When we first moved to the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood, I would walk around the streets trying to get to know my way around and meet people. Being one of the few white people out and around, I quickly realized that people thought I was an under-cover police officer. I mean, why else would would a young, white guy be walking through the projects or down by the liquor stores?
One day, I was walking down to one of the many liquor stores we have in our community to buy a drink (a coke of course). As I was walking back home, one of the guys on the streets starts yelling at me. He’s yelling, “Stop following me! I ain’t selling nothing. I’m like, “I’m not following you!” “What are you parked up there and following me?” he said. I quickly realized that he thought I was a cop and responded that, “I’m not a cop. I live up that street.” He then apologized, “Sorry, we ain’t used to you people around here.”
I quickly realized that there is huge lack of trust when gang members or drug dealers see me on the street. I needed to find a way to break the barriers and break through to our neighbors. Luckily, I always dreamed of playing basketball professionally, which led me to practice for hours and hours on the courts as a teenager. It has been a huge blessing here with the young men in our community.
I started off going down to the local recreation center some evenings to check things out. At first, nobody would even let me in the games. Finally, I got into one game, dominated, and then became respected and known among the guys down there. This has led me to build relationships and connect with a handful of young people around the streets of my house.
We have two gangs on either side of our street who run the drug deals on their blocks. Through basketball, I have been able to make friends and build trust with both groups. I have also been asked to form a basketball team for a Men’s Church League starting in January. Hopefully, I will be able to invite the guys I’ve met who run the streets to join the team. As apart of them joining the team, I’ll ask them to become apart of “our church” by inviting them over to our house, telling them about Jesus, and discipling them.
Another young man to keep in your prayers is a boy named Chaz. He’s 17 years old and doesn’t go to school. He is usually roaming the streets all day with his friends and most likely up to no good. God has given me a word for this young man that he is going to be a leader in this community. I want to focus on spending as much time as I can with him in the next few weeks. I want to see him come to know Christ! I know if he finds Christ then he will lead the rest of his friends to Christ, as well. We will keep you updated on Chaz in the weeks to come.
We have also included a video of our ministry house here in Hunters Point. Hope you enjoy!
