Terry Cole on Making A Difference

Part of An Interview by Lael Weatherby, March 15, 2014

My name’s Terry Cole. I started Street Youth Ministry. People are always asking: What difference does it make? How do you know you're succeeding? 

It takes a long time to see success in the form that you want to see it, which is somebody completely changing their life. Giving up drugs, getting a house, getting a job, going to school, and making their life really, really good. That’s a long process, and it can be hard to see the progress.

We have activities because you have to do something, but every activity is ministry. Every activity is a chance to show Christ’s love. And so, that’s what we try to do all the time. We have a Tuesday meal that includes bible study and food, and we give out the donated clothing and whatever else has been donated. But we do the food first, and if you want to leave, you can leave. 

And then we talk about the bible, but we don’t force anybody to believe anything. We don’t force anybody to listen. If they want to take a nap or read a book, they can. It’s very compassionate and understanding that maybe they are not in a good place today that they want to participate. But they can stay there, it’s okay with us. 

And then we have stuff at the end, no matter whether you stayed, whether you participated, whether you listened, it’s there. It's been given to us, and if it will help you, it’s yours.

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