas we best defend so as not to look incompetent. Paul reminds us (2 Corinthians 12:9) that Christ’s power is made perfect in our weakness. As we struggle with this paradox and are tempted to think it’s all about our strength or talents, David Jeremiah reminds us:

-God used an uneducated fisherman to be the church’s first great leader. His name was Peter.
-God used a fix-it man sitting in jail to write Pilgrim’s Progress, one of the greatest classics in the English language. His name was John Bunyan.
-God used a shy, obscure monk to set off the greatest Christian reformation in history. His name was Martin Luther
-God used a Bible college dropout to preach the Gospel to more people than anyone in history. His name was Billy Graham.
-God used an ordinary shoe salesman to create revivals and new ministries all over the world. His name was Dwight L. Moody.

When we see absolutely ordinary individuals change the world for Jesus Christ, there is no doubt that true strength comes from an absolutely extraordinary God pouring Himself into the world through empty vessels, yes, even cracked pots.

-Vicki Bollman, Women’s Ministry

Introducing...

We have so many wonderful volunteers who serve faithfully here at Water Street Rescue Mission. But just saying that doesn’t quite have as much impact as actually “meeting” some of our volunteers. Dr. Christine Janouscheck, is one of our volunteer doctors. Read below and get to know a little bit about her!

When did you start volunteering at the Medical Clinic?
September, 2004

How often do you volunteer?
Every Monday from 9am – 12pm (She actually has a “following” according to Gale, our Director of Health Services – people that sign up for appointments only when they know Dr. Janouscheck will be there)

What do you do when you’re not volunteering?
Take care of my 3 boys! They are 8, 12 and 14.

What led you to volunteer at WSRM?
It just kinda “fell into place”. I was at a medical conference and the woman in front me turned around and introduced herself to me. That woman was Dr. Lenora Berning, who was volunteering at the clinic at that time. We got to talking and I ended up here!

Have you ever volunteered before (at other places)?
I have volunteered working as a doctor for migrant workers. That was an interesting experience—working from a trailer and going out into the fields to treat people.

What has been your favorite experience? Why do you keep coming back to WSRM?
It is definitely the spiritual aspect that makes me come back. Doctors aren’t trained to investigate the spiritual side of illnesses, and are often afraid to even go there. I know that God is the true healer, but working here has really allowed me to see it first hand. I have learned so much!

What have you learned?
I have learned so much from my patients. They actually ask me to pray with them, they are looking for the spiritual side of healing as well. They come to be healed physically, but they want more. I have learned to rely on the Holy Spirit in my medical work.

How has this experience shaped what you think you may do in the future, how you relate to others, how you relate to God?
This experience has definitely changed me! It has been such a humbling experience for me to work here. I have treated people who are such survivors – a woman who was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, never met her mom, was thrown out onto the streets at the age of 12, got into drugs, but now she wants nothing more than to glorify God and serve Him by working with kids! I am humbled.

What would you say to others who may want to volunteer?
It’s a fulfilling and joyful experience! It also has given me opportunity to grow spiritually. I have truly lost my heart to my patients here. This place (WSRM) works like the “Kingdom of God” – staff and volunteers work together as a team, each using their gifts in holistic ministry. Each time I come I am amazed by seeing Christ at work!

The cost of grace

It is pretty clear to us who know the Lord that grace, though freely given, has cost the Giver dearly. At no cost to me, I am given His unmerited favor (grace). That means that in every instance God promises to favor me, to always act in my best interest. Further, whatever it costs Him to always act in my best interest He gladly pays. That’s what is so amazing about grace.

It is the initial realization of this unwarranted gift that drives us to our knees before our God. It is a fuller, growing appreciation of this grace that produces our growth and maturity in Christ.

I have come to see from my own experience of grace that grace is the thing the Lord uses to free us from our bondage to fear. His relentless commitment to always act in my best interest was what convinced me to trust Him and let go my devotion to self-protection.

Because grace is the stuff used to change people, we are committed to building grace into all our dealings with everyone whom the Lord brings us. That means that we commit to always acting in the best interest of those who come here for services. No exceptions.

