My Hopes to Create a Christian Gang Mentality
Some personal thoughts that have been spurred after reading Francis Chan’s “Crazy
Love”, His books always speak just something that is true within our church. For those that
haven’t read his books in the past they are extremely light in contacts but very relevant to the
culture of today’s generation. I myself have been rescued from a life of violence and drugs from
growing up on the streets of San Francisco. I was raised by a single mother who did a fantastic
job but unfortunately due to the fact that being predominantly single income household while
mom was working hard to supply our physical needs I was predominantly raised by the school
yards and streets of San Francisco. Coming from the other side of the tracks sometimes I wonder
if it grants me a grand view of the grace of God rescuing me from where I was.
That sharing was relevant in the fact that it has been very difficult after reading the book
“Crazy Love” to get a certain point out of my head. In the book Francis Chan tells a story of a
young man that comes to church and that is never seen again. Francis bumps into him
somewhere in town and asked him why he stopped coming the church. The young man explains
“you see have always been part of gangs and when I came to church I thought it would be more
like the acceptance and love that I had experienced on the streets and unfortunately I was
wrong”. This rang deep in the heart of Francis and he felt ashamed but humbled at the reality that
this young man felt more love within a gang that his church. I don’t know if this is an Oregon
thing and apparently not because I believe the church Francis attends is in Arizona but I’m not
sure about that. However, the point I’m trying to make is that as Christians we are supposed to
project this loving acceptance that is to be a light within darkness and yet this young man which I
relate to quite easily found more acceptance and love within a gang that his local church.
It seems a shame that this young man couldn’t find that love simply on a Sunday but to us
something more important brings true is that we are to project this seven days a week. I had a
hard time finding a church home and was almost that my breaking point when I attended a
Northwest Prison Ministry convention and as I walked in the doors I was greeted with the love I
was looking for. After all who else would be able to forgive and pour into felons that were
returning from prison wanting a new starting Christ. I went into a corner weapons to myself they
God for this experience. The only thing I began to wonder is why my church could be like this. I
started a ministry called Inside-Out Ministry at Salem First Baptist Church in Oregon and by
plan is to be gained in Christian gang mentality with complete love and acceptance at least
within this ministry and hoping through God that it will create an infection spreads throughout
our church and possibly Oregon itself.
- Michael Hecht
