Elder George Miller is perhaps doing some of his most important ministerial work yet. Friday nights for the minister now include hosting a Boys2Men event at the Louisville Community Center. What started out as perhaps thirty boys aged 7 – 18 is steadily growing. Most Friday nights, Miller hosts between fifty and sixty children. He regularly invites guest speakers, and Miller himself has made what he refers to as “investing in young people.”
Elder Miller has been in the ministry for three decades, but after moving back to his hometown and seeing young people becoming increasingly involved in negative activities, Miller knew he had to do something. So, he began hosting the weekly event and organizing activities for the young people attending.
Miller met most of the attendees outside and welcomed them warmly. It is clear Pastor Miller has great affection for these young people, and the feeling is undoubtedly mutual. On this particular Friday, Miller invited Drug Enforcement officer Mike Perkins to speak to the group. The young people filed in the Community Center, grabbed basketballs, and worked a little energy off prior to Perkins’ presentation. There was an observable camaraderie among the children, Elder Miller, and two men assisting him.
The pastor introduced Mike Perkins, who not only works for the city’s police department, but is also a Gideon. Perkins brought 100 New Testaments along with him for the kids in attendance. The officer spoke about life choices, the temptations children face today to choose the wrong path in life, and the consequences of those choices. Most of the children present took a Bible, which Perkins told them could be passed along to a friend – “don’t keep the Word to yourself. If you have a Bible at home, give this to a friend who might not.”
Pastor Miller schedules a speaker for most Friday night Boys2Men events, and afterwards, the kids may return to playing ball or other games. Refreshments are also served. “Ministry is hard,” said Miller, but he is dedicated to providing positive activities for Louisville’s youth and looking for room to grow his ministry to benefit Louisville and Winston County.
