Gordon McLean and the Juvenile Justice Ministry of Metro Chicago Youth for Christ are on the front-line, providing urban Gospel outreach to youth in the criminal justice system, including many street gang members as well as prospective recruits, some as young as 7, 8 and 9 years old. At the Juvenile Detention Center, the youth wing of the county jail and other correctional centers, Gordon and others reach out to impact broken and hurting young lives with God’s love. The recently launched ASPIRE program provides valuable educational and vocational training to former gang members and inmates, enabling them to build productive lives again.

John Johnson works as an intern on the west side of Chicago with YFC. Having been a gang leader and drug dealer, the Lord rescued him through Gordon’s persistent witness while he was in the Cook County Jail. His new found faith brought about radical changes to his street life, no longer peddling drugs, but influencing other kids for Jesus Christ. John joined Christ Church a few years ago and regularly brings other young brothers with him to fellowship with our church.

Jimmie Tolliver found Christ in an unusual way. His cousin was in jail for murder and Gordon visited him. The cousin begged him to see Jimmie, so that he wouldn’t end up in jail too. As a bitter and disenchanted young man involved in gangs, Jimmie was very leery of Gordon’s message of love and hope. But Jesus won over his heart. His conversion sent ripples through all Jimmie’s relationships. Jimmie now reaches out to kids on the street with the love of Christ. He also works in his community to reconcile townspeople and police, seeking to build reconciliation and a future for the kids.