Jerry lived in the inner...
Illustration
Jerry lived in the inner-city area of Cleveland, Ohio. Crime was an everyday event in his neighborhood. He walked his children to school each day before he left for work, and their mother walked them home after school. Since he could not afford a higher-rent area, he had a security system installed in the house. However, fear for their family's safety still gripped the couple's hearts like a vise.
A group of neighbors invited them to a meeting of a newly-formed neighborhood watch. Five families banded together, pledging to support each other as they watched for threats, reporting incidences to police. The woman who led the group suggested they study the Bible as a regular part of their program.
After several sessions, their leader read from Romans, chapter 8. Jerry heard words he had never heard before: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" He said later the fear that had plagued him for months melted like an ice cube on the hot sidewalk. He experienced real security from the words he heard. They continued to take normal precautions, but faith replaced the constant apprehension in their lives.
A group of neighbors invited them to a meeting of a newly-formed neighborhood watch. Five families banded together, pledging to support each other as they watched for threats, reporting incidences to police. The woman who led the group suggested they study the Bible as a regular part of their program.
After several sessions, their leader read from Romans, chapter 8. Jerry heard words he had never heard before: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" He said later the fear that had plagued him for months melted like an ice cube on the hot sidewalk. He experienced real security from the words he heard. They continued to take normal precautions, but faith replaced the constant apprehension in their lives.
