Change a Life Forever

Emily and Ryan Greening Interview

- A recent article produced by Watermark Church - 

Can mentoring change a life forever? Ryan and Emily Greening would say so. But when they began mentoring Terry Jenkins, a West Dallas 13 year old with cerebral palsy, they never anticipated how much that relationship would grow, or how God would use Terry to change their hearts.

How Did You Begin Mentoring with Mercy Street?

Ryan: “We were looking for a place to serve together. So we went to an event for Mercy Street, a mentoring ministry Watermark partners with in West Dallas. As a mentor, you commit to meeting with your mentee face- to-face twice a month and calling them twice a month. That seemed like something we could do.”

Emily: “Going into mentoring, our ‘plan’ was to each get mentees, a brother and sister in the same family. The Lord’s plans were different. Mercy Street asked if we could mentor a kid with special needs and matched us with Terry. Cerebral palsy left him unable to walk and with limited the use of one arm. But he doesn’t see those things as a disability. He is a happy, fun, smart kid with a really sweet spirit and a ton of friends.

“It took time for trust and friendship to grow with Terry and his mom, Tomeka. Seeing Terry’s enthusiasm increase as we built the relationship made it much easier. As we played games together and hung out at their house, our relationship grew.”

Ryan: “Emily has a background working with kids with disabilities. I was nervous about it, but that’s where God was leading us so I was in. When we got started, we
 went to Mavs games, Ranger games and other things Terry hadn’t done before. Those things were fun, but didn’t necessarily improve our times together. We actually had a better time doing stuff like playing Monopoly at his home. God taught me to meet Terry, and eventually his brothers, right where they were. That’s when we really connected. We soon realized that the minimum requirements of time spent with a mentee weren’t enough. We felt like God was calling us to do more and deepen the relationship.”

How has mentoring Terry Grown into Creating a Watermark Small Group in West Dallas?

Ryan: We started taking Terry to Watermark with us in my two-passenger truck. Then his brothers, cousins and friends wanted to go. I eventually sold the truck and got a bigger vehicle that allowed us to do so much more.

As we got to know other kids, we started attending a Watermark small group for boys in West Dallas. We meet at a ministry called Readers to Leaders, and that helps us connect with the boys during the week. There are two leaders (myself and another mentor), and about 10 kids in the small group now. I’ve seen these boys experience tremendous growth. One kid in particular, Jacoby, has gone from a boy who wants to beat everyone up to a leader who is praying, asking good questions, trusting Christ and being honest about his struggles.

“During small group, we talk about typical things the boys face: sexual temptation, drugs, alcohol and the lack of support they feel in life. Negative influences wear on them, and their little souls reflect it. The gospel is new to most of the boys, so when I am able to love them as Christ loves me, they soak it in. When the boys began to ‘get’ God’s love for us, their responses never cease to amaze me.”

How Has God Used Mentoring in West Dallas to Shape Your Heart?

Ryan: “God showed me I can’t control their environment, or expect that a better school or better circumstances is going to make them a better kid. A relationship with Christ is what the boys need. God also taught me to hold my resources freely. Everything we have belongs to God. He taught me to trust as we steward our resources on to other things.”

“There are definitely days when I don’t feel like going to West Dallas (I’m tired, I want to spend time with Emily, or I just want to be lazy). But Lord has taught me that loving those boys and leading them to ‘life’ means that I must ‘die’ to myself. I have NEVER spent time with the boys and returned home saying ‘it wasn’t worth it.’ The Lord has grown my faith in Him through these experiences of “dying to myself” and I will be forever changed because of them.”

Emily: “Mentoring has been a huge learning opportunity for us. I quickly saw how much of stereotype I had about poverty and people living in West Dallas. Once I got
to know some families, I realized how prideful it was to think that the way I lived my life was the ‘right way.’

I wasn’t there to fix these kids. God put me there to know them and to love who they are. Mentoring is not about me, and I certainly cannot do it on my own. My job is to constantly ask the Lord how He would have me serve and live in dependence on God.” 

The Mentor Leagues

“Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”  Matthew 7:13

In West Dallas, the road to destruction is expansive and perpetually crowded.  It is littered with drugs, domestic abuse, gangs, violence, and pervasive fatherlessness.  Those who populate this path are trapped in addiction, generational poverty, broken homes, destructive lifestyles, despair, and hopelessness.

Mercy Street, an IBC ministry partner for 6 years, seeks to reverse course. Offering resources like one-on-one mentoring, leadership training, and sports development, Mercy Street pursues mutually-transforming relationships with the future leaders of West Dallas. This is a narrow-gate dream for families and youth saturated with love.   

Mercy Street utilizes mentors and coaches to assist in transforming West Dallas into a Christ-honoring community through baseball, soccer, and karate teams.  This is the story of how God called minor league player Garrett Baker into little league coaching.

From the time he was young, Garrett was raised to love baseball and Jesus.  “The turning point in my life came when I realized I should play baseball for an audience of One,” Garrett explains. “Regardless of whether my teammates and I played a good or a bad game, I could always play sports in a way that honored God". 

