tough nut to crack

When Josh was lodged at detention, his behavior was terrible. It was weeks before he was allowed to attend our Thursday night program. When I introduced myself, he would not look me in the eye, his body language was hunched and defensive. His speech was a dialect of gang banger and hard to understand. His personality had been formed by the things he experienced living on the streets. One night, staff allowed him to watch our group from just outside the classroom door. Progress. Trust was built, but glacially slow. He was transferred to the 6-month residential program in the detention center building and after some one-to-one time riding mountain bikes, a friendship was born. At the residential program he used up all his last chances and was lodged in detention with new assault charges. It was there, during Sunday Chapel, that the Lord broke through with the book of Jonah. It spoke right to Josh’s heart. Later, we both confessed to having a little Jonah in our DNA and Josh allowed Jesus into his heart. Fast forward a month, you have a bright young man devouring Scripture and praying—eyes shining bright with the light of a loving God. Thank you for your partnership with 71five Justice, together we are doing important work.- BEAU JESKA, 71Five Justice Director beau@71Five.org

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