This may mean that it is time to question some of our current practices.

WARNING: EXTENDING GRACE MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH.
If you do it poorly it will cost you nothing.
If you do it well it will cost you some abuse.
If you do it perfectly it will cost you your life.

Aaron Eggers, Men’s Ministries

"Chain Reaction"

This morning I walked up to the Fulton Opera House to see a unique presentation. The Fulton’s Youtheatre program put on a play called “Chain Reaction.”

I went because I wanted to see and encourage a young teen from my church, Kyle Jones, as he performed on stage for the first time. But I also came away with a bit of an education. Each year the students involved in Youtheatre select the topic and theme of their production and work together to write the play and much of the music included in it. Typically the topic/theme is something related to their lives, an issue that they and their peers deal with on a daily basis. This year, the kids looked a bit outside of themselves.

The play is about slavery. Not the slavery of America’s past, but the slavery of today that exists throughout the world, including the USA. I have heard a bit about “human trafficking” and was aware that slavery is still a reality in the world today, but I was not aware of how widespread and how huge the issue really is. According to Free the Slaves, a national advocacy organization, there are currently more than 27 million slaves in the world today (more than at any other time in history). And although there are exactly zero countries where slavery is legal, it has been documented to exist in more than 100 nations world wide (including many western nations and the U.S.)

Interestingly, the play itself (and the research the teens did in preparing it) made it clear that though the issue of slavery seems a bit detached from the life of an American teen, we are all to some degree connected to the modern slave trade (primarily through our consumerism).

I was encouraged this morning by seeing a group of teens, many from our urban neighborhoods standing up and speaking out for those who are hurting and can’t speak out for themselves. (sounds like something Jesus would want us to do, huh?)

Nice job Kyle (and the rest of the Youtheatre crew), and don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about the blonde wig and purple dress (whoops).

Check out http://www.freetheslaves.net/ for more info on this topic.

-Jack Crowley, Teen Haven

Summertime with Teen Haven

Every year as the weather gets warm, and Teen Haven’s ministry shifts toward summer camp, backpacking adventures, pool visits, and mission trips, I begin to reminisce about my own years of summer camp counseling with the kids here in Lancaster.

Some fond (sometimes funny) memories:
-Reassuring a counselor (all 6’3” 230 lbs of him) near tears because of a rattlesnake blocking our path on a backpacking trip
-Learning how to properly clean off the stench from a well-aimed stink bomb
“Banana Bombardment” (a form of dodgeball with over-ripe bananas), and WWF style wrestling in the creek while cleaning off the residue
-Swimming at Blue Marsh - and my first official opportunity to use my lifeguarding skills on a 14 year old boy who thought he was Mark Spitz
-Kids banging on the door hours before camp was supposed to start, begging to come in early to hang out with the staff – “But Jaaa-aack, I GOTSA TAWKA BEV” (translation – “Please excuse me Mr. Jack, but I really need to speak with my counselor Miss Beverly”)
-Pretending not to be hurt after diving over a couch while introducing a new night game – Mission Impossible
-Hours and hours of basketball (esp. knock-out and roughhouse), flag football, and home-run derby in the 90 degree heat

But the truly priceless memories are:
-The moments of intense conversation and prayers with teens as they came to understand who Jesus really is and who He says they can be
-The late nights in a tent when a kid would beg me to read just a little more from the bible before turning out the flashlight
-Praying with a kid to accept Jesus for the first time
-Praying with a kid about their home or family life
-Seeing a young man or woman take a stand for what is right even when all their friends are heading the other direction

There are many days when I wish I was in the pool, on the court, or under a tree teaching “devos” rather than here in my office. But I thank God that Mike, Jose, Lisette, Andy, Curt, John, Oddet, Vinny, Greg, Gina, James, Aaron, Ginny, Angelo and the others are out there today.

-Jack Crowley, Teen Haven

More thoughts on poverty

One of the ‘advantages’ of ministry at the Mission is this: every day there is opportunity to come alongside people who are poor. And though I am not formally trained in theology it does seem God is on the side of the poor in a way that is more intentional than I am or the vast majority of the evangelical church is! Above all, I have come to realize that I understand very little about poverty.

