Today, we rented bicycles and rode from the northern terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway, just south of Nashville, to the Garrison Creek rest area and back. The beauty of the area and the ride is shown in the accompanying photo and the video of Debbie whizzing around one of the many bends in the parkway. During our rest break, my front tire flatted! Last year, we earned two flat tires in 3,500 miles. Today, it took only 16 miles for one! Despite the heat, it was great to get out for some air and exercise. After just over 30 miles in humid 90-degree weather, we returned the rental bikes and ate lunch at the Loveless Café next door. The Café has been a renowned stop for tourists, celebrities, and locals over the years.
Today, Debbie and I discussed the ministry. The specific topic was the case for support. What is it about this ministry that compels one to support it? To convey what we have concluded, I would like to consider five dynamics of the ministry: the mission, the times, the people, the model, and the character. We’ll review the first three of these in today’s post and consider the last two tomorrow.
What is it about the mission of DMA that makes it compelling? Perhaps their mission to reach and rescue hurting teens and young adults is compelling enough. But in doing so, even as a Christian-based organization, they have chosen a strategy to execute their mission on the terms of those in need, rather than force-feeding a belief system or set of values on at-risk youth who may be in no position to digest it. They are serving their target audience by going to them, rather than asking them to come to the ministry.
The current times suggest that there is great need in today’s generation aged 13-29. Let’s face it. Today’s society operates at breakneck speed, affecting youth with its rapidly changing technology. The family structure continues to decay. Many youth must develop their own values and set protective boundaries without the benefit of effective parenting or other moral teaching. Often youth come to regret their behavior when they later experience unsavory consequences. When trouble results, who helps pick up the pieces? We live in a time when teen suicide is epidemic. Teen pregnancy is still a prevalent issue. Premarital sex has moved from those who did so in close relationships to those who do so with absolutely no commitment. The internet prolifically exposes young people to pornographic material.
In light of the times, the ministry chose to move from Christian radio to secular radio a few years ago, even though they were leaving behind a solid source of funding from a like-minded audience. Since the dramatic decline in the financial markets that began in 2008, the wealth of the ministry’s donor base, along with everyone else's, has declined significantly, even as the need for the ministry is growing. These are tough times to be a youth. These are also tough times to be a nonprofit organization.
Debbie and I have been impressed with the caliber of the people at DMA. The President of the organization is nationally recognized as a leading authority on youth issues in the faith community. As one individual who we ran into on last year’s bike trip put it, “Dawson McAllister? He’s America’s youth pastor!” Dawson has years of experience working with youth and has unique giftedness in communicating with them. During our visit, he was tending to his son, who was in an automobile accident several months ago and suffered major, debilitating injury. During our visit to the Sunday evening radio show, he explained that he and the board now look to the CEO and his staff to operate the organization. The CEO is a very learned man with a background in radio, technology, and team building. He also has a degree in theology. Despite his position, he places high emphasis on prayer and participates as a call screener due to a work force shortage on Sunday evenings. He describes below what it is like to run DMA.
The CFO, who is a CPA, and the Director of Rescue each spent many years of achievement in secular employment, leaving high-level positions before joining the ministry. Each pursued and earned theology degrees and ordination during this timeframe. The National Director of Development had a long career as an educational administrator before his calling to this ministry. One of the younger call center managers spent five years as a youth pastor, which was great equipping for the ministry’s mission. Several on the radio crew received mentoring from America’s youth pastor himself simply by working closely with him! We heard from more than one of them that they get to do what they love and serve God at the same time. We saw high standards of quality when we witnessed the production of the live radio show. Throughout the organization, it is obvious that the crew is whole-heartedly devoted to their mission, like and respect one another, share a collective joy in their faith, and find a way to have fun with their work.
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