I always enjoy telling stories about how God is at work in the world.  So many people don't see God as actively working all around us, when in fact he is busy doing things that so many times we take for granted.  Here are a couple of stories of some exciting stuff he is allow us to be involved.  For years we have done an outreach to at-risk children and youth.  The purpose of these ministries was to show the love of Christ to those who have never received such unconditional affection.  God has recently raised up from among our young people one that feels called to take the Gospel to others who are in this situation. 

Juaquin has lived a tough life.  He grew up in a dysfunction family where his parents’ rocky relationship provided very little stability and even lead to him living with his grandparents for certain periods of time.  He saw his father in and out of jail and the neighborhood where he lived was riddled with drugs, alcohol, and violence.  By the time Juaquin was in middle school, he was involved with a gang and didn't really care about what happened to him.  However, over the last three years God has revealed his plan to this young man. 

He would come to the Lighthouse Mission with his brothers and sisters, but didn't care too much for what was being taught about God and a relationship with Jesus.  He would make the comment that he didn't like being preached to, but knew he needed to hear it.  But then trouble with the law began getting more serious as he got older.  He spent eight days in the county jail and hated every minute of it.  However, while there he attended a Bible study and payed attention enough to begin understanding God's purpose for his life. 

He came out of jail with a new perspective and starting attending youth group meetings and the more he learned the more he hungered for more.  Recently he agreed to take more of a leadership role in the youth group which could have an incredible impact on the community because he is able to relate to the culture in a way that they could understand God's great plan.

A second individual who I'd like to share about is LuLu.  Like Juaquin, LuLu comes from a troubled background and got in trouble with the law when she was younger.  In fact, five years ago her three sons used to come to youth group at the mission, but I never had a chance to meet her because she was in jail at the time.  Well, about three years ago LuLu's husband died and she had a hard time dealing with her five children, but she knew that God was there and she began talking with him. 

Last fall she moved back into our neighborhood with her youngest daughter who began coming to Kid's Club.  Then LuLu asked if she could do her community service with us and we got a chance to know her.  She began feeling more comfortable around the mission and started coming around more often.  However, about a month ago she moved from our neighborhood to another part of town.  One day her daughter asked if she would take her to Kid's Club and they both came and LuLu had a chance to see our ministry to the children. 

We began talking about the needs in the area where she lives and I said we could come and do a Kid's Club in where she lives.  A few days later we prayer walked around her apartment and she showed me where the drug deals take place and where the young people hang out.  She said she would open her home for a Bible study and we talked about ideas for reaching out to her neighborhood with the love of Jesus. 

Please pray for Juaquin and LuLu and the ministry as we continue to share the Gospel.  There are so many that don't have a relationship with Jesus and are simply walking around in spiritual darkness feeling lonely, desperate, and afraid.  We know that Jesus can and will take away the emptiness and we need more people like Juaquin and LuLu who will obediently follow God's lead in reaching out with the love of Christ.

Thank you for your prayers and support.  You can contact me at ccwatson@yahoo.com, (970) 506-9335, or 4800 Hill-N-Park Drive, Greeley, CO 80634.