It has now been 13 years since I moved to Tacoma, Washington and began the incredible journey of working with kids in this city. I have found myself working with children aged infant to high school in a variety of settings: public school, children’s ministry, outreach events, to most recently starting/directing a primary school through my church.
Six months ago I was at church, and heard a message that gripped my spirit and I have not been the same. Bishop Freeze, an ex-convict, ex-gang member and now fellow Tacoma youth ministry leader was sharing his testimony. During this, he began making an urgent request for us to “go get the kids.” He was putting before us the very real fight that youth today are in--either we go after them, or the enemy will. That night I knew God was telling me it was time to jump into loving broken kids in a more radical way.
The next day I called Sierra, age 15 and Victoria, age 14; two young girls I’ve gotten to know in my neighborhood. I invited them to Sozo, an urban youth outreach ministry here in Tacoma. This ministry was started with City Central, our mission base in Tacoma, in partnership with Tacoma Youth For Christ. The girls’ stories are messy--filled with abuse, homelessness, absence of a father, failure at school, and turning to boys, alcohol and cutting themselves because of their depression and anger.
This past July Sierra and Victoria decided to come to the annual SOZO summer camp and I had the privilege of co-leading their cabin with Airfeira, a student leader who has turned from gangs and drugs and is now leading other youth to a relationship with Christ. Camp was filled with powerful testimonies, prayer ministry for each kid and messages of God’s plan for their lives.
Sierra and Victoria accepted Christ at camp and learned about their destiny and purpose and received times of prayer and healing from past experiences - they both prayed forgiveness of those who have abused them and had other powerful times of ministry. At the beginning of the week they did not want to take part in worship and by the end of the week they were writing their own songs/raps of their love for Jesus and how He turned their lives around! Sierra even sang a song she wrote in front of a group, something she had never done before!
Sierra walked back into dysfunction in the home the day she got home from camp, but she continues to write songs and is excited about her new life in Christ. Victoria has more responsibility at home with her three younger siblings than any 14 year old should have, but she says that she has been talking to God every night since camp. They both really want to live differently, but they need support.
During this time, I have also started leading SOZO Kids, the urban children’s ministry where Victoria’s three younger siblings attend. Each Friday night 50 to 75 kids ages five to eleven attend our program for a night of games, biblical teaching, worship and fun. These kids are desperate for love and truth in their lives in order to prevent them from going down similar paths that we see in the SOZO youth. There are many young girls, as young as age 12, who are involved with gangs, drugs and prostitution in Tacoma. These children must have an opportunity to know the truth of God at a young age “...you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32.)
I believe God is asking me to partner with Tacoma Youth For Christ team full-time and invest in the lives of youth like Sierra and Victoria through SOZO, I plan to do this through spiritual discipleship as well as supporting them in completing their education. Part of my responsibilities will also include oversight of SOZO Kids to help continue to move this vision forward. I have begun training some of our older youth to be student leaders at SOZO Kids--their influence and connection with these kids is key for transformation.
I will be updating this with many more stories in the future of the kids I have grown to love and all that is happening in Tacoma as I jump into my new role!
