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 2007

Left Behind

Thanks so much for your gift during this Christmas season. It is especially needed when so many of our kids have so few people in there lives that really care. I'm sure you'll feel many emotions as I did from the following story that was told to me by one of our urban youth pastors. We have given this ministry several grants over the years and sent CityConnexx teams to serve at their ministry which has helped them keep the center open for children like Juan.

The door was locked and all that was "left behind" was this note taped to the door.

Left Behind?

Do you know what it feels like to be totally abandoned?

Imagine coming home from the Tuesday night urban hip-hop church. Juan attended every week with Pastor Age. He found love and acceptance there and the other teens made him feel at home. He was doing his best to stay away from gangs and drugs.

When he got home however, the door was locked and all that was "left behind" was this note taped to the door.

"It was time for me to move on. Mom".

That was it.

No "Dear Juan" letter.
No "I will call you soon".
No " Sorry, I love you".

Nothing.

No phone number. No forwarding address. Gone, vanished, abandoned. Locked out! Out of sight, out of mind.

Left behind.

Juan had no other family in Colorado, his biological father was in prison. His mom and her boyfriend had just split up and apparently she couldn't cope with the responsibility of raising him alone. All he had was the shirt on his back, no food and no place to sleep for the night.

He was abandoned, neglected, forgotten.
Left outside like the morning trash. Left behind.

So what's a 13 year old illegal immigrant supposed to do? Call the cops? Call social services? Are you crazy? Deportation or Juvenile Detention is a really ugly deal for kids like Juan.

Juan turned to the only place he knew to go, back to the urban church and Pastor Age. Fortunately they were still around.

Well, one night turned into two, three into four. A week became two and now as of writing this letter it's been more than a month. There is still no word from mom but Juan is safe and his new church family is taking care of him while they determine what is best for him.

Can you imagine that?

Sadly I'm beginning to. It happens far too often to kids living in America's concrete jungle of poverty.

Unfortunately, this is a typical yet tragic story that many ministries face all year long.

My wife and I have recently invited a mother and her daughter to stay in our home while they adjust to life after her husband abandoned them.

Incidents like these increase at the holiday season when life feels more desperate for these families. The rent is due, just got laid off, no money for Christmas, fights, drinking . . . well you know the rest of that story. Sometimes moms like Juan's just give up and go. Their kids are often the ones who suffer the consequences of their parent's bad decisions.

Juan is just one of many. Lucky for him, he found a neighborhood urban ministry that opened its arms of love.

Here's a simple way to get involved in 2008!

Wear the "Live Compassion" wristband included for you as a reminder to pray for all the children who get "left behind".

Use the wristband as a tool to share Juan’s story and encourage others to pray for these children.

Each month during 2008, I'll share another story in our monthly thank you letter as together we pray for these children. This wristband will be your reminder to pray and share throughout the next year. If you are a non-monthly donor, you can read the letter and child's story at www.YouthPartnersNET.org at the For Him and Them/Dean Cowles tab.

Please remember these children who will spend Christmas much like Jesus did, without a home, abandoned, in a shelter.

For Him and Them,

Dean Cowles

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