July 23, 2002

theeagle.com
The Bryan-College Station Eagle
Copyright © 2003

S.O.S. Ministries, a Christian organization dedicated to keeping kids out of gangs, aims to raise $80,000 through an upcoming 28-mile walk across the Bryan-College Station area.

The walk will take place Aug. 17-23 during "S.O.S Awareness Week." All money raised will support the ministry, spokesman Jim Thompson said. "S.O.S. receives no federal money," Thompson said. "The only support we receive is these fund-raisers and support from individuals."

The 28-mile trek, dubbed "Walk A Mile in His Steps," will kick off at Post Oak Mall on Aug. 17. S.O.S. Ministries founder and president J.J. Ramirez will lead several youths on the walk.

The group will walk south along Earl Rudder Freeway, turn right onto Deacon Street and continue along Wellborn Road to Harvey Mitchell Parkway. Walkers then will proceed north on Harvey Mitchell through Bryan and take a right at Earl Rudder Freeway. The group will turn right onto William Joel Bryan Parkway and complete its trek at Sue Haswell Park. Businesses, churches and residents have been invited to organize "Jericho Teams" to join Ramirez and S.O.S. youths in the final mile from Earl Rudder Freeway to Haswell Park. Participants will form teams of eight members and try to raise $1,400 for S.O.S. Ministries.

Teams should meet at the Sue Haswell Park pavilion at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 23 to register. S.O.S. buses will transport walkers to the starting point. After the walk, participants will be invited to enjoy Christian music and refreshments in celebration.

Thompson said he hopes to have 30 or more teams make the one-mile walk with Ramirez. Team members will receive a free "Walk A Mile in His Steps" T-shirt and special recognition as guests at the Aug. 26 celebration banquet.

The celebration banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Brazos Center and will feature guest speaker Nikki Cruz, a former New York gang leader. Cruz, now an internationally known author, speaker and activist for troubled youths, has helped found 15 youth centers across the nation, Thompson said.

Banquet tickets may be purchased individually for $50, and groups may reserve tables for $400. Last year, S.O.S. Ministries raised $60,000 with its first "Walk A Mile in His Steps" fund-raiser and another $7,500 during a Memorial Day weekend barbecue.

"I think God is blessing this ministry," Thompson said, "and it's really helping turn a lot of youth around."

The nonprofit Save Our Streets Ministries was founded in 1993 by Ramirez, a former drug addict and gang leader who became a Christian after attending a Christian rock concert, Thompson said.

The ministry helps boys and girls who are in abusive homes or abandoned by their families and have nowhere else to turn, Thompson said. S.O.S. also operates a bus ministry that transports about 130 kids to Thursday night Bible studies and Friday night worship services at the Maxwell Center. "S.O.S. is really helping the community be a safer place to live," Thompson said. "This ministry is to reach those people who probably would never go to a church."

© 2000 - 2003 The Bryan - College Station Eagle
http://www.theeagle.com/faithvalues/080203sosweek.php

Copyright ©
web site by misite.net