This mindset led to a baseball scholarship at Dallas Baptist University, which featured a Christ-centered ball team with a winning record.  It was here that God strengthened Garrett’s faith and prepared him for the temptations of the secular minor leagues. 

After college, Garrett joined the San Francisco Giants for 2 ½ years where he encountered worldly teammates, heavy partying, and female groupies.  Garrett’s distinctive lifestyle eventually led to spiritual conversations with several teammates, many of whom became followers of Christ.  After completing his education and accepting a job in Dallas, Garrett learned about Mercy Street.

“I really wanted to serve God with my talents,” says Garrett.  “Since sports are a great alternative to video games and spending time on the streets, I decided to serve as a baseball coach.”

The children on Garrett’s teams came from various backgrounds, and most were financially disadvantaged and living with single parents or relatives.  They needed a male role model who would give them boundaries and teach them about respect, teamwork, and having fun.  “Sports are a great platform to minister to kids,” Garrett says.  Garrett sought to minister to the families of his kids, as well.  After every practice, when family members were arriving, Garrett or one of his team members would pray, or hold a devotional.

A highlight of Garrett’s coaching experience was taking his team to the Urban Inner City Initiative Tournament in Houston.  Many of his players had never been out of West Dallas.  In addition to competing in three games, they also attended a Houston Astros baseball game.

Transformation extended to Garrett’s life as well. “I lived in a nice area, but a 15-minute drive opened my eyes to the difficulties facing West Dallas.” He adds, “Becoming a coach took the focus off me and reminded me that my life isn’t about me or my status in the world.  It is about making an impact on God’s kingdom.”

Garrett’s hopes the children he coached will consider remaining in West Dallas to serve alongside Mercy Street and disciple other children from the same difficult backgrounds. Regardless, he desires that his former players will boldly proclaim the gospel wherever life takes them.

Garrett encourages others to volunteer to coach, even if they don’t have a sports background.  “You learn as you go, and coaching is more about being a consistent role model and a good teacher. You need a servant’s heart and a willingness to guide the kids towards Christ.”

After two years at Mercy Street, Garrett recently took a job in the Bay Area of California.  He hopes to link up with a similar sports ministry or perhaps even start his own.  While he will miss his West Dallas kids, he urges other potential coaches to overcome obstacles and excuses.  “GO FOR IT!  Garrett enthuses.  “God will open up your schedule and bless your service.”

Kaylene's Poem

We had each of the Next Level students work on a creative project to express something they've learned this past semester. 

Our hope was that it would cause them to reflect on what they're learning and make it more of their own as they put fresh expression to it. I wish I could share every single thing they shared, but I want to at least give you a glimpse. Attached you will find a poem Kaylene wrote that wrestles with the depravity of human nature and God's grace to us in the moment by moment choices. It's just beautiful! 

I share it with you because every single one of you are playing a part in kids like Kaylene being transformed by the Gospel of Jesus, and I would hate for many of you to miss out on seeing some of the fruit that's coming from your day in and day out service.

Give the Gift of Mercy

Over the last few years we suggested to our donors and mentors that instead of buying the small gifts we traditionally give to our close friends, they would consider making a donation to Mercy Street in honor of their friends.  

And, it’s back by popular demand.

Give the gift of mercy by making a donation to Mercy Street in honor of those special friends on your list.  Rather than fight the hustle and bustle at the mall or sweat over the hot stove, just email emily@mercystreetdallas.org with a list of names and addresses of those you want to recognize in this way.  You can mail your donation to the address below or give through our online giving and we will send them a special Christmas card acknowledging the gift.  

By giving the gift of Mercy, you are helping us meet our needs and exposing your friends to the work God is doing in West Dallas through Mercy Street while freeing up some more time to spend with those friends and family. 

Praying your Christmas season is filled with Jesus,

The Mercy Street Family

Mentees & The Marriage Supper of The Lamb

by Sarah Flores

As we all know, being involved in mutually transforming relationships with students can sometimes be challenging.  There are seasons when we may wonder what in the world we are doing and if any real change is occurring.   It can be hard and discouraging.  But then the Lord in his goodness and grace, often gives of glimpses of the beautiful ways He’s at work, not only in students’ lives but in our own lives.

Several weeks ago, Sam and I had the privilege of traveling to Atlanta, Georgia for a dear friend’s wedding.  And if getting to go to a wedding isn’t enough to make a girl happy, well just add in the fact that we got to take the groom’s mentee with us…talk about a fun adventure!!  We have known Wilmer for years as Sam and I mentor his brother Eric and sister Amy, so it was our great joy to have him as our traveling partner.  Although I must confess, I did have a few concerns about how Wilmer would respond to so many new things like flying on an airplane, wearing a tux, and interacting with lots of people he did not know.  

Well, let me just say that I was humbled and amazed with Wilmer’s maturity and obvious love for his mentor and the Lord.  We arrived in Atlanta for the wedding, and immediately he jumped right in and had a blast.  Highlights of the weekend included skeet shooting and golf cart driving on the property as well as hanging out with his mentor’s family before the wedding.  But I would say our highlight of having Wilmer with us was seeing him volunteer to get up and share at the rehearsal dinner.  He was nervous.  Who isn’t nervous when getting up to speak at a special occasion?  But he wanted to, and Sam went up to the front with him.  Wilmer took the microphone, introduced himself and thanked his mentor.  He thanked him for being like the father he never had.  And in raw, manly transparency, he cried…and it was beautiful!  Many were so touched by Wilmer’s words and emotions.  

