I’ll never forget the afternoon that Jerry sat in my office and confessed that he was HIV positive. This former inner-city youth minister couldn’t fight back the tears. I sat there as he wondered out loud with me what would happen next.

Could he ever again be used by God to transform young lives? What would his parents’ response be? What would others in the church think of him? Would everyone want to know the answer to the burning question, “How did you get it?”

I had a feeling that day though that the real question he needed answered was, “How would I, his pastor, respond to him?” I moved close to him, gave him a hug and told him that I wanted to support him any way I could, even though I didn’t know at the time what that “any way” was. We prayed together, talked some more, cried and prayed some more.

About a month later, I talked with Jerry again and he shared with me that it was time for him to tell our congregation he was HIV positive. He said that he believed that God had a plan in it. He also told me that he wanted to approach the leadership team of our men’s ministry as well, even though he wasn’t sure what the response would be in either case.

I knew this would be a true test of the commitment to reconciliation of my young urban church.

That Sunday, when Jerry confessed to our congregation that he was HIV positive but also believed that God wasn’t through with him yet and still had a plan for his life, was one of the most powerful moments at our church. Men in our church approached Jerry with hugs and committed then and there to stand with him.

That was more than a year ago. Since that time Jerry, with the support of some in our congregation, has started the Jerry Hughes Foundation. He now goes into local schools, community centers and has even made trips to India, to talk with young people about Jesus Christ and to educate them on the issues surrounding HIV and AIDS.

He shares that he is in no way proud about how he contacted HIV but is committed to allow God to use him to touch young lives.

Jimmy and Thomas are gang members. At one time they walked the street and saw each other as enemies. Since then they have become Christians and are now committed to sharing their stories with current gang members in the neighborhoods they used to terrorize.

They walk the streets now, not selling drugs and committing violence, but talking to young people about Jesus Christ and sharing alternatives to the gang life. Earlier this year, I had them share their testimony during a Sunday morning service. They first shared tales about the pain of their upbringings and then told current stories of standing in between rival gang members who had the intent of killing one another. They received funding this year from some local foundations to increase their work.

I mention Jerry, Jimmy and Thomas because we live in a world which tends to throw away those who are HIV positive and lock up members of gangs. These people are right around us, but do we see them as potential youth ministers?

There are people who have been through what Bishop T.D. Jakes calls in many of his sermons “hell and high water.” These people have been wounded, locked up, shot, contracted diseases and become outcasts in some cases. Yet, in the midst of all that, God is in the business of taking the wounded and the outcast and using them to advance His kingdom in the city.

These urban wounded are being used by God to bring healing, life and transformation to the communities they live in. Now I realize that the church should be very careful and cautious when it comes to who we allow to minister within and outside the church. But with that in mind, shouldn’t we also be on the lookout for people in our congregations who God has positioned to use their past and present weaknesses in a manner that the strength of God might be manifested in the city among hurting people?

The Church must be a refuge and training ground for the HIV positive, gang members, prostitutes, drug addicts and others in the midst of struggle—that they might be transformed by the Spirit of God into becoming ministers of the Gospel. The church has a rich history of this, but we must step up our efforts in order to raise-up an army of wounded healers to bring the Gospel to an abandoned and hurting generation.

In order for it to continue though, the church must be a loving and reconciling community—one that looks past the current behavior or challenging situation and sees the opportunity for healing, redemption and kingdom advancement.

Efrem Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis, Minn. He is also the author of “Raising Up Young Heroes” and “The Hip-Hop Church,” as well as host of the radio show Time for Reconciliation (KTIS AM 900).