I Want a Clean Heart

Allison, a Summer in the City student-missionary, participated in an outreach for Jones Memorial Church in Louisville. It was there she first met nine-year-old Anthony.

      Anthony was one of 25 children who showed up on Monday for a Bible Club. He came carrying a big Bible, and he eagerly participated in all the activities.

      By Tuesday, he knew all the memory verses!

      Allison thought he might come from a Christian home — but on Wednesday more of the story came out. Anthony’s parents were divorced, and his father was in jail. Anthony said the Bible was his father’s, though Anthony remembers no spiritual input into his life.

      He lives with his mom, who doesn’t come to church.

      Wednesday was a difficult day at the Bible Club. The children were unruly and not really listening when the Gospel was explained to them.

      Allison was disheartened and announced, I’m going to be here in the back room cleaning, if anyone wants to talk."

      In a few minutes, Anthony stepped into the room. "I need to talk, Miss Ally," he said.

      "Talk about what, Anthony?"

      "My sin."

      "What about it?"

      "I’ve got a lot of it, and I don’t want it anymore. I want a clean heart."

      Allison talked with him further, making sure he understood what he was doing, and then Anthony prayed with her, opening his heart to the Lord and asking Him to forgive his sins. He looked up with tears in his eyes and asked, "I’m God’s child now, aren’t I?"

      Three weeks later, Allison returned and gave Anthony his very own Youth Bible. She also included a picture of the two of them, with the date on the back, when he had given his life to the Lord. Anthony is now enthusiastically involved in activities at the church.

      Anthony is just one of the many children touched by God through Summer in the City.

More Stories of Connecting, Empowering, and Developing:
Connecting: From Russia—via Brooklyn—with Love
Connecting: New Life at Easter
Connecting: A House of Prayer in Bakersfield and A Sidewalk in Atlanta

Other Links:
To help send a college student to minister in the inner city this summer, please click here.