Gangsta Lovin’

  So first God gives me the opportunity to be involved with the jail ministry to the minors and I just get so so excited and think that this month in the Philippens could not possibly get better. But it did, we met the pastor of the gangsta ministry and had the opportunity to serve with him. Wow, wow, wow!!! so we go to this “gangsta bible study” and there is a room fill of about 30 boys and 7 girls all between the ages of 12-18. They are all gangstas most of them have multiple tattoo’s, they are all sporting their gang colour or sign and the girls belong to one of them. We quickly find out that most of them are no longer in school, they live in the street and they snatch cell phones, wallets and food to live. These gangstas are eachothers family and identity. Pastor Richard is their pastor and the reason why 4+ different gangs put aside their differences and congregate in the same room every sunday. Richard has given his life to the ministry of gangstas. He was once in a gang and the Lord rescued him from that and he has found healing and forgiveness from a past that would put most of us over the edge, gone to seminary and is now obeying Gods calling to love these gangstas. And thats exactly what he’s doing, his life challenged me beyond. He is an amazing example of a humble and faithful servent of God who has stood strong through many hardships because he has heard Gods calling and he is being faithful to it.

  We got to spend a significant amount of time with these gangsta’s sharing our testimones and speaking life and truth into them . I had the chance to share my own “gangsta” experience with my dear friend Ron, an ex-gangsta from Red Deer, AB and how Gods love is transforming his life. Then they came to a concert at the university that the Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) put on and they even got to go up and do some beat boxing and rapping which was so amazing. They taught us how to dance and we took them up to the front and they jumped around to worship music with us. Two of the boys showed up to AWANA one saturday and I got to hear their story and their struggles and just tell them how much God loves them, redeems them and has a plan and a purpose for them.

  Our last night in Malaybalay we got to go and hung out with them and just pour more love into them. I literally had my arm around two of the young boys (14yrs) they were just cuddled right up because they are just so desperate for affection and love. I got to joke with them, hear a bit of their story and pray with them. When it came to say goodbye, the desperation in their hugs broke my heart.

  John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”