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.

http://www.firsthandhistory.net/index.html?view=interview&interview_id=860

Waiting Patiently to Grow

A reflection from this summer.

Last August I was convicted, by a couple of things, that I needed to stop doing ministry alone. First, in a couple of events, I had to give my attention to keeping order and protecting our partner's building and room; rather than on the needs of a client in trouble. 

I balanced my duties as best I could, but my client suffered; in that I couldn't give them the best that I could. Then I listened to several sermons on the Global Leadership Summit on sharing ministry load. The sermons were so compelling that I went home a broken spirit. I was failing to share the load and the ministry was suffering as a result. Fortunately, God pumped me up again, for the second day of the GLS and the message was very encouraging. So, I committed.

Right after that, we lost two rooms for our planned indoor events. Remodeling, or simply the message, "it would be better if you met somewhere else", were the reasons. I tried to find solutions before shutting down the events, but I failed. I talked with every church partner we have and many new ones. After three weeks, I was nowhere. So, we shut down our events and began to wait. In fact, I went away on a retreat to Guatemala.

When I returned from the retreat in Guatemala, God had been working on the problem, because we now have offers to use at least 5 rooms in the week. Awesome, or so I thought. However, there were no established volunteers at any of the new times. How hard could it be, I asked myself.

I started calling, emailing, and messaging. I committed to finding about 12 helpers for each of the time slots, one for scheduling, and two as co-facilitators to step in on occasion. After several weeks, I was pretty frustrated. I literally have added one available name to the list for the first event I wanted to start; our Bible study on Tuesday from 11am to 1pm.

I was tempted to cheat. And God really is sending messages about how many people want our Bible study to start. I got asked every day by clients if I've found a place yet. In an alleyway, a young kid called me over to confess his fear of addiction, even as he experiments with hard drugs. Faith isn't a resource for him, but he told me he would come to a Bible study if I held one. The same day, in that same alley, a young man spoke to me a memorized Islamic prayer and asked me if I would teach him about Christianity. My heart was breaking that we didn't have our Bible study. I was so tempted to cheat. But that would be cheating our clients. They deserve me and a couple of helpers; so that everyone would get the attention they need.

I awoke Wednesday morning realizing that I needed to switch my prayer meeting with other ministry leaders; to that morning. I hurried to get there. The topic that day was praise and thanks. 
 
I offered my thanks:  

• for the many locations we had,
• for the clients who want to study the Bible, 
• and for the reason that God had already solved our volunteer problems (even if I was frustrated by waiting).

At the end of the prayer time, the young minister who had sat next to me, told me that his group had been convicted this year by not having a homeless ministry. And he now plans to work with me to staff our Tuesday Bible study, including the co-leaders, scheduling and helpers!

So, I patiently and expectantly wait. In faith. And with great expectation of what it may be like.

We will open:

• a Wednesday Bible study 2pm to 3:30pm, 
• a Thursday clothing closet 2pm to 4pm, 
• a Friday job club 11am to 1pm and perhaps even more.  

God IS good. And the right answers are worth waiting for. 

Note: we have been successful with starting our Bible study.

So Proud!

I left the fellowship gathering to make copies of brochures to give out at an upcoming volunteer fair. I didn't expect what I came back to see. It was a fantastic evening.

 

First, I had four clients to came to Covenant Presbyterian Church Wednesday night fellowship on their own. They have experienced enough value that they get themselves there for dinner and stay for the discussion afterward. And I had brought two more for the first time in my truck. I came back to find them sitting packed in at tables with church members. They were integrated into three separate discussion tables. That was a really nice sight.

But as I listened, it got better. In the din of all the conversations, I could hear my clients talking and sharing. I heard members listening and sharing. It was truly an exchange. The subject matter was about how a church should go about outreach. Should it be focused on converting people or should it be focused on being a blessing.

 

It truly was just an awesome experience to hear summaries from the tables that included our client's ideas. They are super smart. The best programs we have came from them: Wash Night, for example. And they came up with our behavior rule: "personal daily best behavior" is expected from each client at our indoor events. And we will be launching a bus pass program that they helped design. Clients even voted on our logo back when we started, choosing the cross shape and the street or road striping that forms our logo.

 

What a night. I'm so proud of our clients and of my home church, Covenant Presbyterian Church. God is so good!

"To know, love and serve street dependent youth."
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Update from Intern Hannah

Hannah was our first intern to come from out of town! See how it impacted her life from her update below.  Check out our intern program.

 

"Man oh man, I've been thinking about you guys A LOT lately and missing you even more. I am so close to my bachelors degree, but have decided to take some time off to do another internship with my church and working full time as a teller at a local bank! 

