The ministry of the Jesus Party has successfully completed 16 wonderful years of inner-city children’s ministry. We are of the persuasion that the children who attend our gatherings must be returned to their parents in the same, if not better, condition than when they were entrusted to us.

Since the modern technology of Facebook, we have been blessed to reconnect with so many of the children we worked with during the years. Tears come to our eyes when we hear testimonies of how much our ministry meant to their childhood.

Our hearts are broken by the volume of front-page stories across America concerning clergy sex-abuse scandals. Anyone who uses their authority, power and position to destroy a child should be punished in the harshest possible manner.

I am disturbed by the trend of evangelical churches leaning toward a younger, sexy, multi-talented, charismatic leadership to attract young people to attend church. Let us be cautious not to judge a book by its cover. When people judge by outward appearance, they may overlook quality individuals who lack the particular physical qualities society currently admires.

The ministry of the Jesus Party believes that appearance doesn’t reveal what people are really like or what their true value is. We do not need leaders with nice teeth. We need leadership with genuine love and concern for the safety and well-being of our youth.

The Rev. Douglas Taylor, Lewiston