It was a cool, clear Saturday evening when Ronnie, a 16-year old resident of East Chattanooga’s Harriet Tubman public housing development, took a walk to a nearby convenience store. However, his stroll was cut short when a white truck pulled up near him and several masked men jumped out and fired shots.

A Chattanooga police officer would later report that these shots were seemingly fired at random. Ronnie still took a bullet in the leg.

Roughly four hours earlier, another young man was shot in the neck at Rogers Road and North Parkdale Avenue. Police have reported a dozen gunfire victims since January, including three fatalities.

Resisting the Allure of Gangs

The string of violent crimes has alarmed city officials. While they agree on the need to steer youth away from the deceptive allure of gangs and criminal activity, solutions are few and far between. Hope for the Inner City believes that the solution lies in relationships centered on the gospel.

The men who shot Ronnie, clad in masks and matching black clothes, may have been gang members. “Victims not wanting to cooperate with us or identify a suspect ... that’s the thing we deal with, as far as these gang-related shootings,” police Lt. Tim Carroll told the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

It is remarkable that Ronnie was not more severely injured by his attackers. But what is perhaps more remarkable is that Ronnie has no gang ties. This is notable considering his age, his lack of a father at home, his neighborhood, and his temperament: Those who know Ronnie would say he has a short fuse—or at least he used to.

“Ronnie was a kid who got in trouble a lot ... prone to snap quick,” says Robert Blevins, Hope for the Inner City’s leadership development coordinator.

Growing in Self-Discipline

Blevins, who has visited Ronnie often during his recovery, says Ronnie was 12 when he first took part in Hope for the Inner City’s Summer Work Adventure Program, a leadership training experience where teens learn study skills, banking and budgeting, and job-landing strategies. Though Ronnie was rough around the edges when he first arrived, the relationships he made with Christians on staff began to yield significant changes in his character.

“When he first came to Hope for the Inner City, [Ronnie] didn’t have self discipline,” says Blevins. “But I’ve seen a maturity level in him that has resulted from the fact that he’s been around individuals that want to see him grow.”

Four years later, Ronnie is on the payroll, helping with activities and meals for the urban ministry teams that visit Hope for the Inner City each spring and summer. “He comes into work at 7 a.m. each morning and is almost never late,” says Blevins. “His grades have gone up. He’s been able to help provide for his family.”

Choosing Life over Death

Unfortunately, Blevins and the Hope for the Inner City staff are not the only forces vying for Ronnie’s commitment.

“A lot of gang members want him,” says Blevins. “They sense his leadership skills, his confidence. So it’s a struggle for us.”

While gang activity continues to threaten the peace of Chattanooga’s urban core, Hope for the Inner City is, in the spirit of gospel hope, preparing new community leaders who will chose integrity and mercy over violence and cruelty. These are young people who, like Ronnie, are being empowered by God to support their families in honest ways, instead of wearing masks and wielding guns.