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We sought to answer one question: Where do these “River Babies” come from? One of my main discoveries is that poor urban Black children did not simply fall out of middle-class life and land in poverty; they grew up in it.

When my wife, Kris, and I first started working with children in under-resourced neighborhoods, we were shocked by two things. First, the academic gap was staggering. The kids we worked with weren't just a little behind; they were in a deep hole. On average, our students were two to three years below grade level.

In Louisiana, it did not matter whether children went to private schools or public schools. Both middle-class students and under-resourced children received similar scores on standardized tests to their respective peer groups regardless of the school they attended. Their school made very little difference. On the other hand, parental SES made all the difference. 

Noble intentions often fall victim to comfort and security . . . If there had been an easier way, I would have likely taken it. Sometimes God uses forcing moves to get us to where we need to be.

Our time at the Antioch church was as blessed as [...]

The River Babies Journey isn’t merely about discovering the source of the river rabies. It’s also about finding our true selves. That’s because it is a journey, not a destination. This journey is nothing if it is not a spiritual one.

I needed more understanding, more empathy, and more curiosity. I needed to learn to love the way Jesus loved and I needed to see the world the way He sees it. On July 4th, 1997, I stood alone as a man in need of God’s transforming love.

We can learn a lot by reflecting on the [...]

The initial reason we journey upstream is to get a better understanding of our world. The main benefit, however, is that we gain a better understanding of ourselves.