"Can I see some ID?"
Identification. Identity. At the Real Men group yesterday one of our friends introduced himself and told his story. One of the central parts of his introducing himself was: "I'm a felon." Mike Downey was quick to remind him of his ID. "You are not a felon. That is not who you are. You have a felony on your record. But that doesn't define you."
A theme we have been focusing on related to identity is that we are sons and daughters of a Loving Father. We've been talking about leaving the orphanage behind. The orphan's life is one of fighting. Defending. Trying to handle all of the problems alone. Kicking and screaming. Employing any strategy to feel OK. The life of a son or daughter of our Loving Father can be so different.
We've been having the young men at the Village Oaks Community Center rehearse "I am a son of a Loving Father" over the last 18 months or so (if they say it when they see me they often times get a dollar bill). And we're focusing on this truth with the men as well. We are calling it: "Sons of a Loving Father Training Center"...where men can be trainedspiritually, physically and in work. With all of the training built on our true ID: Sons of a Loving Father.
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We were so thankful to hear the news that Behind Every Door Ministries was awarded the $100,000 One Hundred Shares Grant for 2012! One Hundred Shares is a group of 100 Dallas ladies who pull together their resources each year to bless a local ministry. Their grant has already provided us with a van (pictured). The grant will also send kids to Kids Across America camp this summer, provide music lessons in our Community Centers, bring new furniture to residents in need, as well as help us to launch the Sons of a Loving Father Training Center. Thank you, One Hundred Shares, for your partnership in loving our friends and bringing the Good News.
-- Behind Every Door Ministries
