Hayes hopes to ’save’ children
Ronald “Ron” Hayes takes the Lord’s message to the streets paving the way for hope.
A streetminister for more than 20 years, his mission is saving people, saving children and putting them on the right path. “Kids today, especially teenagers are going through a struggle of life. Some of their peers do drugs or get involved with gangs. I want to direct children in a positive direction and to show them there’s more to life than going along with peers.”
Hayes remembers his ministry starting with 12 kids that he would pick up and take to church and then buy them lunch at McDonalds. “These kids were involved with gangs and drugs and I informed them there is a better way to go,” he said.
Six months later he was still picking them up, ministering to them and even playing basketball with them. They eventually joined a church and so did their parents.
That success story has fueled the street ministry that has grown beyond East Chicago to include 25 to 30 other communities, and Cabrini Green where he ministers with Rev. Pat Brown of Gary. Hayes is known to many for the cross he physically bears to remind people of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for all of us.
One way he’s found to reach at-risk youth is bicycles. Hayes has distributed approximately 7,000 bicycles through his ministry. “Bikes are an important part of young kid’s lives,” he said. “You’ll notice the ones that have working parents they buy a bike. When you buy a child a bike you give them leadership, direction, something they say is theirs.”
While some bikes are donated or reworked, some are brand new purchased by those who believe and support Hayes’ work.
“Right now we’re up against a war. It’s a war to save our children, our teens especially,” he said. “Peer pressure is taking over and the ‘baggy pants’ attitude of children is a bad message. We need them to get education and to make up their minds and that no matter what happens they will stay in school.
“That is my message to children. Stay in school. Get an education and go to college. You need an education, especially today.”
By Sue Bero, Times Correspondent
