Jesus teaches us a Truth that is so vital to ministry, as well as all believers. In John chapter four, Jesus initiates ministry with a Samaritan woman, breaking every cultural taboo of the day. Not only was she a woman, and a Samaritan, she was drawing water alone at midday, making it clear she was also a social outcast. Jesus had no business being around this woman, much less talking to her! But He, caring more for people than policy went even further and asked a favor from her.  He said, "Will you give me a drink"? Perplexed by this unprecedented request the Samaritan woman asked, "How can you ask me for a drink?" Jesus used an ordinary request for drinking water to open her eyes to her own thirst for Living Water. Jesus’ passion for the untouchable or the unreachable has influenced my ministry to youth at Heritage Wesleyan Church.

I long to see all teens come to God, not just the ‘churched’ kids. God has developed in me a passion to minister to youth that would not normally step inside the doors of a church. You know, the ones that literally hate the idea of church. These students are the ones my heart hurts for, and these are the teens God’s heart hurts for as well.

At The Frequency, we are committed to "Setting the Tone for Christ". We have created a ministry that reaches out to the ‘Samaritans’ of teen culture, the skaters. The sport of skateboarding is the entrance into the culture of skating. I believe, with God’s help, this sport can be used as a ministry tool to impact a skate culture that is largely unreached. This culture has serious commitment, poise, and confidence. Skate boarders have what it takes to survive in the same world they try to rebel from. As a whole, they value being different and do not ascribe to absolutes. The "I am my own boss" or "self-mentality" comes first. Image and unique self-presentation (dress, piercing, skating styles, etc.) encourage respect among peers.

This culture is misunderstood by mainstream cultures. Abercrombie and Fitch, Britany Spears and N'Sync influence the ‘normal’ culture, whereas skate culture is influenced by the Xgames (ESPN) and Gravity Games (NBC). Mainstream America misunderstands this marginalized group as messed up rebels looking for attention and trouble. Some say skating is a fad while others think it is a rebellious following, or a method of drawing teens into darkness. Still others are completely unaware of this quickly growing teen culture.

The skate culture is so entrenched in its own way of life it has become a marginalized group of young people found largely outside the doors to the church. Why is this overwhelming need virtually unmet? It may be a hesitancy to step out of the traditional mindset of evangelism. This culture will not tolerate hypocrisy and superficiality, because this is the world from which they try to rebel. Skaters are attracted to realism, logic, and experiential faith.

In late July, two weeks before I arrived at Heritage Wesleyan Church, a lay leader and a teen had a vision to minister to a handful of skaters. They began with a few skaters and a box or two. When I arrived on the scene, I took the leaders aside and told them the potential of their vision. Using money from the youth fund, the lay leader built some ramps, and we bought some helmets. After making a ‘Parental Consent Form’, we told the fifteen skaters to invite their friends to ‘Heritage Sk8House’. After seven months of hard work, prayer, and investment, we have over twenty ramps and 175 skaters (more than sixty-five senior high and over 110 junior high). More than sixty-seven lives have been totally changed, and forty-three first time commitments have been made. This ministry is booming, not because of any one person, but because the skate culture is hungry for God, and His authentic love.

Skating is quickly growing in popularity, and will continue doing so. Reaching out requires sanding against the grain and breaking through some traditional barriers. This is necessary in order to reach an untraditional culture. I have watched skaters blossom under the encouragement to be themselves and to express themselves as individuals. With piercing, rings, and tattoos, we corporately pray, discuss issues, and gather around each other to share life experiences. The leaders take these experiences and respond with Biblical principles and Scripture, teaching how God wants them to live and love. This culture must be reached, which means meeting each skater where he is; on his board!

When Jesus was reaching out to the Samaritan Woman, He broke almost every ‘law’ of that day’s culture. He saw an opportunity to give her something she needed, His love, and His life. He understood that in reaching the heart of this woman, it required stepping into her world, on her territory. No doubt, touching the Skate Culture will require stepping out of evangelistic comfort zones, but Jesus calls us to reach everyone with His love and life, including ‘Samaritans’!