Podcast Blog: S6 E1 - Art Wilson, Gangs, Guns & God

Can you imagine God calling you to minister to people you despise? To put your life in jeopardy in the process? To have to explain this mission to your family?

Art Wilson experienced these scenarios and much more when God called him to gang ministry. A Florida resident, Wilson began by approaching gangs on his own, walking into the most dangerous neighborhoods of Chicago to build relationships and tell gang members about Jesus. His ministry eventually grew with more people and more sites - from a Florida prison to the streets of Belize.

Wilson's compelling story highlights God's outreach to all people, God's providence and protection, and what God can do when we obey. This is a longer podcast than normal but well worth your time.

I've known Art for a few years. His book and his stories are compelling. His faith is sincere and deep. Every time I speak with Art, I come away inspired. You will, too, as you listen to this podcast.

Highlights of the podcast:

3:20  What a seven-day practical faith means to Wilson

5:09  Wilson was not originally sympathetic about gang members, but God called him to minister to them

9:54  Why Wilson felt led to travel from Florida to approach gangs in Chicago

12:00  Wilson started by simply taking gang members to lunch

14:55  Gang members listened because they knew they had holes in their lives

17:22  No one is beyond the reach of God

19:40  What Wilson’s family thought about his dangerous ministry to gangs

23:46  The scriptural theme of the ministry

25:10  The importance of faith in a venture

27:54  How his ministry expanded into prison ministry

33:47  Why the ministry expanded to gangs in Belize

36:39  How God’s mysterious action inspired him to write a second book on the Belize experience

39:19  How God multiples our obedience into amazing providence

42:52  The hardest part of putting faith into practice

46:08  How you can find the book and bring Art to your church or organization to speak

The episode is also available on major podcast platforms (Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and others) and hosted on Podbean. Search on each platform for "Practical Faith Academy."