My wife and I got a call last night from her sister. It seems that her sister’s friend has a teenage daughter who’s cutting herself. And what’s really freakin’ the mom out is the fact that she herself use to cut when she was in high school, but never told anyone. Now that her daughter is doing it, she’s even more concerned. Unfortunately, she’s not alone. So, without going into the gory details of student ministry, I felt the need to re-post a fantastic story and ministry I ran across a couple of years ago. Here’s the short version:

Jamie had a friend who was working with Joaquin Pheonix on the Walk the Line movie set. Her friend gets her on the set to watch things and she notices that Joaquin doesn’t have an assistant with a notebook to write things down that come to his mind. In fact, Joaquin doesn’t even have a notebook  himself. So he writes things on his arms–to remind him of things to do, things that are important. Jamie loves the idea of being boldly reminded of what’s important and, as things are bad at home for her, writes ‘LOVE’ on her arm to be reminded. Love isn’t such a bad thing to be reminded of…

A few weeks later Jamie sees the movie. And it moves her. She loves watching how ‘patient love can overcome pain’ as Johnny Cash beats his addictions. She also meets another fan, Renee, who is completely inspired by the movie. Only, for Renee, it gave her hope that she could overcome her addiction. Watching the movie, with cocaine-laced tears, she wept in the theater and was moved by hope.

Renee is a cutter. And she cuts deep words of hatred (for herself) into her arm. I won’t tell you the rest of the story, but you can read it here (but beware of the language). The story is beautiful.

These days, Jamie and a host of bands, are now travelling and speaking (and rocking), drawing crowds and attention to the thousands of young people in despair–self-mutilators, suicidal, depressed–bringing a message of hope and love. Bringing the story of the Great Overcomer. Taking the story of the Prince of Shalom everywhere from Florida churches to taverns to Ozzfest.

Check out their resources and website. You may need it.