While clearing out files, I found this and I thought it was so good, I decided to post it.
Dear Friends,
1984.
I know it is the title of a book, but it is also the year I did the same thing I'm doing now. Not changing jobs, but changing the organization I serve under. On January 1, 1984, I transferred from Camp Peniel to Youth for Christ. On April 1, 2008, I transfer from Youth for Christ to Cross in the City.
On January 18, 1981, I spent my first Sunday at the Harris County Youth Village. I was an intern student from University of Houston – Majoring in Human Development and family studies. My atheistic professor had recommended I do my internship with a "religious organization."
During April 1981, I went on staff of Camp Peniel as the part time girls' Chaplain at the Harris County Youth Village. The Youth Village was a long term placement of the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department.
During the years from 1981 until December 31, 1983, I graduated from U of H, married Mark Cooper and served as the Girls' Chaplain at the Youth Village. I looked so young and I was so confused about my role, I was often mistaken for a resident. I remember that one staff yelled at me, saying "Did you do your job?" I answered "I sure hope so."
My salary was whatever came in that month, which was suppose to average to about $600 a month.
On January 1, 1984, I joined the Staff of Youth for Christ. Because Youth for Christ was serving delinquents at the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center, I became the Protestant Girls' Chaplain at the Juvenile Detention Center, while continuing as the Girls' Chaplain at the Harris County Youth Village.
My salary was $1050 per month.
During this Chapter, I taught Sunday School at the Youth Village, I lead discussion groups at the Detention Center. I lead singing at the Youth Village and I lead the Sunday afternoon Chapel Services at the Detention Center.
I wrote Bible story plays for the students at the Youth Village – Rahab and Jonah and I directed the students in the plays.
I started visiting girls who were adjudicated and put the county jail. One time, I showed my driver's license and the guard's face clouded. He came out from the booth and said "Come with me." Not a good thing for a visiting Chaplain. We went in an office and spoke to another person. "Let us clear this up. There is a warrant for your arrest." Somehow, they cleared it up and I got my driver's license back.
On March 12, 1987 my first child, a daughter, Jessa was born. Jessa changed my life. I couldn't take her to the jail! But I could take her to the Youth Village and the Detention Center. Sometimes, Mark and I would meet at a store on his way home from work and I would give him Jessa and go back to work.
During the time after Jessa's birth, we started doing Vacation Bible School in institutions with juvenile delinquents. I would write curriculum for various TBS – for Take a Bold Step. We – staff and volunteers would spend a week showing Christian Music Videos and doing crafts and teaching Bible stories to gang kids. It was amazing, watching these kids from various gangs coloring and enjoying popsicles.
During the closing of the YFC office, I had 6 boxes that I had to go thru. Those boxes were like time capsules. I would open them and find all my CADAC – Certified Drug and Alcohol abuse Counselor paper work. I did all the classes, but I didn't finish the practicum. I would find a copy of the Teen Mom's hand book and a paper chain – remember Jessa was my traveling buddy, so she would amusing herself at the office. A ream of fluorescent paper and Jessa's paper doll cut outs. And letters from my early Youth Village girls. Girls who must be in their late 30's and early 40's.
As I go thru the boxes, I start to wonder: how many kids' lives has God used me to touch? It's impossible to know, but I wonder . . . 50 a year for '81 – '83 and 100 a year for '84 – '95. No wonder those years are a blur. 1050?
On September 14, 1990, I received a phone call from a Pearland High School Senior, Brandon Russell. It was a life changing phone call for me, although I didn't know it at the time. Brandon was looking for someone else, but he got me. Brandon was concerned because even though his school just had 300+ students show up for the first ever See you at the Pole, the only Christian Club they had was FCA. And he thought they should have a Christian Club – if they had that many show up for See you at the Pole.
I lived in Alvin – a town near by Pearland. I offered to meet with him and help him. After years of working with juvenile delinquents, I now was working with National Honor Society students who wanted to see their campus on fire for Christ. I spent many of these years feeling like I had one foot on either side of the tracks.
From 1990 until 2004, that program grew from a low of 3 kids to almost 500 kids a week on 2 campuses. I always encourage kids to make the phone call. Who knows what God will bring out of that phone call?
On June 16, 1995, I gave birth to my second child – Allie Jean Cooper. At that point, I stopped doing the Sunday Morning services at the Harris County Youth Village. For over 14 years, my Sunday mornings had been spent doing church with the juvenile delinquents – not exactly a traditional Sunday morning experience.
In August of 2000, John Butler, my supervisor and mentor, received a letter from Harris County Juvenile Probation Department terminating our services. John ask some questions and got us and additional 3 weeks, but still that final Sunday and Monday, I walked thru the units, openly weeping. I was so distraught. After nearly 20 years of playing the guitar for those kids, I have never picked up the guitar again. I guess it is my silent protest.
Mark was also sent home from his job during this time due to a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy. In May of 2001, he was terminated.
In August 2001, I found out my life insurance on Mark was being canceled. Youth for Christ continued to bill us for the insurance, but it had been gone since 1998. Mark was now uninsurable due to his heart condition. (They eventually reinstated his life insurance, but at a lower amount than I had been paying for.)
Mark died December 2, 2002, leaving me with 2 daughters, ages 15 and 7.
Pizza@Lunch was closed down in October 2004. It took until March 2005 to get a final decision.
I married William Dean Hinesley on 7/16/05 and gained a new husband and a 4 year old step daughter, Taylor.
And that brings me to today. When God made it clear I was to continue in Pearland, where my contacts and connections were, I made plans to restart the Pearland Youth Ministry Alliance. In the fall of 2006, when I discovered there wasn't but one Christian Club in the Pearland middle, junior highs and High School, I started asking things like how can we make Pearland "Christian Club Friendly." What can we do to support any Christian Club that starts? What can we do to insure that those clubs continue and don't die out? How can those clubs be connected to the local churches?
So, today, I work with Christian Club Teachers. I am part of a team that supplies Snacks to any Christian Club – as often as possible. I connect the clubs to the community by asking local youth pastors to speak at the clubs. I research and discover available Club materials. If need be, I write materials for Christian Clubs. I plan events to bring the clubs together. Sometimes, I speak.
I am often heard saying "I don't know anyone who has ever done this before." Maybe there is someone some place . . . I would love to meet them and exchange ideas.
I still need people. People who will collect and deliver snacks. I still need people who will help with some fundraisers. My salary is currently about $450 a month.
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