 

The summer that i spent with you guys will forever leave an imprint on my life. I learned so much from the ministry, the youth, you (Terry), and just the city of Custin. W wouldn't trade in that summer for anything! I think of you guys often and still love you and pray for you guys. You guys have impacted me more than I can express through words. LOVE YOU ALL!"

 

Join us as an intern.

 

"To know, love and serve street dependent youth."
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I'm a notary for benefit of clients and supporters. Ph: (512) 553-3796
Volunteer or donate (tax deductible) online
Arrange a meeting with me: tungle.me/terrycole

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Excerpt from Ministry on the Fringes by Kevin Portman

Kevin Portman, a graduate student at Duke University’s Divinity school, recently wrote a paper about homeless youth that he encountered near UT while studying as an undergrad.  Portman interviewed Terry about SYM’s role in caring for these young people.

 

In describing Austin’s street youth, Portman writes, “(Cole) relates with about 100 self-named ‘drag rats,’…the term ‘rat’ conjures up an image of disgust, mistrust and aversion.  Apparently the street youth have a clear understanding about how they are perceived.” He goes on to describe the youths’ struggle to survive. They take a little from a lot of people to avoid ‘over-asking’ or ‘blowing up a relationship,’ a term the youths use when they have taken too much, thus ending the relationship.

 

Regarding the youths’ spiritual welfare, Portman writes, “A fascinating insight into the cognitive and spiritual state of these youth can be gained through a Bible study exercise that Cole employs….asking (the youth) to go around the room and take turns sharing a story they know from the Bible….commonly 40 or so stories are shared….however the stories are ‘twisted’ in some way. They each had the framework of the story, but either the specifics or interpretation was leading them to have somehow previously heard a lie…How can someone make an informed decision to follow Christ or recognize the grace of God working in him or her while holding these untruths?”

 

Portman describes SYM this way: “Cole regards (street youth) as worthy in a way foreign to most people…his inclusive ministry represents the Christian ideal that affirming the divine imprint of God in each human being compels us to love as an extension of God’s love at work in us.”

 

Ultimately, Portman writes, “I have done a horrible thing to myself. After interviewing Terry Cole, I have put myself on the unavoidable path toward caring and praying for this ministry. Whereas these ‘drag rats’ were once off my radar, now hearing the truth of God’s powerful work in this demographic has opened my eyes to a desire of God – to transform and redeem the lives of these young people. Further, I can no longer turn away from this problem now that I finally understand it and know how redemption is being facilitated through Street Youth Ministry.”

 

 

"To know, love and serve street dependent youth."
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Mobile? No problem: m.StreetYouthMinistry.org.
I'm a notary for benefit of clients and supporters. Ph: (512) 553-3796
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Arrange a meeting with me: tungle.me/terrycole

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Freed

Three or four times in the same day, I was in the position to explain the Gospel to very broken young clients. One grew up Catholic, with a very tough family and life experience. Another was baptized early in life and now uses heroine on the streets of Austin. Another lives on the street and battles depression, in and out of help centers. All are under 24 and all grew up around churches.

 

All know and believe in God. All can tell me many things from the Bible. Most of it has been told them by pastors, friends, and family. "One friend keeps her Bible near because it's her protection. But I asked if she's read it and she said no." "God made everything and Jesus came to show us how to live. If we keep trying, we'll get it right." "I was taught the Bible is a rulebook for how we need to live to get into heaven." 

 

I was able to help them understand the true Gospel secret. Jesus came to free you from judgement. He proved that you could live a good life and that would earn you an eternity with God. But he plead guilty before God for all my crimes and all the crimes of anyone who will believe in Him. Jesus becomes separated from God ("God, my father... why have you abandoned me" were His words on the cross.") 

 

As a result, you are free from the rules of the Bible. The rules of the Bible are not how you become a Christian. You become a Christian by knowing His son Jesus and accepting with purpose his present of taking the bullet for you. At that point, you are Free! 

 

But what are you freed for? God loved you first and pursued you before you ever come to Jesus. You have been freed so you can live the wonderful life God has already planned for you. And as you get to know Jesus and God, you will find that the good life He has prepared for you involves living in a way that obeys all the rules of the Bible. But you're not doing it to get into heaven, you're doing it because you're headed to heaven and it feels right! You are freed from judgement so that you are free to live according to God's good plans. And that's why we read the Bible. That's why we worship God. That's why we tell Gospel secret to others. Freed for a purpose!

"To know, love and serve street dependent youth."
Who We Serve   What We Do   Get Involved  Support Us   News  Publications  Ministry Needs   Speaking   Service Projects   Sign-up

Become a fan on Facebook!
Mobile? No problem: m.StreetYouthMinistry.org.
I'm a notary for benefit of clients and supporters. Ph: (512) 553-3796
Volunteer or donate (tax deductible) online
Arrange a meeting with me: tungle.me/terrycole

Follow SYM: