{"id":4,"date":"2008-09-30T15:46:00","date_gmt":"2008-09-30T20:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/2008\/09\/30\/september-17-24-2008-gift-of-a-job-changes-a-life\/"},"modified":"2015-12-03T15:36:20","modified_gmt":"2015-12-03T20:36:20","slug":"september-17-24-2008-gift-of-a-job-changes-a-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/september-17-24-2008-gift-of-a-job-changes-a-life\/","title":{"rendered":"September 17-24, 2008 – Gift of a job changes a life"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/span><\/p>\n

Warm-up Question:<\/span><\/strong> What would you do with $100 if someone just handed it to you, no questions asked?<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

For people who are in trouble, a job can sometimes be real salvation for them. The money definitely helps. We all need money to pay for food and shelter. But at least as important as the money is the sense of accomplishment that comes from having a job, from succeeding at something, from earning something.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Read this story of a former gang member, Antonio, who escaped a life of violence, drug abuse, and crime, in part because someone was willing to take a risk and give him a job. http:\/\/www.mercedsunstar.com\/167\/story\/443711.html<\/a> <\/em>This was a turning point in his life that gave him hope in the midst of what some people call a “cloud of hopelessness” among many young people living in poverty.<\/span><\/p>\n

It has taken more than just a job to get Antonio out of his gang life; the job came along with a support network, people to talk with him, check in with him, and to pray with him. But it does seem to be working for him.<\/span><\/p>\n

The director of a program and ministry with former gang members can’t hide his enthusiasm for the positive changes that have already taken place in Antonio’s life. “The rewards are far beyond what I expected,” he comments. “Here’s a guy that came with a felony and is now talking about getting out on his own, and he’s paying taxes. You can’t help but get excited about that.”<\/span><\/p>\n

In the meantime, Antonio says he is taking his life “day by day.” Although his old friends still want to “hang out,” he acknowledges that it would not be the best thing. “I’ve got too much going for me to lose it,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can anyone be sure he’ll stay away from his earlier life of crime? “You can’t. It’s all up to me. Either I want to or not,” he said. “But I have faith in God that everything is going to work out for me.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Discussion Questions<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n