by Bradley Stokes, Elementary/Teen Program Supervisor of The City Mission

The City Missions Pathways Teen Programs have been offering hope to many Cleveland teens for years. One way is through our scholarship program which awards students $1,000 per semester based on a few requirements. The City Mission has given aways thousands of dollars to teens helping provide hope and a positive future. The world says we’re working with a generation of teens that have no hope, but that is not true for the teens that come to Pathways. I see hope in each one of my students. While working with them can be challenging, it’s definitely rewarding. Pathways Teen Programs have been a safe place for Cleveland’s inner city teens to learn, grow in Christ, and have fun for years. I get an awesome feeling in knowing that the teens in this area look forward to being a part of Pathways.

There are two important things to keep in mind when working with teens, one is to be real at all times and two is to build relationships. Without those two items, you cannot be effective in teen ministry. Our teens have a saying that says “real reconginze real” which means if you are not being real with them, they can tell and when they sense that, they are not willing to open up and talk about issues going on in their life. Teens are looking for someone who genuially cares for their well being and is not afraid to be honest with them. I have a goal that every time a teen comes to our program they learning something new, most importantly something new about the Lord.

Our teens are dealing with a lot when they come to the Pathways Teen Program. It’s imporant that we become a support system and show them the type of love that Christ showed to us.  That’s how they will know there is hope when others say there is no hope. Some come in and don’t want to hear about the Lord, but through building a relationship with them they become open and willing to listen.  The greatest thing is seeing transformation on a weekly basis and seeing them realizing their potential. We must keep the light shining here at Pathways, there are teens waiting to be impacted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Matt 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”