Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: GATHERING (07/14/16)
-
TITLE: Apologetics, Jay Z style | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lucy Steel
07/21/16 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
When Jason had volunteered to speak at Farham Juvenile Corrections Centre as part of his church’s “Reach Out” week he’d given it little thought. He was the obvious choice, being a seasoned reporter and speaker, but he was beginning to realise this would be a very different speaking engagement.
At his wife’s suggestion he’d prepared by asking his teenage kids what the trendy words were now. So, armed with a new vocabulary and his coolest jeans he’d felt pretty confident. Until now.
“Welcome Mr Dunn, I’m Bob,” said a weary looking balding man. “The boys have finished dinner and we’ll round them up once you’re settled.”
About twenty boys were scattered around the communal room. Four played table tennis and others listened to hip hop music, shouting lyrics to each other over the music. Some were slouched in chairs watching TV. No-one looked at Jason as he walked to the “stage,” consisting of a shabby lectern and some old worn chairs placed at the back of the room.
He’d never seen so many tattoos and piercings on a bunch of kids before or heard them speak so many profanities in rapid succession.
As the boys meandered over, Jason reviewed his plan of attack. He aimed to tell them what his church could offer and hopefully motivate them to visit as part of their rehabilitation program.
The boys sat down; no-one looked happy at being summoned from what they were doing. “Who’s the Clown making us miss Survivor?” one called out. A few boys sniggered. Jason tried to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat and silently said a quick prayer.
He looked out at the motley gathering of sullen eyes and broken faces and began. “Um… my name’s Jason and I’m here to talk about the church I go to and what God has done in my life.”
Someone wolf whistled.
Jason ploughed on: “I became a Christian at sixteen but before that I was lost. I was smoking pot and failing school. Then a friend took me to church and everything changed…”
Jason was interrupted by a loud belch. A scrawny kid was staring at him, his mouth twisted into a sneer. A few boys turned with looks of careful admiration - despite his size this boy was respected. “You think you all dat ‘cause you smoked pot mister? Bet you aint never found yo mama dead from heroin. God didn’ help me then so don’ tell me to go to yo stinkin’ church.” A few boys nodded. “Tell ‘im Sean,” one said.
Jason ramped up his silent prayer – please God, help me convince them to come to church.
Suddenly Sean stood up, his chair scraping the floor. “You know Jay Z mister?”
“Jay wha… what?” Jason stammered.
“Jay Z. ‘Black Gangster’. ‘Ninety-nine problems’…”
Jason realised Sean was talking about a singer. “Um… no” Jason said, confused by the line of questioning. “But can I just say…”
“I aint got no respect for you if yo don’ know Jay Z.”
Someone began shouting hip hop lyrics, presumably Jay Z’s. The meeting was getting out of control.
“Tell yo what, if yo can rap like Jay Z I’ll go to church,” Sean yelled over the noise.
”What??”
The lyric shouting subsided. “If you rap like Jay Z I’ll go to church”. Sean said it slowly as if speaking to a child. “Yeah” chorused others.
Jason froze; they can’t be serious! But the expectant faces told him they were.
He turned to leave; I’m a respected journalist, this isn’t worth it. Then a small voice said, What is worth leading someone to Christ?
So Jason took a deep breath, turned around and said:
“Yo listen up –
I was down and out and lost
But Jesus paid the cost…”
The boys’ stunned faces mirrored Jason’s own. Then, one by one, they started clapping in time.
Jason kept going…. Strangely, as his dignity waned another feeling crept in… was it enjoyment? Buoyed by the now cheering boys, Jason hip-hopped as hard as his 46 years allowed and finished with a shoulder lean and arm cross that would make his kids proud.
Puffed, he surveyed the crowd. Sean was smiling. Someone stood up, then another, until everyone stood, nodding approval.
A week later Sean walked into church.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Original with a contemporary vibe. Working with kids in this age group before, I understood Jason's dilemma.
You were so close to being in the top ten. I can't wait to read more of your work.