Tony

Randy & Tony playing Chess

“Are you just getting home from church?”  We had just pulled up in front of our house and before we could even get the doors open Tony was there to greet us with his question.  When we confirmed that we had been at church his face fell as he told us how he had knocked on our door the evening before, to ask if he could go with us.  I (Randy) felt badly that we hadn’t been there to answer the door, but I also felt encouraged.  It’s not everyday that a fourteen year old boy from our community is excited about going to church. 

Tony stays just down the block from us with his mother, five siblings, a niece and other family members who stay with them from time to time.  He has been involved with World Impact summer programs for the last couple of years, but this summer he was different.  It was evident that God was working in his life.  When we would discuss stories from the Bible he listened intently and would ask thoughtful questions.  Shortly after Hannah and I moved into our home, Tony started hanging around anytime he would see me outside.  He helped me spray weeds, trim fence lines and sometimes would just sit on the porch and talk. 

This years’ summer program theme was “Don’t Waste Your Life”.  Each week we focused on a different man or woman from the Bible and talked with the kids about how that person either did or didn’t waste their life.  On one of the last days of the program we talked with them about the story of Jesus and how His life affects everything else, including their own lives.  When we were given time to split into smaller groups I had the chance to speak with Tony alone.  During that time he shared with me how he had confessed and asked for forgiveness of his sin and had given his life to Christ. 

I can’t explain how I felt when he told me that.  You see, too often in our neighborhood fourteen year old boys are already actively involved in the drug trade.  Too often they are already entrenched in the gang culture.  Too often they are expected to be the “man” of the home, as Tony is.  But not nearly often enough do we see fourteen year old boys who will make a bold decision to serve Jesus Christ and to allow Him to control their lives. 

Later in that same conversation Tony told me how he had started reading his Bible on his own.  No one had told him too, he just decided he wanted to know more.  We talked about meeting together on a weekly basis in a mentoring relationship.  He agreed to meet regularly and seemed excited to get started.

As we sat on our front porch steps chatting that Sunday morning after church, Tony stopped, looked at me and asked, “Are we still going to do that role model thing?”  I assured him that we were.  As the last few weeks have passed I have continued to be encouraged by his eagerness to learn.  It is clear evidence that GOD IS AT WORK IN THE CITY!!

Serving in the City,

Randy, Hannah and Mona Riggs