Taylor begins next phase

Prevention program kicks off Thursday

By ALEX SCHUMAN, Messenger staff writer
The Rev. Madai Taylor cut a symbolic ribbon on his Early Intervention and Prevention program at the Agape Church Wheel of Compassion Ministries Thursday evening.

Taylor said that this is not like other drug prevention programs. He was clear that this is not recreational and that the emphasis is on educating kids.

‘‘It is solely focused on drugs, drug prevention and the lives of our young people,’’ he said.

Taylor hopes that by educating the children they will learn the consequences that come with a life in drugs.

‘‘The earlier we educate our children, the earlier they are going to see how substances destroy their lives as young people,’’ Taylor pointed out, adding, “this is not a life that is beneficial to them.”

He wants to turn the tide in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood and unite the people to take back their community.

‘‘Drugs in my opinion, is the number one negative force in this neighborhood and many neighborhoods in Fort Dodge. We’re looking for a radical turn around,’’ he said.

Even with an open show of support from Mayor Terry Lutz and the Fort Dodge City Council, a small army of Fort Dodge Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and members of the Fort Dodge Police Department at the ceremony, Taylor’s greatest fear is that nay-sayers and cynics may try to stifle the movement.

‘‘My worry is that there may not be people who see the relevance of the program,’’ he said.

He did, however, mention that he’s already seeing results sprout from the mere word being spread about the inception of Early Intervention and Prevention.

‘‘Young people are changing,’’ he used as evidence to support the program.

‘‘It’s a huge undertaking, but he’s got a lot of people behind him and he’s gonna do it,’’ said Chamber Ambassador Earlene Nordstrom.

‘‘What Madai and all the people he has helping him are doing is exactly what needs to happen throughout the community to make Fort Dodge a better place,’’ Lutz said.

Taylor explains how deeply he feels about changing the community.

‘‘I’m a pastor. To me church is ineffective if they don’t help their neighbors. It’s difficult to serve God when you close your eyes. My eyes are open. I live in a place of evil. I cannot watch people be destroyed,’’ Taylor said.

‘‘Ask the parents who have sons and daughters who are trapped in drugs. If there’s anyone who understands, it should be them. They know that drugs and alcohol do not discriminate. We discriminate,’’ he said.

Taylor wants any mothers and fathers concerned about their children to send them to his program.

‘‘I’m gonna do my very best to pour myself into every child who comes here so that they know how to make the right choices,’’ he said.

Taylor wanted it clear to parents what role the program would play in the lives of the kids. ‘‘We’re not here to do your job, but rather stand beside you,’’ he said.

Taylor describes success as a time when the people of the community denounce those corrupting their lives.

‘‘The community will be beautified and raised to a higher excellence as we change ourselves from the inside,’’ he said.

At the event, Taylor pointed out how kids can see drug dealers as a friend. He spoke about how children could conceive a dealer as popular and allow that idea to influence their lives.

To combat that Taylor is dedicating the entire lower sanctuary to the program. Taylor wants to create a place where the children can engulf themselves in their interests rather than float around the neighborhood. He wants to give the people of Pleasant Valley a computer lab and present enough technology so that the kids involved can produce videos that are truly marketable.

‘‘We can help prevent addiction by giving them positive alternatives,’’ he said.

Taylor thinks that this may even work to reach the drug dealers themselves. He said, ‘‘Drug dealers are very young men making money to the disadvantage of the oppressed. They won’t change until they see reason to.’’

Even if a few dealers see reason and stop selling, Taylor will consider the program a success.

‘‘A lot of people believe that it can’t change – that you can’t save everybody. But you can save some,’’ Taylor said.

Qunetta McCaleb, who is a member of the Agape Church, saw the lower sanctuary for the first time at the ceremony.

‘‘It’s gonna be good,’’ she said. ‘‘We don’t have anything like this.’’

‘‘I’m gonna come every day,’’ said Diamante Smith, 12.

At the ceremony each business represented by a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador gave a gift to Taylor. Chamber Ambassador Casey Johnson said that at their last quarterly meeting they decided to come show their support.

‘‘We definitely support Madai. We’re long overdue,’’ Johnson commented.

Taylor said he wants to thank all the businesses, banks, families and individuals for their prayers and support. Taylor also hopes people will pray for his program’s work.

‘‘God is the foundation of all we are doing,’’ he said.



Contact Alex Schuman at (515) 573-2141 or aschuman@messengernews.net