Justin's Story
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 NASB
Justin* just completed his 7th grade year at Bradley Central Middle School. He is a big guy with an even bigger heart. Justin began coming to Campus Life as a 6th grader with his older brother. He attended clubs regularly and we started to develop a pretty good relationship. It became evident that his tough outward appearance concealed a gentle heart inside. In the middle of Justin’s 6th grade year, his brother was arrested and placed into a juvenile detention center. Following his brother's arrest, Justin began to act out: getting involved in fights, missing school to the point of being placed on truancy review, experimenting with marijuana, and eventually he stopped attending Campus Life.
Then one day, I saw Justin in the lunchroom at school. I stopped to see how he was doing and asked why he had been missing club. He told me about the trouble he had been getting into and different issues going on at home. I invited him to a club event happening that night, and he promised he would come. He did turn up with a few friends about 15 minutes before the event ended. Then his ride didn’t arrive to pick him up, giving me an opportunity to talk with him as I drove him home. On the way, Justin told me that he was tired of getting in trouble—that his anger got the best of him at times and he didn't know how to control it. He promised that he would try to do better and he would come back to Campus Life to play games and to "get things off his chest" in his words.
Since then, Justin has been attending Campus Life regularly. Most weeks he even brings new kids with him. He says that his favorite thing about club is that he can be himself and not feel judged. Justin decided to follow Jesus Christ this school year along with some of his peers at BC. He is thankful to the staff and volunteers at Bradley Central Campus Life for showing him love and introducing him to Jesus Christ. He now hopes to introduce other people to the love of Christ as well. Praise God.
Jovan Marshall
Campus Life Director
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV
*Name has been changed.