For Him and Them by Dean Cowles, YPN President

A monthly message from YouthPartnersNET President Dean Cowles.

For Him and Them by Dean Cowles

December 2006

Drive-By Salvation?

We've all heard of "drive-by shootings" but have you ever heard of a "drive-by salvation"?

We were inviting community guests to our annual Thanksgiving Dinner last month when a black low-riding BMW rolled into the parking lot. Not a usual sight for this urban ministry. The dark tinted window rolled halfway down. Pastor Scott, one of our Ministry Partner pastors, greeted this young Hispanic man with various gang tattoos covering his face and arms. "Hi, did you come by to find a church?" "No", he politely replied, "I drove by to find Christ".

This young gang member wouldn't get out of the car since he was in someone else's turf, afraid to be caught without a quick get away. But he did listen to Pastor Scott's simple presentation of the gospel. After a few minutes he asked, "Can I find this Jesus Christ today?" So, right there seated in his car he invited Jesus into his life to be his Lord and Savior.

...he politely replied, "I drove by to find Christ".

Radical conversions come in all shapes and sizes, even "drive-bys". I'm always amazed how God will reach down and grab the hearts of those desperately looking for hope and salvation. Thankfully, this urban church was open that day to share the good news and good food with its needy neighborhood.

Your donations to YouthPartnersNET help play a part in this young man's drive-by conversion. YPN has given this urban church many grants over the years for their after-school and summer programs. That's why this young man was driving by. He was dropping off his daughter, who attends the children's programs, for the Thanksgiving dinner.

Gifts and support like yours help us help places like Crossroads keep their doors and their hearts open. Sadly, Pastor Scott was sharing last week at our monthly YPN networking lunch that another one of their youth was shot twice in a drive-by just the day before. Fortunately, he survived.

That's the real-life world our partners live in day by day. You can be a huge encouragement to Pastor Scott and hundreds of others like him this Christmas by giving a special gift this time of year. Together let's turn drive-by shootings into opportunities for salvation.

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For Him and Them,

Dean Cowles

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