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.