we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found —Luke 15:3
Every child deserves a chance – we believe that to our core. But sometimes a chance isn’t enough.
Sometimes a child has been neglected or abused to the point he needs more than just a chance.
He needs multiple chances. He needs grace.
Meet Trent.
Trent was just 11 when he entered the juvenile justice system, and nobody was surprised. His parents were in and out of jail. His older brother is the one who taught him to break into houses and steal cars. There was no hope for him at home.
By the time he was 13, Trent was in youth prison.
That’s a lot of trouble for someone so young. And while it might be tempting to see Trent in those terms only – we see something else.
We train our eyes to see with compassion, as Christ teaches us in the parable of the prodigal son, and we ask this –
If God’s grace for us is infinite, what is the limit of ours for children who are lost?
You know the answer.
You made a place for Trent when he had nowhere else to go. Because you care, Trent came to us.
Trent is in one of our transitional living homes, learning how to be a responsible adult. When we look at him we see a teenager who’s playful, gangly, and a little goofy. He wants what other teens want – to learn to drive, to have a phone. He wants to have friends and good influences in his life.
Trent knows God has a better plan for his life, and he is trying to figure it out. He is taking classes at a local community college, working his first job at KFC. He volunteers at the animal shelter and Meals on Wheels. He has opened a bank account.
And for this, we celebrate. Trent is not a lost cause. He’s more alive now than he’s ever been.
