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{ Metro Blog }
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Big Brothers Needed
Posted January 03, 2008 by Adam Sloope |  |
It is a New Year with all sorts of new opportunities. I am sure we have all made personal resolutions or set goals for this year. Loose weight, get that Nintendo Wii, eat better, be nicer, listen more, I am sure the list goes on. As a body of Christ we all want to see our communities and this city changed by the hope of Christ. We have all experienced this liberation in our own lives and want everyone else to know what this is all about. This can only happen through relationships. This is how the original church grew, I wrote about this in my new blog this morning (http://adamsloope.blogspot.com/2008/01/invest-in-kids.htm ). I am sure we all realize that as time passes we will get older and eventually have to pass the torch onto our children or the next generation. Unfortunately, in this city, the statistics speak harshly about our next generation. In the year 2005 there were 1135 people incarcerated in this city. Statistics say 70% of those inmates' children will become incarcerated as well. That is 794 children who will grow up just to be locked up! As Christ followers we do not have to be discouraged by statistics, we can make a change. We can stop this cycle. I was in the office at Big Brothers, Big Sisters a couple weeks ago and walked past this wall full of pictures. Pictures of beautiful little children smiling from ear to ear. I counted 83 pictures of boys and asked what they were on this board for. My stomach and heart ached when I heard the response! These are boys WAITING to be matched; they desire a Big but there are not enough men signed up to match them with. Can you imagine, your dad is locked up and you want a male figure in your life to be a positive influence? Deep within these boys, they are crying out, “Stop the cycle, save me from statistics!” So here is my challenge men. Will you sit by and watch an entire generation continue a cycle that can be stopped? Will you watch as 795 children turn into prisoners all because they didn’t have a positive male influence? I am a Big Brother. I can understand your concerns, will this be a time burden, I am too busy, I can’t handle any more responsibility, it will be expensive, etc. Once I started hanging out with my Little Brother, I realized that I WANTED to spend time with him. I get free tickets to things like the zoo, bowling, skating, and Pacer games. Or sometimes he just enjoys watching a movie at my house and having an ice cream eating contest. I am able to spend time with him at my leisure. Now that I am invested in this kid, I can’t imagine my world without him. This is the best way we can save our generation from statistics. I am asking you to prayfully consider as this new year 2008 begins becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister and help change the future, change a life, and invest in the next generation that will carry on our tradition, our ways, our Christ, and our church.Want to learn more, want to sign up? Please email me or pull me aside at church on Sunday. Or if you are free on Jan 18 from 7-10pm you can attend our community outreach event put on by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana. It is called Faith, Soul, and Rock-n-Roll a night of music, mocha, and mentoring. It is free and will be a great time for you to learn more about mentoring. Please feel free to bring anyone you feel would be interested in becoming a Big as well. Please let me know if you are interested or have any questions. Because of Christ, Adam Sloopeb- www.adamsloope.blogspot.comc- 3179562500e- "We are not called to be successful. We are called to be faithful" - Mother Teresa
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