Somebody Needs To Do Something
by David Staal
posted 10/17/2008
 2 of 3
In a flash, two thoughts came to mind. First: Wow! God woke me up to chat. Second: Probably not a good time to spin or sugar-coat an answer.
So I confessed some real honest stuff. Words that unlock pressurized doors in a heart as they blurt out. The type that, after you empty them, make your spirit feel unusually full. As well as free to take bold steps when asked. This brief, exhilarating experience ended with a familiar declaration: "Wherever You want me to go I'll go. Whatever You want me to do I'll do."
I knew what had to happen next: leave my ministry position for whatever new adventure God had planned.
Not long after, I followed up on the recommendation of a friend to investigate an interesting opportunity. Kids Hope USA, a national non-profit organization, needed a new president. My friend believed I possessed the right mix of business/management experience, church leadership experience, and passion for kids. I remained skeptical at best, until one night at my computer.
After a lengthy Google search on Kids Hope USA, a compelling picture began to develop. This organization, with 13 years of experience, partners local churches with public elementary schools. At the heart of this partnership sits a mentor from the church who meets with an at-risk student for one hour a week. In addition, a prayer partner from the church appeals to heaven on behalf of the child and his/her relationship with the mentor. Something began to stir inside me when I pictured a mentor talking with a child and a prayer partner lifting that conversation up to God.
My pulse increased as I discovered how many kids qualify as "at-risk." Some estimates show 8 million. Some show many more. Whatever the exact number, it continues to grow—as life becomes harder and harder for more and more children.
Consider this: millions of kids wake up each day with little or no belief that school matters, life matters, or that they matter to anyone else. Every child deserves to know that he or she matters—to God for sure, and to at least one other person.
In my children's ministry director role, I poured out my life and my heart to reach children who make it to church on weekends. I love the cause of helping kids learn how to become a Christ-follower and then follow Christ with the way they live.
That thought preceded a (once again unscreened) gripping question that entered my mind and pierced my heart: "What about all the kids who, right now, likely won't make it to church? Somebody needs to do something, or they'll be lost." These children desperately need to feel God's love—because many feel no love at all. I had a Nehemiah moment:
"When I heard these things, I sat down and wept."
Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)
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