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Spring 2009
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To view the most recent edition of our newsletter, the Foundation Forum, please click the link below.
Spring 2009
Archive Newsletters
Winter 2008
Fall 2008
20th Anniversary Edition
You will need Adobe Acrobat reader to view these files.
If you do not have Adobe Acrobat reader, you may obtain it by Clicking Here.
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16
Matthew 5:14-16
In Matthew 5, Jesus tells us that we are the 'salt of the earth', and for the past 14 years, Dual Matthews has tried to be just that. Dual has a challenging, but rewarding ministry to juvenile offenders through Mediation and Restitution/Reconciliation Services (MARRS).
About ten years ago, a 15-year-old young man named Andre was assigned to go through the program. Andre let us know very quickly, that he was angry at the world. He was like a powder keg and you never knew when he was going to explode, which made building a relationship with him nearly impossible. At every youth event that MARRS held, Andre would cause a scene. In exasperation, Dual decided to talk to Andre's mother to find out what why he was so angry and so destructive.
Over a period of spending strategic time with him and showing him God's love, Dual and others involved were able to chip away at Andre's tough exterior. A meaningful relationship began to develop between them. Dual made it a point to tell him he cared for him and was praying for him. Andre would frequently reply, "What for or, you don't care for me." Yet each time Andre heard Dual's words, it seemed little more of his anger would disappear. Then one day Andre replied, "I care for you too." He revealed that Dual was the first man to ever tell him he cared for him and to show him what it means to genuinely care for someone.
Today, Andre is happily married with a newborn baby. He still meets with Dual for lunch to talk about life in general. He's grateful that Dual reached out and showed God's love to him. It's been said, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Once Andre knew that Dual genuinely cared for him, he began to open up, and changes began to happen in his life. Being salt and light means bringing God's love down to meet people where they are so that God can begin to work in their lives.
About ten years ago, a 15-year-old young man named Andre was assigned to go through the program. Andre let us know very quickly, that he was angry at the world. He was like a powder keg and you never knew when he was going to explode, which made building a relationship with him nearly impossible. At every youth event that MARRS held, Andre would cause a scene. In exasperation, Dual decided to talk to Andre's mother to find out what why he was so angry and so destructive.
Over a period of spending strategic time with him and showing him God's love, Dual and others involved were able to chip away at Andre's tough exterior. A meaningful relationship began to develop between them. Dual made it a point to tell him he cared for him and was praying for him. Andre would frequently reply, "What for or, you don't care for me." Yet each time Andre heard Dual's words, it seemed little more of his anger would disappear. Then one day Andre replied, "I care for you too." He revealed that Dual was the first man to ever tell him he cared for him and to show him what it means to genuinely care for someone.
Today, Andre is happily married with a newborn baby. He still meets with Dual for lunch to talk about life in general. He's grateful that Dual reached out and showed God's love to him. It's been said, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Once Andre knew that Dual genuinely cared for him, he began to open up, and changes began to happen in his life. Being salt and light means bringing God's love down to meet people where they are so that God can begin to work in their lives.
