"We want the broken toys"

[macgulley]

I didn't want to hijack the Youth Ministries thread but it reminded me of a documentary I saw a while back about skinheads. I would recommend watching it if you can stomach it. The part that really stood out to me starts around 11:50. The leader of this group makes the following statement in reference to the people he is recruiting:

"We want the broken toys. Send us your broken toys and we'll fix 'em for you...
We have people we've recruited in our ranks that were abused by their parents. They've run away because they could not stand living at home. They were living on the streets. They have no food, no shelter. We go to them and approach them and we say look, we'll feed you, come in here and we'll take care of you. You're white, you're of our people. You have a home now."
http://www.fanpop.com/spots/documentaries/videos/15791

This man is teaching evil, encouraging hatred and violence and immorality but he's offering these young people something they haven't found anywhere else, love and acceptance. How much more should we as Christians be offering love, acceptance and forgiveness to troubled people? Shouldn't our churches be refuges where all are welcome? Wouldn't this guy make a great youth minister if he gave his heart to Christ?

[germanshepherd]

Great post. It does make you think about our approach and objectives. Who are we reaching?

[one love]

I didn't want to hijack the Youth Ministries thread but it reminded me of a documentary I saw a while back about skinheads. I would recommend watching it if you can stomach it. The part that really stood out to me starts around 11:50. The leader of this group makes the following statement in reference to the people he is recruiting:

"We want the broken toys. Send us your broken toys and we'll fix 'em for you...
We have people we've recruited in our ranks that were abused by their parents. They've run away because they could not stand living at home. They were living on the streets. They have no food, no shelter. We go to them and approach them and we say look, we'll feed you, come in here and we'll take care of you. You're white, you're of our people. You have a home now."
http://www.fanpop.com/spots/documentaries/videos/15791

This man is teaching evil, encouraging hatred and violence and immorality but he's offering these young people something they haven't found anywhere else, love and acceptance. How much more should we as Christians be offering love, acceptance and forgiveness to troubled people? Shouldn't our churches be refuges where all are welcome? Wouldn't this guy make a great youth minister if he gave his heart to Christ?

great post