Their Stories

I've caught myself not wanting to update because I haven't had anything profound to say. I've also been procrastinating because it seems like there is so much to tell. So I decided to just share some of the stories I'm picking up on as I learn to love these gutter punks, oogles, and "disposable" members of Denver. I've changed these kids names because I don't have their permission to share their stories.

Gina is pregnant with her 3rd child by a 3rd guy. Her first 2 kids were taken away by social services. She is worried and scared because she has a minimum wage job at a fastfood restaurant, and this child's father is in jail for over a year. She is struggling because she has gotten off the streets and feels like she's making progress. "You take one step forward and the Shit starts happening to you! I can't take it." Desperate words from a girl in desperate need of a father.

Tracy, a single mom with a 5 year old son needs money so she can divorce her son's father. She wants to divorce her first husband so she can marry Dale who is in jail for a year. She thinks he will take care of her and her son. She thinks he'll treat her like a queen or at least like a friend. Why is he in jail? Because he beat Tracy! She desperately wants to marry him even though he is a felon, drug user, and abusive man. During our conversation I found out Dale is bipolar and ADD. I'm thinking, "Dump this dude and run! You can't fix him." This is woman in need of a real man in her life.

It's hard for me to tell you about this next friend. His name is James. He is a meth user and is being devoured by this demon. James is a Christian. Yes, I believe that you can be a Christian and addicted to meth. I truly believe that a big reason James is using meth is because he has the potential to be dangerous to satan, and the longer satan can keep James tangled in this sin the more chance satan has of killing this kid. James is smart. He has a generous heart and a willingness to help others. He also has a really good knowledge of the Bible. Those are the facts. Bottom line...James' troubles are spiritual in nature. The battle is so thick and obvious that it scares me when I'm near him. James is not possessed, but satan is warring for his heart. I feel completely ill-equipped to seriously battle for him. I pray for him, but my little prayers feel like I'm bringing a slingshot to the battle in Iraq. James is on the edge and satan is pulling him over and only a few are trying to hold him up. This young man is in need of protection.

Then there is Diesel. Diesel hung himself last week in jail because he couldn't stand the thought of being there again. He was in jail for beating his wife who is in a wheel chair. She turned him in. Not only has he ended his life, a fact that makes us all sad, but he has left his wife with the guilt of knowing that she put him in jail. I don't know for sure, but it seems like he got the last blow in the consistent abuse of his wife. Diesel was a huge meth dealer and a regular among our friends on the street. He was a young man in need of peace and healing.

I can tell you about dozens of kids and their lives, even in the short time I've been on the streets. Their stories are of abuse, anger, addiction, mental illness, arrests, harassment, drug induced paranoia, hopelessness, and despair. I won't share them all in this post because we might become depressed.

Typing this I've realized that our tiny band of warriors are out numbered. We need your help. The more time I spend on the streets the more I realize that these stories are not just the physical manifestation of sin and disobedience, but are the product of spiritual attacks by satan and his armies. PLEASE pray for these kids. PLEASE, PLEASE pray for protection for my family. I don't want to lose my family while saving someone else.

I know some of you are doubting the intensity, or even the reality of the spiritual battle. Come spend a week with us and see where your doubts are. This is real. It is a war for the hearts of God's Children. We need your serious prayer on our behalf. Pray for the kids, our family, and pray for the rest of the team. Pray against satan's attacks. Also ask God to train me in the area of spiritual warfare. I feel in-adequate.

I'm sorry that this update appears to be depressing. We are not depressed. We are doing great. It's just that I realized the seriousness of the spiritual nature of our work, and I've tried to communicate that need to you. We've found a great church to lay down some roots. They are really relationship oriented. We are beginning to make friends. Our work is going well and we are meshing with the team and finding our role.

As part of my training, I have to read about 10 books and then journal my thoughts on a lot of questions and ideas. This is going to prepare me, challenge me, and grow me so that I am ready to start a Dry Bones. I've decided to start another blog to keep track of my thoughts and musings during my training. So far these questions are pretty intense and my answers are very real and are just my feelings. All that to say, If you want to check my training blog out I'll email you the link. Be warned that my answers are not always PC and are not always "church of Christ" in nature. But if these ideas can help me get the DB message out and challenge folks to examine their view of ministry, it'll be worth it.

Blessings,
-Benny-