Straight Ahead Ministries (SAM)

“I get so much out of our visits to the unfortunate youth in the DYS facility.  I have learned from them.”

“Thank you for all the gifts and blessing our lives with Jesus.  I think you are all really nice people and am grateful for you all for making our Christmas special.”

St. Mark's Outreach Committee strongly supports the work of SAM, a Christian ministry which is dedicated to rescuing young men and women from lives of crime and leading them into productive lives.

SAM was started about 20 years ago by Scott and Hanna Larson as a live-in residence which interrupted the cycle of crime, incarceration, release and recidivism.  Over the years, their success and growth have been immense.

Their most recent efforts include The Lynne Project and The Worcester Project.  The Lynne project is a multifaceted approach to crime reduction and rehabilitation through the following steps:

1. facilitated a peace agreement between the Bloods and Cripps (gangs)
2. arranged opportunities to complete GED's and college work
3. created a graphic arts business to create work and income
4. procured a community center building as housing and focus for these activities

As a result of this program, violence in the city of Lynne is down 60% and DYS cases have fallen from 273 to 13.  The new Worcester program will replicate these successful techniques in hopes of achieving the same results in that city.

To learn more about Straight Ahead Ministries go to: www.straightahead.org

Volunteer opportunities include accompanying SAM staffers to visit youth incarcerated in the Westborough DYS facility for Christmas and Easter celebrations and to share Christ's love with these unfortunate teens.  For more information or to volunteer, please contact Dee Cameron at deecam1@verizon.net.