During our chapel time, our Juvenile Justice Ministry Director preached an amazing message on the love Christ. She painted a picture of how the Lord loves us right where we’re at, right now.

Four of the girls wanted to pray with someone, to acknowledge before the Lord their need of him, their desire to live for him in a new way. I got to pray with Alisha, an amazing young women who will lead many more to the cross in her lifetime. She wanted to be right with God but, in her words, she’s just a piece of S**T. She didn’t feel good enough, she knew she didn’t have enough strength to live freely and stand firm in the face of temptation, so she didn’t want to start something she knew she couldn’t finish. I got to share with her the Good News! No one deserves to be made right with God, none deserve anything from our Father, but it’s the desire of his heart to bless us anyway. He doesn’t expect us live perfectly, but rejoices when we take a step forward rather than become angry when we take a step back, and he loves to strengthen us. He only requires that we ask! Alicia decided to accept these truths about God and pray her first prayer! In the days following, she was in the scripture, full of hope and a growing understanding of her new Dad and who she is as His very own daughter. The power of the Lord to transform a person was on display that evening, and it was a glorious spectacle! Praise the Lord!

Robyn Buchanan, JJM Intern