MTV leads the way in Reality TV. They invented the idea a bunch of years ago with a show that is still on the air, The Real World. One of their newest innovations is a reality show called, Juvies. I’m not a big fan of reality TV but this one really captured my attention. Sheryl and I had it on last night. I was stunned to discover that this show is recorded literally blocks from where I lived for 15 years! Any one reading this from Northwest Indiana will instantly recognize the abbreviation, LCJC, Lake County Juvenile Center. Can you believe that? MTV saw fit to film a show about juvenile delinquents in my old hometown. I am less than honored!

But let me explain why: It is not because I’m afraid this show will cast a false, negative shaddow on my old hood. It’s actually because I’m afraid it sheds glaring light on the local churches’ raging ineffectiveness at reaching into the lives of the teenagers that need Jesus. I need to add one more comment before going forward… I consider myself a part of that collective, ineffective local church. I was a pastor at a church just down the road from the set of "Juvies" for nearly 6 years and I didn’t have any influence with those kids. Even worse, I was a youth leader for 2 of those years and never made any connections or relationships at LCJC. I was always busy doing church stuff and to be completely honest, the kids “locked up” in juvie never even crossed my mind. God, forgive me!

I’m not out to point fingers at church leaders in Northwest Indiana – I know almost all of them and count each and every one a friend. We’re all compassionate, dedicated, servants of the Lord, but I know these leaders are just like I used to be… busy. My probing question is: Busy doing what?

During last night’s episode, I cried watching the two, featured kids go through the legal process. Both kids were from two-parent families and both kids were spending their first night behind bars. I guess the ideal situation would be that we reach kids before they get into trouble, but one particular scene broke my heart and inspired my thinking. At one point, the camera captured the entire “population” at a chapel service. As the Chaplain spoke, the camera moved around his audience, and I noticed that about 90% of those kids were giving him their undivided attention and soaking in each word. In fact, one of the “main characters” was later asked by a group of fellow inmates if he was going to play cards with them. His answer: “No, I’m gonna read my Bible.” Thank God for MTV! The Church in Northwest Indiana has just been alerted to an amazing opportunity to serve people in need.

It is extremely difficult for “church” or some Christian leader to gain access to the “world” of a troubled teenager. The opportunity exists because Lake County has gathered a bunch of them in one place. I hate using the word “should,” but it is necessary here… Churches should be beating the doors down, trying to get involved and serve at LCJC any way they can!

The tendency will be to want to preach at them. I think that’s the wrong way to go. They obviously already have their own Chaplain and are probably under certain legal obligations about “religious tolerance.” I can see kindness and practical service making great inroads, though. Instead of trying to jump right in with the “sinner’s prayer,” if churches would take on the long term goal of forging a relationship with the dedicated people at LCJC, great things will happen. In Romans 2:4, Paul asks the rhetorical question, “Is it not the kindness of God that leads to repentance?” One translation reads, “…leads to a radical life-change.” Isn’t that ultimately what we’re interested in? We want to see these kids have a radical life-change.

I’m not sure if I’m actually writing to any of the spiritual leaders in Northwest Indiana here or not, but if so, here are a couple of my ideas:

Bring gifts for the LCJC staff: These are people that you can guarantee are under-paid, over-worked and under-appreciated. Find out how many people are working there at a given time and show up with a small gift basket for each person. Resist the urge to throw in propaganda from your church and just keep to a simple, “Thank you for doing what you do… every single day!” message.

Raise money to help in some practical way: If you can get in touch with a leader there, tell him that your church is raising money to help them with a special project they’d like to take on. They will not turn away your money! I noticed on last night’s episode that their basketball court could use a lot of work – maybe that’s an idea.

Here’s the key: It is not that they “need” a new basketball court! The basketball court is not the “end;” it’s the means. I know… they’re criminals. Why should they have a new basketball court? Simple: Because God’s love is extravagant and His grace is based on that lavish generosity, not whether we deserve His favor or not. Think about the statement a gesture of no-stings-attached generosity like this makes to the entire community…

There are so many more ideas… The bottom line is that churches in Northwest Indiana have a great opportunity to make an impact in this harvest field. Is it not God’s kindness that leads to a radical life change?