The hard realities of ministry recently confronted me as I entered the parking lot of one of our neighbourhood low-income housing complexes in Winnipeg. We were there to pick up children for our weekly Kids Klub ministry. After the leader travelling with me had gone to knock at the door of one of the children, I suddenly found my van surrounded by a gang of 12- to 13-year-old boys. I knew one of them personally. Just the week before, he had stolen something from me and had bolted from our Kids Klub program with his gang of friends. Now, just a week later, this same boy was standing before me with an increased following of his peers.

As I began to roll down my window to speak, something caused me to hesitate. There these boys stood, drawing their arms out in front of them and pretending to hold make-believe guns. “Get out of the car,” they said, “We've got you surrounded!”

In some respects, they were right. I was cornered. But these were children that only a week previously had attended a Salvation Army Kids Klub. Was this situation for real? Before I knew it, they proceeded to storm the van, pushing and shoving it from all angles until the whole vehicle was moving haphazardly to and fro. It was a great joke to these boys who were quite amused by what they were doing. Pushing open the door and quickly locking it again, I began to try and take control of the situation. After a short game of “cat and mouse” around the van, a woman who obviously had some authority with the boys showed up on the scene. After a few words from her, the scene quickly dissolved.

Later, in conversation with the mother of this 12-year-old boy, I learn more of his story. He is the product of a broken home and has been moved around between parents and distant relatives. Just recently, he had moved into our neighbourhood after living only a few months with his father. Needless to say, it was evident he was not getting off to a great start in his new environment.

As this story was shared with our youth leaders, we all came to a shared conclusion. We will win some and we will lose some. Even though we wanted to invest ourselves further in this child, we could not ignore the walls of resistance. Practically we knew we had a responsibility to all the other children in the program. They deserved our best time and energy. Logic seemed to suggest the only option was to move on. Yet why did this whole situation leave such an empty place inside me? At only 12, one could only shudder to think about the direction this little guy was heading. What would it take to get his attention? Is it possible some people really are beyond redemption?

In contrast to this scenario, the same evening there was the quiet presence of an unassuming seven-year-old boy at the same Kids Klub program. As the dishes were being collected from the supper meal, he came and stood at my side. “Major Julie,” he said, “Will you hold my hand?” No matter where I went for the rest of the evening, I had a shadow. With my hand firmly linked in his, I walked around the room with a child that had the potential to be influenced in the things of the Lord. Perhaps in this case we might win the battle. At least, in this instance, the doors seemed open.

My thoughts went back to the parking lot and I offered a prayer that God might continue to do something in the life of the other boy and his friends. While it might not be with my involvement, quietly I asked the Lord to protect this child and send positive influences that would capture his attention.

Most of us would probably say we want to win them all for the Kingdom. Yet even the disciples knew moments when resistance came in ministry. Jesus gave them plain and simple advice: to shake the dust off their feet and move on (see Matthew 10:14). In the meantime, we are inspired to keep holding on to those who are open to receive what we have to offer. We might not win them all, but praise God, at least we might win some.

While this might have seemed an appropriate place to conclude my story, God had other ideas. The very next day, my 12-year-old friend showed up with his gang at our youth drop-in centre at the church. In that moment, I said to the Lord, “What's up here? I thought we were shaking the dust off our feet and moving on from this kid?” Obviously, my prayer for this child was being answered, but not in the way I had expected.

After the rules were clearly lined out for the boys, it didn't take long to see some of the tough exteriors drop. Within a half hour, these boys were entering into the full activities of the drop-in centre. As I stood in the kitchen making homemade pizzas with them, I couldn't help but marvel how just 30-hours earlier, these same young men had held me at make-believe gun point and stormed my car.

As the boys joked and laughed together around the mess of grated cheese and spilled pizza sauce, I realized again how easy it is to want to walk away from difficult ministry situations. Thankfully the Lord never gives up on us. “For this is good and pleases God our Saviour who desires everyone to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4, NRSV).

Next week, at the request of the boys, we will replace the homemade pizzas for a plate of tacos. Perhaps over a serving of spicy ground beef more of this battle will be won. And so we won't shake the dust off our feet just yet. There are surprising ways God wants to use us to bring about his plan of salvation for the world. We are all called to be in step with God's Spirit. To win them all is within God's divine agenda! Therefore, let us not become discouraged when the walls of resistance rise up against us. Let us be a people that trust the greater work God is yet to do, in and through us, for his Kingdom's sake!

Major Julie Slous is corps officer at Winnipeg's Heritage Park Temple. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the College for Officer Training. In May 2009, Julie completed her doctoral studies in biblical preaching. Her thesis work centred on “Preaching a Disturbing Gospel─The Homiletic of The Salvation Army for Postmodern Times.” When not studying and writing, personal hobbies include reading, cooking, musical composition and, of course, listening to sermons! Married to Brian, she has three children.