Youth Ministers Must Broaden Their Ministries

I read Dan Rodericks’ lastest piece in The Baltimore Sun and I had to stop.  Dan wrote about Christopher Clarke – an 18 year old senior at Patterson Senior High School who was caught between a gun battle and shot in my old neighborhood.  Police found his body under a car. 

Chris wasn’t a drug dealer.  He wasn’t a gangbanger.  He wasn’t “asking for trouble”.  He stopped by a friend’s house on the way home from work and was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.  He was a good student, an athlete, a loved member of his church, and a mother’s pride and joy.  He was looking forward to joining the Baltimore City Police Department.

This story and the many many many more like them in Baltimore breaks my heart.

Last Thursday, I attended a meeting with the Mayor.  She called together the religious leaders of the city to hear their thoughts on how Baltimore can improve.  I was impressed with the number of well known clergy that were in attendance.  I was even more impressed by the presence of two “street legends” – the young boys call them “OG’s” that to their own admission sold more heroin in this town than most people would imagine.  They were present as well to give their ideas on how to make things better.

I left the meeting encouraged to an extent, but also fired up.  I know that though the well known pastor’s ideas were good ones; they won’t be the ones that do the heavy lifting on the ground.  They are pulled every which way.  I don’t expect them to be in the trenches as much.  But I do expect Youth Ministers – Young Clergy of the city to get involved and do the heavy lifting.  I include myself in that group.

If we as younger ministers don’t roll up our sleeves and hit the streets of Baltimore, there  no doubt  -  will be many more youth killings in Baltimore.  Can we do it by ourselves? no.  But we need to be actively involved with all of those groups that are going out to say, “Enough is Enough”. 

60-some people have been murdered in Baltimore so far and about 1/3 of all of those killed were people 20 years old and under.  Read it again – 20 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER. 

Those in Baltimore know that warm weather means more murders so we as young ministers, youth clergy, and concerned pastors would do well to come together and reach out to “unchurched” youth now.  (AND NO THEY WILL NOT COME INTO OUR CHURCHES – WE MUST GO OUT TO THE STREETS AND MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE.)

I am involved with a couple of groups who are pulling together substantive plans now.  I will provide more specifics in the near future in case anyone wants to hit the streets.

In the meantime, Young Clergy for Social Change is preparing to organize a group of men to make monthly visits to a Baltimore City Department of Juvenile Services facility in order to reach out to young male offenders.  If you’re interested let me know.