Luke_19-10: For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Gang violence is increasing in the United States as activity spreads from inner cities to rural communities. While that may sound alarming, some in Washington state see it as an opportunity.

 “I love going to the jail. Like that’s where I really feel God’s pleasure,” Hoke explained.

“They were on to what Jesus was doing very quickly. And I just liked them; they were just like my best theological conversation partners,” he continued. “They’d never provide churchy, dumb answers, and their language is full of profanity, but very honest.”

Hoke has served as a jail chaplain for 10 years. He found an authenticity in the jails that eluded him in church.

“I was soaked in biblical language growing up,” Hoke confessed. “I was a worship leader…