Please allow me to reintroduce “Caleb’s Crusaders.” This is a Spiritual outreach to the young men of both the church and the community. It is an initiative that will reflect the goals of the Junior Deacons, the Brotherhood, the Support Group, and the Mentor Program.
Caleb’s Crusaders is not competing with these organizations, to the contrary, the intent is to provide a holistic approach in the interactions with our young men. “Caleb’s Crusaders” is symbolic on many levels, however, let me address three.
- Caleb, a hero of faith represented the tribe of Judah among the twelve chief men whom Moses sent to spy out the land of Canaan. (Numbers 13:6) It was Caleb and Joshua who encouraged the people in the face of a pessimistic, majority report. “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30) It does not matter what the nay-sayers have to say, our young men are able to overcome all the negative pronouncements about them.
- Secondly, at the age of eighty-five at the distribution of the land of Canaan, Caleb asked for Hebron, the land promised to him for an inheritance. God has made many precious promises to His people, as has this country, and we are collectively saying “Lord, give me this mountain.” The mountain of your blessings and mountain of opportunity. We are not looking for “a hand-out” but rather “a hand-up”. Mentoring, coaching, training, undergirding and covering our young men in prayer. “As yet, I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent:” (Joshuah 14:11a) YES WE CAN, (Your Pastor walks in this truth)!
- Thirdly, in Hebrews, Caleb means “dog”.
I believe we are on to something!!
Pastor J. Amos Jones
