It was a late summers night in 1998. Following a Word from God, I had just moved back to my hometown of Hamilton, AL. Driving through the downtown alone in my car, I was amazed to see the young people of my small city still driving the same “loop” they drove on when I was a teenager. I slowly came to a stop at the traffic light in front of the old shopping center. Glancing to my left, I saw them. Young men and women sitting on the hoods of their cars, wasting their time away until they took another drive around the loop to nowhere.
I remember thinking, “These kids have no idea who the real God is.” It was then I heard The Voice, “I want you to work with the youth of this city.”
I was startled by the idea and quickly explained to God I was not His best choice for youth. I was too old, not cool, and way too busy doing real ministry. Didn’t they need youth pastors who dressed the part? God knew just the thing to change my mind. He gave me a promise that not only sealed my response to His call, but also became a beacon of hope to me in dark times: “What you invest in the lives of other young people, you will reap in your own children.”
It was there, in that cinder block, windowless, back room, I fell in love with a generation of searching young people. I determined two things: I could love these kids and I could show them the way to the Presence of God
I told them what I had learned, “If you will pray, He will come.” So pray they did. When God came, kids who were addicted to drugs didn’t want drugs anymore. Young people who were bound to pornography and sexual promiscuity wanted to lives that were holy and pure. Alcohol, depression and rebellion lost its grip as these young ones cried out for more of God.
Since that Summer night of 1998, I stand amazed as I see God once again keep His promise to do more than we can ask or even imagine! The Ramp has now expanded from its original campus in Hamilton to include campuses in Chattanooga, TN, Cleveland, TN, and Manchester, England with others in the works. We have a two year school of ministry that saturates young men and women in the Presence of God and teaches them how to walk out their God given purpose in the world with an unshakeable faith.
I invite you to join us in His presence.
It was there, in that cinder block, windowless, back room, I fell in love with a generation of searching young people. I determined two things…I could love these kids and I could show them the way to the Presence of God.
I told them what I had learned, “If you will pray, He will come.” So pray they did and when He came, kids that were addicted to drugs, didn’t want drugs anymore. Young people who were bound to pornography and sexual promiscuity wanted to lives that were holy and pure. Alcohol, depression and rebellion lost its grip as these young ones cried out for more of God.
Since that Summer night of 1998, I stand amazed as I see God once again keep His promise to do more than we can ask or even imagine! The Ramp has now expanded from its original campus in Hamilton to include campuses in Chattanooga TN, Cleveland TN and Manchester England, with others in the works. We have a two-three year School of Ministry that saturates young men and women in the Presence of God and teaches them how to walk out their God given purpose in the world with an unshakeable faith.
I invite you to join us in His presence.