The Spit Bucket

Toe Tag Faith

Is your faith wearing a toe tag?

To announce the release of Another Boy from the Hood, TastyFaith created toe tags (Toe tags are what coroners place on the toe of the deceased, identifying who he or she is and the cause of death).  The toe tag reads:  “Get this Bible Study into his hands before this tag ends up on his toe.”
It was created to be a wake up call for the grim reality facing youth of color:

In 2005, homicide victimization rates for blacks were 6 times higher than the rates for whites. Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics

Blacks and Hispanics make up 62 percent of the incarcerated population, though comprising only 25 percent of the national population  Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics

It's too late for those wearing a toe tag to make a decision for Christ.  Source: Common Sense

Shortly after creating the toe tags, I ran into a good friend of mine in involved in the GRIP outreach program in Chicago.
The toe tag message was too true for the GRIP staff. The brother of a teen who visited their program was murdered by his own gang members. I am sure you have similar stories and know the truth of the toe tag message.
If you’re involved in urban ministry, you’ll end up at more funerals than weddings or high school graduations.  It’s the sad reality facing so many of our youth.
That’s why it’s critical that we do whatever it takes to reach urban youth with the message of Christ.  If not,  it’s not another boy from the hood that’s wearing the toe tag, but our faith.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  James 2:20

What are things you can do bring life to dead faith?

Download a free excerpt of hood,

Junkfood Survey Results

I want to thank everyone who attended the Crave Factor workshop at the ministrycom.org conference in Nashville.
According to survey junk food survey results, the majority of you like to pig out on Mexican food.  Chocolate, Blue Bunny Fudge Ripple ice cream, and Nashville's Hog Heaven BBQ  were also big favorites.  Macs ruled over PCs and most of you would rather get a root canal than wear pantyhose.
I learned a lot in my workshop, thanks to you guys, and not just what your taste buds crave.  The question period is my favorite part.
One attendee asked about the value of focus groups, with the goal of learning about members of their community. The best way to learn about your neighbors is not to invest in expensive research, but to invest time your community. Get out of the pews and bring your church to the people. Shovel driveways in the wintertime. Plan a dinner event at a new “empty” restaurant in town to encourage the owner.  Visit laundry mats and chat with washed up people during the spin cycle. Build a playground in a lower economic area of your community. You get the picture.
Love in action can change attitudes and perceptions about your church in ways a billboard cannot.
And those of you interested in the junk food quiz? It can  can be found in the SLAM! Teen handbook series Da Yum Yums and Da Dum Dums.
If you have more ideas on how to create a craving for Christ in your congregation or community, please post ‘em below.  You are incredible vessels of God given creativity.
Again, it was a major blessing to meet you all.
You rock.

Ginger

Children of Immigrants

When kids are legal but their parents are not
A few weeks an ago, a story that’s been headlining Chicago papers made national news. Elvira Arellano, an illegal immigrant, had been staying inside a Chicago church since 2006, with her 8-year-old son Saul, an American citizen. I can’t imagine being locked up in a church that long.  It would make the sermons of a long-winded pastor seem like a nano-second.
But last month, she got arrested and deported back to Mexico.
No matter what side of the border you stand on the issue of illegal immigrants, the children are caught in the middle.

Take for instance, a youth worker I met over the summer at the Urban Youth Worker's Institute. He reaches out to the illegal population of  his community, helping with tutoring and Bible lessons. One of the girls in his program got raped by a man in her neighborhood. It was traumatic.  Since her parents were in this country illegally, they didn’t want her to go to the police to report the crime. So every day when she walks to school, this young girl passes by her attacker. (Yes, there is more to  youth ministry than  water balloon fights and marshmallow eating contests.)

Messy problems continue for these youth, from the education to the health system. While it does not have all of the answers,  the blog at the foreign policy association offers insights on various issues facing these kids. If any of these kids are victims of rape or abuse, visit RAIIN--the raped abuse, incest national network.

What problems have you faced in your outreach program dealing with children whose parents are not legal citizens?  If you have any tips to share, please post them below.