ABS reaches out to ‘kids in crisis’

Earl Garrett, one of three young people who feature in a television programme sponsored by the American Bible Society to help make young people aware that God’s Word is relevant to their lives. New York, USA. Photo: ABS/John Coté (USA03DJ-7.JPG)

NEW YORK, USA — Earl Garrett struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and nearly died in a road accident before receiving assistance at a Christian rehabilitation centre. He is also one of three young people featured in a television programme sponsored by the American Bible Society (ABS) to help make young people aware that God’s Word is relevant to their lives.

The programme, entitled ‘Soul Survivors: Saving Kids in Crisis’, showed how, for young people like Earl who face many challenges and temptations, the Bible offers “God’s redeeming message of new life”.

Yearnings

Earl, now 21, was raised in a Christian family but was influenced by peers who stole from cars to fund their addiction to drugs and alcohol. He had “deep yearnings to become someone special”, but for several years he clashed with his family, investing his time and money in drinking and taking drugs. Obtaining well-paid modelling work only made the situation worse, as he had more money to fund his addictions.

It was not until he caused a serious accident when driving while drunk that he began to question his self-destructive lifestyle. Soon afterwards, he attended a church service at which a former heroin addict spoke of how God had reached out to her through somebody she met in a rehabilitation centre. This woman, now a pastor and prison chaplain, mentioned a Christian rehabilitation centre called Sunrise Mission.

Veil lifted

Moved by the former addict’s words, Earl resolved to change his own life. He entered the rehabilitation centre and gradually became enthusiastic as he studied Scripture intensively and saw how God’s Word applied to his own life. His family saw a dramatic change in him, with one of his sisters commenting, “It seemed as if a veil had lifted from his eyes. He finally got it.”

For Earl , spending nine months at the rehabilitation centre made him realise that God’s Word contained everything he had been searching for. Brought to his lowest point, he was able to abandon his self-destructive behaviour: “I found peace, I found joy, I found happiness, I found life.”

Earl is now working with a church youth group and is beginning to train as a nurse. In the longer term, he hopes to become a pastor.

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