// Think about this…

by Jay Sherrer on May 19, 2010

While your 11 year-old is getting excited about her first vacation to the beach or his trip to Six Flags, another child elsewhere in our city is trying marijuana for the first time.

While you are fixing dinner, think about the more than 4,500 children whose mom is in jail… and can’t fix dinner for them.

While you and your child share a drink from Sonic, not too far away, a 12-year-old girl is involved in sexual activity and will become pregnant before the summer is over.

As you sit down to watch an old Disney movie with your 10 year-old, another child is sitting in jail thinking about what he stole and how long he will be incarcerated.

When your child sits down to a meal, puts on his clothes, or plays with her toys, think about the more than 40,000 other children in Oklahoma City who live in poverty.

While you and your child are enjoying shopping at the mall, another 10 year old is joining a local gang.

In another part of town (or maybe even closer than you think) it’s a very different world for those children who aren’t your children…

Someday, these children who aren’t yours will grow up. Many will never have realized their full potential or become a contributing, productive member of society. Some will be in jail, on welfare, at the City Rescue Mission, on the run, or even dead. Others will break the cycle of desperation, destruction, and devastation. But most will not break the cycle of poor choices and self-destructive behavior without intervention. Familial, societal, and cultural trends are influencing our children and our communities. We must counteract the trends that are contrary to Biblical principles and devastating to the lives they affect. These inner-city children need someone who will introduce them to Jesus Christ – the One who really changes lives. They need someone who will stick around and show them, teach them what it means to lead a changed life and follow God. The involvement of a loving, caring mentor who will challenge, encourage, and motivate them to lead a changed life can make all the difference in the world. You can get involved today.  You can give.  You can pray.  You can volunteer. YOU can make a difference.

Ask yourself, what will you do this summer to make a difference for the children who aren’t your children?

// Mothers…

by Jay Sherrer on May 8, 2010

All mothers face struggles in raising their children. Some mothers give up when their children are grown, thinking that once their children are adults, they have to make their own decisions. Not Noemi. Some mothers express how awful their children were growing up, but don’t try to keep training them into adulthood. Not Noemi. Some mothers toss their children out of the way if their children get angry with them or seem to hate them. Not Noemi.

She believes her job is to take care of her family, her children, and everyone else while she’s at it! Many people look at the pressures placed on an inner-city mother, the fight against gangs, drugs, alcohol, bad friends, corrupted manners, and academic failure, and express the hopelessness of raising good kids in that environment. Not Noemi. Even though her job was difficult and often thankless, she worked to make her children good people. Fights were met with love, but discipline too. Sickness was met with tender, dedicated care. Bad friends were met with careful rules.

Has it been a hard road in raising kids in an inner-city environment? Noemi would say “yes.” Yet there are some mothers who try anyway, and succeed. Noemi is one of them.

We are grateful for Noemi Juarez Le and her faithful service each day at the Oak Grove Community Center with our new Community Impact Initiative. Noemi has impacted and continues to impact, the lives of her own children and many other children of the Oak Grove community. Thank you, Noemi!