If God is on the side of the poor in a special way, I don't think this 'on the sideness' equates to glorification of them or their plight but rather a specific intention of our Lord to model humility. Pride is insidious. How easy it is for any of us to allow material things to inspire us, give us a sense of worth and importance, and craft our motivations and values. Jesus was locationally born in poverty, chose to 'move in' with us wretched folk via the incarnation, and walked alongside and comfortably moved around with the poor. His very life reminds us of the 'transitoriness' of life built on anything but that which lasts.

Most of my life is lived comfortably apart from those in poverty. In contrast with the life of Christ (What did Jesus do?) my life is most noticeable by little interaction with issues of or people in poverty. My thoughts are seldom consumed by concern for the hurting stranger by the side of the road. Candidly, I don't travel unsafe roads anymore so how can I expect to have issues of poverty force their way into my brain and heart?

-Steve Brubaker, Residential Ministries

Poverty and the great commission

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Poverty and the Great Commission- what do they have in common? I’m really not sure, however, it seems to me that in fulfilling the GC issues of poverty are going to come up. They have in my own heart and mind as I have wrestled with the comments of others and the Scriptural Mandate to love my brother (and sister).

When you get down to it, poverty is a spiritual issue. No, not in the bible-berating – “get‘em saved and their lives will be changed” sense.

I’m talking about the life transforming, heart-changing spiritual issue that allows me to take the covers off my head and experience life as those around me experience it. To see life as others experience it – not through my own privileged perspective - and to rejoice with those who rejoice and grieve with those who grieve on a daily basis.

Discipleship is living in community, in common, with one another. Allowing others to see and experience my life on a daily basis and experiencing their life – as equals, co-heirs to the throne (if they are believers), recognizing that God has equipped me to be a blessing and the church to be a blessing to the world around us – saved or unsaved – minus the Messiah complex.

As a result, whether addressing very real physical deficits, or issues related to existing social structures which perpetuate poverty, poverty becomes less about assigning blame and more about life with the blinders removed. Seeing each other and our shared experiences from multiple perspectives – then responding, in love, to issues of poverty as Christ would.

Making disciples is based in relationship – my relationship with God and my relationship with man. As I model love and humility borne from God’s love for me, hopefully I am allowing others to get a glimpse of something desirable.

I am not always sure how someone can desire what I have. Then again, (to paraphrase Max Lucado) it really is not about me in the first place.

-Rick Rutter, Outreach Ministries

Visiting camp

Today, I took a trip down to camp.

Although I don’t get there as often as I would like, when I do it is often one of the highlights of my week. Today was no exception.

This week is younger boys week (9-14 year olds), which means lots of energy and lots of noise. It can also mean lots of attitude (usually a thin layer covering up some very sensitive often hurting hearts).

I spent an hour this morning sitting in on devotions with our counselors and JCs, while the young campers were in chapel with Vinny, our camp director. These are young men between 15-22 years old who are being discipled in our city programs and serve at camp during the summer and weekends throughout the school year.

Today, I had the privilege of listening to Terrell share with his peers what he has been learning about having confidence in the Lord (rather than in the flesh). He also shared about learning to trust God more while studying Psalm 23 and observing how God is fulfilling the role of “shepherd” in his life.

These lessons and insights carry even more depth as I reflect on Terrell’s testimony, less than a year ago, he was coming to Teen Haven Camp for the first time with a major chip on his shoulder. He was a professing Muslim (heavily influenced by a former foster family) and was seemingly resistant to the gospel while at camp. But on the bus ride home, his counselor (another teen) listened to his story and helped him find his way back to a relationship with Christ (he had accepted Jesus years before – before joining his Muslim foster family). Now Terrell is growing in his faith, learning to walk with Jesus, and sharing the hope of Christ with other kids from the city.

Please keep him in your prayers.

