TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

Internet Outreach Ministry Reaches Thousands

Courtesy of Mel Pettit

THE RISING UP performed songs of inspiration and hope for the teenagers in attendance. Pettit plans on holding more youth rallies and concerts in West Pasco in October and November.

ADVERTISEMENT

By Jessica  Bair | The Suncoast News

Published: September 28, 2007

HUDSON, FL - HUDSON, FL - It's only been five months but already the Jesus Nexus: Beacon of Hope Ministries Web site has had 8,000 people join since founder and former pastor Mel Pettit created the site.

Along with his partner Glenn Perry, who is based in Ocala, they have created an Internet outreach ministry to help young people.

"When I worked in the church, I had limited people I could reach out to," says Pettit, a former youth pastor in Connecticut for several years. "The Internet gives me an unlimited reach."

Pettit, 56, says he maintains the Web site daily from dawn until dusk, chatting with teens to address concerns of bad breakups to family abandonment issues.

An eight-person ministry team, made up of people from across the country, contribute to the Christian based Web site.

A daily women's devotional is written by Pettit's wife, Patty, and their daughter Destiney writes to her teenage peers.

A youth counselor is also on hand to help direct more in- depth questions to professional resources. Pettit tries to respond to each and every message he receives.

They also have a growing My Space Web page and Shoutlife site, which is similar to the popular social network.

Combined they have seven sites with roughly 15,000 members from around the globe including Australia and Africa.

"It's a place to get support and have a lending ear," said Pettit. "Sometimes it's easier (online) because it's not face- to-face," he says of the large response he gets to the My Space page.

Lately, Pettit says, an overwhelming number of teenagers has been writing messages about suicide. So, he has started a suicide outreach program, holding a youth concert last weekend to give hope to those struggling with these issues.

"It just seems to be something a lot of kids are dealing with," Pettit says. "A lot of them are depressed and we felt we needed to address this."

The mission is to show young people that someone does care for them and that there is hope through Jesus Christ, the bible school graduate says.

"I want to let kids know there is a reason to live. There is hope to live no matter how bad it is," Pettit adds.

An active member of the First Christian Church Bayonet Point in Port Richey, Pettit calls its first youth concert, at New Life Ministries in Hudson, a success. Three Christian bands; The Rising Up, B-boy Rodney Rock and Table 13 performed and local clergymen spoke to the young crowd.

"People need to make a physical connection to know we're real," Pettit says of the idea to hold concerts locally.

The group plans on holding more events at bigger venues, like Sims Park in downtown New Port Richey, and is hoping to raise money to fund the program. Pettit says he paid for the first concert out of his own pocket but sponsors would greatly help his efforts.

Pettit is a Merchant Marine who works three weeks on and three weeks off, in Philadelphia and New York. He takes his laptop computer with him to keep the Web site up-to-date.

"This is what we were called to do and it feels awesome when we can help," Pettit explains.

To visit the internet outreach ministry sites, go to www.myspace.com/jesusnexus, www.shoutlife.com/jesusnexus, www.myjesusnexus.com or contact Mel Pettit at 727-504-0123 for more information.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT