One December evening I arrived at the Indianapolis juvenile detention center to lead my weekly Bible study. The boys were in their seats, seemingly ready to hear the message God had placed on my heart. In the room there is a phone on the wall. The phone looks like a pay phone and the boys are allowed at certain times during the day to make calls home. While I was making small talk with the group one teen boy was finishing up a phone call and coming to join in the group study. After he hung up the phone he began to cry. A staff member talked with him and allowed him to go to his room to have some time alone. He didn't stay for long and came back to the Bible study, pulled a chair over to the front and center and listened intensely to the Word being taught. At the end of our study he and nine other boys accepted Christ in to their heart.

I always hang around after the Bible study to talk one on one with as many boys as I can. *Terrance wanted to talk. He and I have developed quite a friendship. Terrance's dad fathered a child at the age of 14 and was killed on the streets of Indianapolis at the age of 15. Terrance is the son left behind and is now 14 years of age. Terrance loves my Bible. More than once he has asked to look at it and he will hold it and rub his hands over the leather cover. He has an inexpensive paperback Bible and reads several chapters a day. He mentioned that someday he wants a Bible exactly like mine, "with red letters" he always adds. A friend mailed a donation of $25.00 for my ministry work and I thought this would be a great way to use the money. I went to a Christian bookstore and found a Bible just like mine with red letters of course and brought it by a couple days later to give it to Terrance. He is very excited about his new Bible and my guess is that he will keep it for the rest of his life.

Each week I meet new teenagers in the inner city that are at a crossroads of life. *Rick was in a terrible car crash this past fall and spent many weeks in the detention center. Drinking was a factor and a teenager died in the crash and another was in a coma for a while. Rick is home now and he and his family have asked me to continue my relationship with them by having a Bible study with them. When I came to his home the first time not only was I able to continue my relationship with Rick, but his mom, the teen who had been in a coma, another teen friend and the mother of the boy who died in the crash were all there. I asked the group, "Why do you want to meet with me and what do you hope to gain from this?" Their response was, "We want to talk to someone who will tell us the truth, help us understand why things like this happen and teach us about God." These guys are really open to God. Interestingly, a youth group in NC decided they wanted to take an offering to help my ministry. A check came in the mail for $58 and a hand written note saying to use the funds wherever they were needed. Because of this offering, I was able to give each of these boys a devotional journal and am teaching them how to read the Bible and have personal devotions during the week.

God continues to open up many doors of opportunity. Every week I minister to parents, lead a teen Bible study, counsel teens one on one, am involved in mentoring and am now leading the mentor outreach team which has grown to approximately 35 members.

Because of your prayerful support this ministry is being used of the Lord to reach troubled youth and families. Thank you for your prayers and as God leads you to give, thank you for partnering with me in this way!

In Christ,

Ken Turner

*Names have been changed to respect the confidentiality of our youth.