I was so grateful to see this 15-year-old young man share his heart, and then I felt so thankful for the impact that Mercy Street is making in the lives of young people in West Dallas.  I was thankful that the Lord has provided mentors, Bible study leaders, and amazing leadership and staff that are committed to many students just like Wilmer.  And the Lord is working.  He’s teaching them about what it means to be a godly man or woman.  He’s teaching them respect for others and how to communicate it.  He’s teaching them about His great love for them.  And on our last day in Atlanta, after a beautiful wedding of two believers, we got to talk about the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and my heart was joyful and thankful because I know that one day I will get to be at the grandest celebration of all, and Wilmer will be there too!  

Pine Cove Reflections by mentor, Jesse Dax

The sound of tires crunching over the gravel as the bus pulled up into the camp mixed with the yelling, cheering, stomping, pounding of the Pine Cove counselors.  Right then I instantly knew this was going to be an amazing week for the kids of West Dallas.

Summer camp at Pine Cove Outback was an intensive time of encouragement and accomplishment for our West Dallas campers with everything wrapped in the Gospel.  The Pine Cove Staff served with such encouraging hearts throughout the entire week, where it was a balmy 97 degrees everyday!  Nevertheless from the time we arrived on the bus to the time we left, the counselors were yelling cheers, giving words of encouragement, and even shedding tears with them.  Energy levels were kept high all day long boosted by counselors leading cheers before meals and performing skits and stories at lunch. 

All the campers had a chance to participate in engaging activities like basketball, dodgeball, swimming, archery, ziplines, rock-climbing, and more.  For some campers, just seeing how many stars were in the night sky was something new and worth taking the time to stop and look at.

A pivotal element of camp was the daily time of worship and bible study.  While the high schoolers woke up early for an extra bible study in the morning, all campers had a time of bible study after lunch with additional worship and bible study every night.  The Mercy Street staff delivered several outstanding messages of what it means to follow God, what Christ has done for us, and how to be a servant leader.  By the end of camp, it was inspiring to see how these kids had changed.  What stuck with me the most was seeing them drop their guard a bit, singing during worship with arms wrapped around the shoulders of the person next to them.

On the night before we left, the high school students stayed up late to have s’mores around a campfire.  This was a time of spontaneous song and fun -- definitely with no shortage of songs!  At the end of the night, there was a time of reflection with the campers and many heartfelt words poured out.  “I have learned how truly selfish I am.” “Mercy Street is a great place and is helping us change West Dallas.”  “I have been mad at God for the last two years for taking away my friend” followed by tears then hugs from others to show support.

Before we left, all campers had a chance to share what they learned throughout the week and again so many wonderful comments. “I know that God has a plan for me.” “I know better what it looks like to be a leader.” “I learned that God is in control of my life.”

I wish I could say that when we got back to Mercy Street all the kids’ parents were there, excited to see them again, telling them how much they missed them and asking them all about camp.  But in reality that was not the case for all of them.  Many family members were there to take the kids home, but for some nobody was there.  Those that had noone show up all made it home by Mercy Street staff or walked if they were close enough.  But it hurt my heart to see two brothers from the dorm I was partnered with have nobody show up for them after they were gone an entire week. They had to abruptly reenter the life they were able to put on pause while at camp.  The older brother, only in middle school, helped his younger brother gather their luggage as they started walking a couple of blocks home to their apartment.  Watching this, I wished camp could go on forever for many of them, as some wanted, but I thank God for Mercy Street and Pine Cove and how He is using them to show His love.  The next time you see your mentee ask them, How was archery? What was your counselor like? What did you do during free time? What did you learn?  You may be the only one that does.

Reading & Play Camp

by Sarah Troop

The kids arrived in the van, signed in, found a book or two and made their way to a comfortable reading spot.  A bright eight-year old named Ronald caught my eye and he agreed to sit and read with me.  He chose to tackle Dr. Seuss and did a phenomenal job!  Ronald covered every base: the author’s name, who illustrated the book, and every word of the story.  I was impressed. 

After they read a book or two, they filled out a sheet noting the title, author, and how many pages. Ronald was so excited to document his accomplishments. He was also excited to jump rope and hang out when he finished.  

Looking around the yard of Mercy Street, seeing kids in the middle of summer engaging in reading, was encouraging.  Instead of sitting in front of a television, not using their brain, they were actively using their brain and improving their little minds.

I am a strong advocate of reading and education. Education is the key to success and facilitator of choice.  Sixty-six children had an opportunity to exercise their reading skills. There were many different levels of reading ability. Thanks to Mercy Street, those sixty-six children each took a step toward a higher level. Mercy Street Reading Camp provided a fun place to have intentional reading time with people who care. I hope when I come back next year, there will be more kids wanting to read.