The news services are currently buzzing with the facebook-posted beating-torture of a white teen by four black teens in Chicago(http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/05/us/chicago-facebook-live-beating/). The four have been apprehended and their pictures prominently displayed, and many public figures are making short comments, verbal head shakes and sincere sighs; really, what else can be said or done except let the wheels of justice grind forward?
But believers always have one channel that can impact such hopeless situations. You pray: for the victim and his family, each of the attackers and their families, the fearful and despondent communities of Chicago (one of God's prize cities). And then maybe more.
1958 headline shouted out the heinous beating of a New York disabled teenager by four teens from the Mau Mau gang. David Wilkerson, pastor of a small church in rural New York did more than shake his head. He traveled to New York barrio where the crime occurred with faith and not much of a plan; and with time, prayer and the power of God was able to start a revival in that barrio that involved many of the most hardcore member of the area gangs. And then 'Brother Dave' stayed and built with the power of God; resulting in Teen Challenge and the New York Times Square Church.
With each ugly act born of godless(and sometimes godly) hearts..we always have something effectual and powerful to do; and God willing it may not stop there.
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It helps to pray for people by name; the name of the white victim has not yet been released but the names of the four 18year old attackers are: Brittany and Tanisha, Tesfaye and Jordon. They each have families, and the Churches/communities on Chicago's West Side that can be prayed for as well.
Prayer is a free-will offering. The amount and direction of prayer are guided by the Holy Spirit and our spirit...and our faith that God does act through prayer. We are to pray for the reprehensible (Luke6:28, for authorities and powers 1Timothy 2:1-8) as well as an extra amount for our Brothers and sisters (2Corinthians 1:10-11).
Pray: Boyd is the brother-n-law of the disabled victim; Brittany and Tanisha, Tesfaye and Jordon are people in need of our Jesus, believers all all around the Chicago area: pray.
Brien, I will pray. I never knew of the Wilkerson story to that detail. That's amazing. I've been thinking a lot about the kids in Japan that are just kind of left behind. The state has a bit of a 'if life happens' kind of clause for child care, allowing parents to put their kids in a child care center and pick them up when they are on their feet, but parents abuse it. They get tired of their kids, drop one of them off for 12 years and will not sign papers allowing anyone else to adopt them. It just nags at me, you know? I want Christian volunteers to volunteer at the state care centers and institutions so these kids know love.