Getting kids off the streets

And into the word at Christian Activity Center

East St. Louis | Marcus Jefferson was still a preschooler when he found the Christian Activity Center (see Day 3, far right) It’s just down the street from where he lived in East St Louis Navigating past gangs and crime scenes, Marcus ventured every day to the only safe place he knew

“The street in front of us was the Sixth Street Stroll,” CAC Director Chet Cantrell said “It was the center of prostitution, and the tavern it operated out of was right across the street from us In the early days our mission was to keep kids alive, but our mandate was bigger than that We want to help them thrive, so they can be what God intends them to be ”

The tavern eventually closed, and kids flooded the center “I did it for 365 days a year for 15 years in a row,” Marcus said “That’s a hard habit to break, you know ” a new living situation Marcus finished high school, started college, and later joined the U S Navy

Today, Marcus visits CAC when he’s home on leave The Navy shirt he wears on this day asks, “Got freedom?” Because of their ministry to him, Marcus can truly answer yes

This bustling, noisy, raucous hive is still home to him, although he says, “this place has changed a lot ” Volunteers from Illinois churches have helped renovate the Center There are new classrooms for arts and a greater focus on afterschool tutoring

In one class, “Miss Ali” is teaching the kids to sing “I will make you fishers of men,” while next door volunteers from Greenville College lead a spelling game using flashcards “A lot of the things kids learn at home from mom and dad, the alphabet and basic skills, our kids don’t know that,” Sakas said The CAC’s goal is to get children in kindergarten through third grade up to grade level

“Kids don’t decide to drop out in the 10th grade,” Cantrell said “Their ability to succeed is determined by third grade ”

In the gym, there’s a pick-up game of basketball between several teens and coaches “They know you by name,” Marcus said of the ministry team caring for 150 or more kids every day

It’s also a good habit At CAC, Marcus met Cantrell and many caring people When Marcus was 17, his father died

“He was a sad kid at times,” teacher

Ali Sakas said “Like so many of our kids, seeing things at 5 and 6 that children shouldn’t see that no one should have to see I prayed for him a lot ” And eventually, Marcus came to faith in Jesus Christ He remembers fondly the Bible studies that challenged him to be a man, a godly man

Chet took Marcus in for a while after his father ’s death and helped him find

Tracy Windham would agree “CAC is the ‘go-to’ place,” she says, describing her years at the Center “All I did was play basketball I w real tomboy but then I start going to the computer lab ”

Now a graduate of Greenville College, Windham teaches girls who remind her of herself as a child “One of my favorite kids to work with is Zaria At first she just wanted to hang out with me, but now we do her homework every day

Every day I love it ”