Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Captured Heart

As I sit at my laptop this very cold morning in Phoenix Arizona, sipping my first cup of morning coffee, waiting for the predicted rain to wash the desert and snow to the high country, noticing a freeze warning alert on my Droid phone, my mind has wandered back to Javon Wilson. "Lord are you asking me to help this young man? Lord is that you talking to me about him?" This morning as I was nestled in my bed under warm covering, somewhere between the time of sleep and comprehension, I began to ask God these questions. As I realized it might be true, Javon has been captured by my heart, I knew the answers. It was then that I also knew I could not do this alone. It is too big and so I ask God for help. "If, and it seems it is, if this is a part of your plan for me, Lord, I need your help." I will desperately need His help.

Javon, a 14 year old boy and member of the Juggalo family (they do not call themselves a gang although others do) on Mill Avenue in Tempe, was arrested in October 2010 for 1st degree murder being tried as an adult and held at the county jail.

Wow, I again am overwhelmed by his crime and his age and his life story. Javon is a young boy who has had a terrible home life. His father a former hard core drug addict (who recently went into rehab and is now in jail in Phoenix for child support and other past charges), his mother kicking him out of his home at 13 years old because he did not get along with the new boyfriend. Sure there might have been places this young man could go instead of the streets, like his grandmother's home or his school counselor, however there is a lure on the streets, especially on Mill Ave. It is known that kids come from all over to join the family of Juggalo's that hang out mostly around the streets surrounding Mill Ave in Tempe. These run-aways and lost kids, like Javon find solace in their new found friends. There is a camaraderie amongst each other, they have each other's back. For the first time in Javon's life he found commonality.

Javon loves music, he likes to sing and write music. The Juggalos follow the band Insane Clown Posse or 'ICP' with lyrics that speak of sexuality, brutality and God known as 'horrorcore hip-hop' with band members painting their faces to look like clowns. The group was formed by Joseph Bruce, Violent J and Joseph Utsler, Shaggy 2 Dope and calls their followers Juggalos.

In a June 2010 interview with The Columbian's Alan Sculley, Bruce explained, "[Sex and violence is] the stuff that people are talking about on the streets...to get attention, you have to speak their language. You have to interest them, gain their trust, talk to them and show you're one of them. You're a person from the street and speak of your experiences. Then at the end you can tell them God has helped me out like this and it might transfer over instead of just come straight out and just speak straight out of religion." This has led some to say this group is a sub-Christian band trying to lead people to God, others are saying until these men say they are Christians they should not be called a Christian group.

Perhaps these are some reasons Javon decided to follow the music of 'ICP' as it spoke to the terrible things this young boy has seen and heard in his short life and yet gave him hope that there is a God and maybe, just maybe, God cares.

In a weird and strange interview about the economy Christine Boomer of ABC Channel 15news met up with Javon Wilson just a couple of hours prior to the murder. In the interview Javon was upbeat and shared his heart to be peaceful and write music. He sang a song into the camera about love and peace and God. See the the clip below although you may have to cut and paste into your browser.

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2010/10/creepy_interview_with_teenaged.php

This is what I need; $40,000.00 to defend Javon. My niece and her husband, Todd and Cari Nolan criminal attorneys in Phoenix, have agreed to defend Javon pro-bono except for expenses which they believe to be about $40,000.00. I know God is able. I asked Todd after he spent two hours with Javon, "is this young boy worth saving?" Todd with a broken voice responded, "Yes, most definitely, Javon is worth saving!"

Javon is being charged as an adult.

My plan: 1) Immediately petition the court to get Javon out of jail and into the hands of New Horizon Christian Academy in Flagstaff Arizona, a Teen Challenge boys facility where he can receive a caring support team along with schooling and a deeper understanding of Faith in God. 2) Get charges removed, dropped or in juvenile court, this would be at the leading of Todd and Cari, his attorneys. 3) Begin raising $40,000.00.

How you can help: Pray....then email me at: dmii@cox.net. Let's talk.