The Wiles of Urban Mentoring

A Day in the Life of An Urban Mentor/ Mentoring the Urban Captive

             While I waited to be fingerprinted, processes and vaccinated, I wondered, “What have I gotten myself into?” This mentoring experience is not what I expected.

            I knew Dorian long before he got arrested and sent to Boys School. It was only after he was released that we got reacquainted. My objective for the day: allow him to learn of my world. Instead, I got an “eye-opener” regarding his world-views and perspectives. Once we left police headquarter in order to complete my police check, it was time to take Dorian to the Juvenile Justice class on the local college campus.
            I took Dorian to class upon the request of my professor. Dorian looked forward to this day, having called me several times the night before. Even the day of, when I picked Dorian, up he had an entourage ready and begging of my attention. There was an older youth, one brother and another old acquaintance all ready to go somewhere. They must have gotten it twisted-I did plan to take them to an event later that evening however, this class session could only involve Dorian. They understood!
            As we went to class, it was clear that college was another world to Dorian. I hoped that the university experience would plant within him a desire to excel. The whole day involved nervousness, wondering if I could mentor Dorian as desired given the fickle nature of youths.
            The classroom topic for that day dealt with listening. I was amazed. After having gained experience working with youths, the topic of how to listen to youth was something missing in previous training. So needless to say, priority was placed on hearing what Dorian was feeling after class. Ironically, he was very upset about the class. He sort of felt picked on or used when asked, “What is it like to have a juvenile record? Is it difficult to avoid gangs and crime in Indianapolis?”
            Dorian did such a good job, interacted with the class with such finesses. “Why are you mad,” I questioned- Actually, I had forgotten, Dorian never was a simple personality to understand. To be honest, he has always been nice, but under the surface, there was a nasty side which was far from obvious. He recently confessed one day that the courts ordered him to either get a job and education or else return to jail. Days later, he said if he went to a court-ordered mental treatment facility, he could avoid the dangers of a new sentencing.
             So to be honest, perhaps it would require a psychologist to know about Dorian’s mind-set. After all, I couldn't understand why I should be terribly upset due to the fact that the college experience left him “cussing and screaming.”

Prophetic Times-Prophetic Measures

My motto for 2013 is, "Prophetic times call for prophetic measures." Actually, this is a good motto for life considering the days and times of this age. Since this blog has been dedicated to the "work of mercy" called "setting the captive free," tools need to be in place to counter-balance the darkness of this world. People need to see signs and wonder...the sick being healed and demons cast out. That might sound spooky however, what people do nowadays from crime, drugs and witchcraft is down-right spooky too. I'm glad that an Apostolic anointing is here...it's not about the Apostolic denomination but the anointing that was demonstrated by the Apostles in the Book of Acts.  

There is a new church reformation occurring and its coming to a city near you. There was a radical departure from the spirit of "church business as usual." The first Reformation occurred during the days when Martin Luther broke from the Catholic church to establish the Protestant faith. So too is there a current church reformation according to the leaders of what is called the New Apostolic Reformation. Regardless of who calls it a movement or a reformation....one thing is clear, God is dealing with the Church in different ways.   

Now let's be serious, many Christians will never experience this reformation. First of all, some leaders do not believe in the initial sign of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues as manifested in Acts 2:38, let alone the signs and wonders that will accompany the latter day move of God...namely the restoration of the offices of prophet. Yet in Joel 2:28 says "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:" You can't have it both ways. We are either in the last days or not. If so, expect God to equip His people with new gift and fresh power to combat the onslaught of the latter day kingdom of darkness. 

And so, as T.D. Jakes would say....get ready...get ready...get ready.