After-school special

Effective Compassion: Youth program helps seekers in poor neighborhoods find the truth | Kathleen Thorne

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Every spring as celebrities strut the red carpet outside the Academy Awards in Hollywood, middle-schoolers in Memphis, Tenn., line up for a different kind of awards ceremony.

They're not sporting gowns from Donatella Versace's spring line, but the teens are formally dressed and their nervousness and excitement rivals that of Oscar nominees. As members of the Neighborhood Christian Centers' Youth Multimedia Ministry (YM3), these kids have spent the entire school year preparing original short films that communicate spiritual truths.

"The awards ceremony is their big moment," said Sameka Ballard, coordinator of YM3. "They're up for Best Actor, Best Movie, and the coolest part is they're learning about the Lord and sharing His truth in a fun way." In one YM3 video, kids sing the words, "Maybe you and me can be a family," while dancing in front of a purple wall. Neon letters flash across the screen with Bible verse references as students begin to rap words they wrote: "We have a truthful God. We have a youthful God. We're havin' a party, raisin' the roof for God."