-Jack Crowley, Teen Haven

Shirley and Doreen

I have been blessed with two wonderful volunteers who help me tremendously! When I started my job as Volunteer Coordinator in September, I had a lot of questions. Several different times I asked my boss about a specific volunteer issue, and he replied, “I don’t know the answer to that—Shirley takes care of that.” Needless to say I was excited to meet Shirley!

For the last several years Shirley has been coming in to WSRM every Wednesday—ALL DAY. Part of that time she works in the volunteer department, keeping the volunteer database up to date with all new volunteers, adding the volunteer hours each month, and preparing monthly reports. I rely heavily on Shirley to complete this work—in fact it is left in a tray for her that I don’t even touch! And each week she faithfully comes in and works her way through the pile that was left for her. I am thankful for Shirley—for her knowledge, for showing me the ropes, for her faithfulness, and for her friendship.

As I started to settle into my position as Volunteer Coordinator, I found myself running from task to task, never seeming to have enough time to get everything done—even with Shirley doing all the database upkeep! Finally I came to my senses. After all, as Volunteer Coordinator, one of my jobs is to see new areas where volunteers are needed and fill those positions. And I needed a volunteer!

Doreen started in January, with a willingness to do whatever needed done. I consider myself rather efficient, but I have never worked with someone who works as quickly as Doreen. After the first week I realized that she would be able to accomplish more in 2 hours than most people would in half a day! This was fine with me, because I had work for her to do!

Like I said, Doreen is willing to do whatever needs done. She makes copies. She processes Criminal Records Checks and Child Abuse Clearances. She designs bulletin boards. She makes phone calls. She researches addresses. She is a godsend.

I have been so blessed by both of “my” volunteers. Thank you to Doreen and Shirley and all the other volunteers who willingly give up their own time to serve the staff and clients of Water Street Rescue Mission. You are a blessing!

-Carissa Martin, Volunteer Coordinator

Truth & Love

I am struggling with being more like Jesus. What does that mean? I have heard this said since the day I gave my life to Him, but I’m not sure what it “looks” like. Jesus was God & I am so inadequate. I don’t know anything; I often do & say the wrong things. He always knew the perfect thing to say & do when He spoke with others. My heart aches for the lost and I have shed many tears for those who have no hope, but how do I show them the hope of Christ as He did. His love was demonstrated in such purity, gentleness & truth. Often my “truth” is just perceived as hurtful and unloving. How did He do that? He spoke the truth they needed to hear with such love they couldn’t resist!

Over the weekend I was in Philadelphia staying with my daughter & husband who minister to those on the streets of Kensington & Fishtown. We ooh & aah over how “rough” Philadelphia is, but the hearts and needs of the people there are no different than here at Water Street. I had done a women’s weekend conference with them and one of the women, still in the throes of addiction & denial, latched on to me as her friend. Why? Did she maybe see a glimmer of Jesus, His love, His hope? She invited me to a party for the christening of her beautiful 8 month old granddaughter. Her home was in an area of the neighborhood known for the alcoholics and heroin addicts, and she invited me in as if I was a royal guest. She hugged me, thanked me for coming and told me she loved me. Wow, how did I get such an honor? The party was a crowd of people ready to party & get high, but she ask them to wait until her guests left to open the “keg” and crank up the music.

I ask the Lord, what do I do? What do I say? Silence…… I walked away with sadness in my heart and a promise to keep in touch with her as she is facing surgery. Should I have got the attention of the crowd in a raised voice to speak about Jesus & what He could offer them that was so much better than the high they were headed to? Am I afraid to speak about Jesus so boldly or does He want me to love them as they are and wait for the time their ears & hearts will be ready to hear? I am also reminded as I write this that many hated Him, lashed out at Him and so I will also be hated. I hang on to His promises to trust in Him and He will show the way! Not me, but Him!

I have such good news & often want to speak boldly but hold back. Is this Jesus guiding me to wait until His time or is it my fear? Is anyone else struggling with this? As I serve those in the clinics at WS: clients, volunteers, staff and community, I want to speak as Jesus spoke and be more like Him. Loving, kind, gentle, while speaking a life transforming truth!

-Gale Thomason, WSRM Clinics