By BARBARA WALKIN

Senior FN Reporter

barbara@nasguard.com

Changing the mindset of young men in the inner-city is the primary focus of Reachout Outreach Mini-stry's first 'Transforming our youth through Godly principles' Conference set for Saturday, February 7, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Last year Reachout Outreach Ministry focused on getting young men off the streets through monthly basketball programs in Garden Villas 'the ghetto,' Coral Gardens and the Columbus Park communities.

To begin this year Reachout Outreach is launching the mentoring phase of its program. Founder of Reachout Outreach Ministry, Dudley Seide said that there will be a number of guest speakers, who will share their transformation testimonies, including Tyrone Laing.

Laing, a local businessman, said that he was once a drug trafficker.

"I think my main focus during this conference will be to show young men how they can be transformed," he added.

Laing recalled being a in gang war with Seide for three years, "trying to kill each other. Wherever we saw each other we fought and the police have records to show this.

"But, after making the decision to choose Jesus, we decided the way in which we were going about our lives was not the right way," Laing added.

"And in transforming our lives, what we did was make a career out of living positiively ... and what we want to show the young people is they have to be optimistic in life.

"Where they are now is not where they have to be five, 10 years from now," he explained.

During the conference, he added, "we want to demonstrate to the young men that they can turn their lives around through positive thinking, through aligning themselves with people who will encourage them in the right things, rather than those who would bring them to some demise."

He noted that there are many young men in Grand Bahama who have made a change in their lives and have the evidence to show that by doing the right thing, a young man can make it.

"When I first started out in business a lot of people said that I wouldn't make it," he recalled, "but if you listen to them, you will never make it.

"But if you pursue your goals, if you have a vision ... the Bible tells us that where there is no vision the people perish, but you have to see yourself as a better person, as a better citizen," said Laing.

"In doing that you become more affective, even to the people you hang out with. I am happy to be here, I am glad and I thank Dudley for inviting me to speak to the young men in our community.

"This tells me that at some point, someone noticed that my life was transformed and was transformed for the better."

Laing noted that this is a great opportunity for other business people, who also transformed their lives, "who people may not know to come out and share their testimonies one-on-one with the young people in our community."

Laing said that hard work, dedication and service to God are the keys to success. "So I invite young men in this community to step out, be different and be transformed."

Mario Jones, president of Calvary Temple's Men's Ministry appealed to all men, "please come out to Reachout Outreach Ministry's Confe-rence, especially our church men."

Jones invited fathers to bring their sons, "and you come with them. Mothers bring your sons, because this is an exciting time in Reachout Outreach Ministry, where we will affect the lives of young people ... and you as fathers and mothers will experience something that you have never experienced before."

During the conference Seide noted that Reachout Outreach Ministry will honour local businessman Havard Cooper. PR director for Cooper Holdings, Raquel Hart thanked Seide and the organization on behalf of Cooper.

"Mr. Cooper is a role model for young men in this community," said Hart. "He not only believes in Godly principles, but has demonstrated throughout his life, in business and at home.

"So on behalf of Mr. Cooper and his family, I say thank you for selecting him to be honoured during this timely conference," added Hart.