A word from “Salt” Wall Founder/Board Member of HLIC Denver

For the past 14 years I have lived and worked in Denver’s Inner City. Initially our work was focused on High School students. Many of the teens we were working with were gang members, drug dealers, thieves, sex addicts and 90% of them were fatherless. Within a few months of working in the “hood “ we realized that we needed to reach kids at a younger age before they got all caught up in such destructive lifestyles. We also realized that we needed to work alongside the church to reach out to entire families.

Over the years I have heard so many youth share with me their dreams for the future. The hard reality is that without God, supportive relationships and a serious commitment to these young people they are just dreams. Many times I get asked “how do we work in an environment that is so challenging and overwhelming”. I think back to my own past and remember that someone thought I was worth investing in. I know I have changed and have already seen so many others in the city change as well.

There are so many kids facing tough situations in our city. But the exciting thing is that God is there also. He is using Here’s Life Inner City and people like YOU to make a difference one life, one family at a time. There is hope for Denver’s inner city.

Salt, January 2008

Background of Here's Life Inner City

Serving and equipping urban churches to reach the poorest neighborhoods in Denver.

In 1983, Dr Bill Bright saw that Campus Crusade was not effectively serving America’s inner cities. After researching and asking church leaders, they found urban churches did not need any more new programs, but help and support with their existing outreaches.

This led to a new, indirect ministry, focused on serving and equipping inner city churches to reach their neighborhoods more effectively.

By focusing on children, youth and young adults, we believe we can help urban churches make a long-lasting impact. If we can make a difference among the youth, we will change the future of our city.

Some grim statistics about the inner-city

In 1980 there were 463,700 black men enrolled in colleges and universities and 143,000 in jails or prisons. In 2000 there were 603,032 black men on campuses and 791,600 in jails or prisons. Clarence Page, himself a black man and writer of the article, states, “We need to involve ourselves in the lives of our young people before they slip into crime”

A recent Barnard College research verified that 90% of African American Youth are living with one parent. Overall 60% of teens are living with just one parent. This is perhaps one of the greatest reasons why the youth of this generation are at such great risk.

Dad (a poem from the city)
Dad who are you
Dad where are you
Dad is that you

Are you my dad
Will you come into my life
My mom should of become your wife

I miss you much
But I have never felt your touch
You left me without a trace

When am I gonna see your face
If you would of brought me one toy
My life would’ve become full of joy