I was recently reminded of a scripture that sums
up much of the purpose for which Crossfire exists:
"Because
of the devastation of the poor, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I
will arise, says the LORD; I will set him in the safety for which he longs."
(Psalm 12:5)
Picture in your mind what your definition of
‘devastation’ would be. A tsunami? An earthquake? A tornado or hurricane? All of those leave devastation. Whether you have experienced that devastation
firsthand or seen pictures on television, you have some idea what devastated
landscape looks like.
Devastated landscape is what the lives of many
of our ministry kids resemble. Chaos, destruction, danger, rubble, lack,
abandonment, brokenness. Often they don’t
even realize they live in rubble because it is all they have ever known. But
the LORD knows. He sees. And He says He
will arise on their behalf and set them in safety. I believe that when
the LORD arises, things happen! I
believe the Father hears the groaning of their souls to be rescued. The Father knows.
Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only
to steal, kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it
abundantly.” Jesus came to give abundant life. How do you heal the
soul of a child whose family has been devastated for generations by poverty,
addiction, fatherlessness, illiteracy, abuse, and a family tree that looks more
like a tumbleweed? When there is so much
“kill, steal, and destroy” in a child’s life, how do you even begin the journey
to abundant life?
Well, according to Psalm 12:5, one way the LORD
begins is by setting them in a safe place, and this ministry is a place of safety
where the LORD sets some of the devastated poor and groaning needy. He brings
the kids to us and we begin to clear the devastated landscape of their
lives. Whether it is a safe haven for
them to come home to after school, an advocate determined to give them a voice,
a friendly reminder to do homework, a source of godly counsel, a caring voice
on the other end of the phone answering a 2 a.m. call, safe friends to hang out
with and play sports, a home cooked meal, school clothes, or a thousand other
needs they have, we are committed to rebuild, restore, and renew the landscape
of their lives. When the LORD arises the
longing is fulfilled.
Just like in other forms of devastation, the
rebuilding and restoration of a life is not completed in a day or a month –
sometimes it takes years...and then more years.
But we continue piece by piece, truth by truth, victory by victory to
rebuild. To give these young people
vision for the future and give them hope.
One young man said to me, “I need a new family tree.” I assured him that he has that new family. We
are a Kingdom family and the tree is shaped like a cross.
I pray that the LORD will arise on your behalf in any places of devastation
in your life or family. I pray He sets
you in a place of safety and makes all things new.
