MTV leads the way in Reality TV. They invented the idea a bunch of years ago with a show that is still on the air, The Real World. One of their innovations is a reality show called, Juvies. I’m not a big fan of reality TV but this one really captured my attention. I was stunned to discover that this show is recorded literally blocks from where I grew up! Any one reading this from Northwest Indiana will instantly recognize the abbreviation, LCJC, Lake County Juvenile Center. Can you believe that? MTV saw fit to film a show about juvenile delinquents in my old hometown. I am less than honored! But let me explain why: It is not because I’m afraid this show will cast a false, negative shadow on my community. It’s actually because I’m afraid it sheds glaring light on the raging ineffectiveness at reaching into the lives of the teenagers that need Jesus. I need to add one more comment before going forward… I consider myself a part of that collective, ineffective church. I was a pastor at a church just down the road from the set of "Juvies" for nearly 6 years and I didn’t have any influence with those kids. Even worse, I was a youth leader for 2 of those years and never made any connections or relationships at LCJC. I was always busy doing church stuff and to be completely honest, the kids “locked up” in juvie never even crossed my mind.
I was so busy with our stuff... God, forgive me! I’m not out to point fingers at church leaders in Northwest Indiana – I know so many of them and count each and every one a friend. We’re all compassionate, dedicated, servants of the Lord, but I know these leaders are just like I used to be… busy. My probing question is: Busy doing what? During a recent episode, I cried watching the two, featured kids go through the legal process. Both kids were from two-parent families and both kids were spending their first night behind bars. I guess the ideal situation would be that we reach kids before they get into trouble, but one particular scene broke my heart and inspired my thinking. At one point, the camera captured the entire “population” at a chapel service. As the Chaplain spoke, the camera moved around his audience, and I noticed that about 90% of those kids were giving him their undivided attention and soaking in each word. In fact, one of the “main characters” was later asked by a group of fellow inmates if he was going to play cards with them. His answer: “No, I’m gonna read my Bible.”
Thank God for MTV! Northwest Indiana has just been alerted to an amazing opportunity to serve a troubled generation. It is extremely difficult for “church” or some Christian leader to gain access to the world of a troubled teenager. The opportunity exists because Lake County has gathered a bunch of them in one place.
If anyone does look to get involved, the tendency will be to want to preach at them. I think that’s the wrong way to go. They obviously already have their own Chaplain and are probably under certain legal obligations about “religious tolerance.” I can see kindness and practical service making great inroads, though. In Romans 2:4, Paul asks the rhetorical question, “Is it not the kindness of God that leads to repentance?” One translation reads, “…leads to a radical life-change.” Isn’t that ultimately what we’re interested in? We want to see these kids have a radical life-change. How does MTV find out about this place? What made them focus on my little community as the place to see teenagers in trouble? I guess I've always known that we could be known for this, but it's embarrassing to see it pointed out like this. This issue's cover and so many of the articles bring light to the desperate need to be able to introduce the real Jesus to people, but specifically to the generations behind us. I'd be skeptical of anyone that wanted to pop off with all the answers, but I love raising the questions. I'm offering this dialog to the Jesus and asking for his wisdom to see the situation the way he sees it. Maybe he'll be able to answer me through the contributions you make to this essential conversation! 
You can reach Scott by email at scottjbane@gmail.com
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