Today we’d like to introduce you to Devron Woodruff.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Devron. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
So I grew up in the Historic South Atlanta Neighborhood before our neighborhood began ‘trending.’ To others, we were an underdeveloped neighborhood, with a surplus of abandoned houses and underfunded public schools. To me, South Atlanta was and will always be home. I’m the youngest of three brothers and raised by a Caribbean mother who has been an educator for as long as I can remember. Being that she is not American, my mother’s values contrasted from the majority of my friends, and that was exhibited ti how I carried myself daily. I had the opportunity to go to a local private Christian school, Atlanta Youth Academy, where I graduated my way up to 8th grade.
Then I attended Woodward Academy and transferred my junior year to Carver High School, where I graduated. Moving back to my neighborhood school is when I first started intentionally planting my roots in the youth ministry. Having been raised in the church, it was fairly easy for me to transition, as the leaders knew of my potential. Amidst all the Christian influence throughout my life, a lot of it became numb to my heart. It felt as if I was just going through the motions (because I knew it is what I am supposed to be doing) instead of truly being engaged and seeking the most out of opportunities. I focused on the ‘religion’ aspect by paying too much attention to the ‘rules of being a Christian’, instead of focusing on my individual relationship with Jesus. Around my senior year of high school is when I truly had an experience with Christ, and for the first time, I understood where I had to take that leap of faith in the area that goes beyond my understanding. I really took my relationship to the next level. I was truly understanding my commitment to my relationship with Jesus and not to religion.
Around this time is when I also dove deeper into youth discipleship and mentoring. Through my connections with guys and girls my age and younger, I somewhat had an epiphany. As a result of being blessed with what many of my friends didn’t have (physically and spiritually), I believed it my role to be the glimpse of Christ in their lives because I could possibly be the only intentional, authentic glimpse of Christ they experience.
Through high school, college, and various jobs to keep paying the bills, I always found myself wanting more out of life. Not more money, but more joy. Still having my ties to the school I grew up in (Atlanta Youth Academy), community youth groups, and conferences, I always felt a pull towards that type of vocation where I can push the agenda of elevating my brothers and sisters to further elevate Christ’s kingdom. After accepting a teaching position at Atlanta Youth Academy, my heartfelt heavy with the connections, I made with the students, while content because I knew I would wake up every day knowing my impact on my surroundings can and will elevate God’s kingdom.
Fast-forwarding to this era of COVID, the South Atlanta neighborhood definitely had a vacuum that needs filling because kids with few resources were stuck daily without much of anything to be occupied with. Being that the local public schools didn’t take virtual teaching seriously or provide summer activities, their brains were being far from stimulated. After FCS asked me to step up, we transformed the dragging summer into constant activity and healthiness through bike rides and workouts. At the end of it all, the goal is to create a movement that changes these kids (and the neighborhoods’) perspective on life. We take life a day at a time as we connect, reconcile, grow, learn, and elevate God’s kingdom TOGETHER.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I believe a journey that is truly rewarding will never be easy. There have been weeks where life was in a downward spiral, as well as weeks where I was living on cloud 9. Through it all, I do my best with the people in my life as an encouragement to stay assured that God will handle it the way it needs to be handled. Many times we forget that God’s timing is right and ours is pretty wrong. Throughout the last few years, I experienced major life changes that produce much difficulty, but they are very rewarding when done with love and excellence. Balancing a new marriage, new career, and a new family all within two years definitely took its toll on my spirit. Mixing my new life dynamic with the intimacy of sharing your life with diverse kids puts my mind in different places. Just like with many of the youth I live life with, sometimes, my immediate needs, like paying bills, outweigh wanting to further my personal or community goals.
In addition, my spiritual life lacked authentic intimacy for many reasons. Daily, I would feel defeated at the day’s end and unwind with earthly culture instead of refueling with God’s strength. Having my daily spiritual needs unfulfilled pushed my daily mindset out of balance. Through it all, there are some ideas that will never waiver. Once I have done all that I can do, whatever happens, left is out of my control, and God continues to be my navigator. As it says in scripture,”… every good and perfect thing comes from above.” Also, life is not supposed to be easy or fair. From pressure comes diamond, and from trials and tribulations comes God’s blessings.
During the COVID era, much emotional difficulty arose from the eruption of fighting for equality and police brutality. South Atlanta neighborhood was directly affected in several ways. Nonetheless, we used these unfortunate events to bring about life-long awareness, reconciliation, and understanding. Being a young black kid, not much is taught about how to deal with trauma, as it does affect us all one way or another.
Please tell us about FCS Urban Ministries – South Atlanta Youth Group.
The South Atlanta Youth Group is under the umbrella of FCS Urban Ministries, which exists to empower neighborhoods to thrive through investing in particular neighborhoods to create a flourishing community. The South Atlanta Youth Group exists in the 30315 area to build a peaceful and reconciling connection through actively engaging the youth, and bettering themselves in their environment. Since COVID 19 broke out across the nation, we started engaging our neighbors in organized bike rides and fitness workouts. It has built into us being known across the neighborhood as the ‘South Atlanta Bike League,’ riding three times per week.
I am definitely most proud of our growth internally and externally. The very first ride, almost all our riders barely had the stamina to ride for a couple of miles. Fast forward to today, we usually travel 8-10 miles per ride and take on too many hills to count! Biking (or exercise in general) is actually a type of therapy that heals inside and out, and I can see first-hand that our neighbors are developing, even if they themselves cannot tell.
We are not just a youth group that comes just for the gathering, but we spend time intentionally outside of organized events, and really are aware and a part of what goes on in each others’ lives daily. Another nugget of gold to include is that I am in the beginning stages a founding a neighborhood (youth-led) Car Wash Business, where the goal is to teach our youth financial literacy and keep money circulating inside the neighborhood. With this business, we will be able to showcase how success is all about resources, connections, and leadership!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
This list could go on and on listing the individuals that have propelled me to accomplish what I have today. I honestly believe the linking factor allows individuals from my neighborhood to succeed is experience. Experience to people, places, events, ideas, literature, art, etc. I have had a few individuals in my neighborhood growing up that were intentional about spending time with me and introducing me to unique experiences. From the conferences, bible studies, meetings, mission trips, events, and volunteer opportunities, even if I found it to be dull and useless, I can without a doubt say that there is always at least one thing that can be taken away or beneficial in the future. Due to my exposure to so much, my thinking helped me tread towards the position I am in today because, make no mistake, I am where I am supposed to be and I constantly use the advice and experiences I have encountered to shape how I lead and influence those around me.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1297 McDonough Blvd SE
Atlanta, GA 30315 - Website: https://www.fcsministries.org/
- Phone: (404) 627 – 4304
- Email: michellew@fcsministries.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sayg_30315/
https://www.instagram.com/fcsministries/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FCSMinistries/
Image Credit:
Kyle Woodruff
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