Luke Wiersma: A Young Man on a Mission

In this day and time, nearly anyone who is computer literate, has a Facebook Page. I am one of the early birds who got one, not too long after it came online. As most people know through Facebook, we meet many, many people.

When I signed up, the first person to join my page was Luke Wiersma. I didn't know Luke at the time, but over the last year or so, we have become great, internet friends. I chat with Luke and we forward different causes to each other.

About two months ago, Luke sent me an email asking for me to forward to my friends about a little girl that was missing. Being very dear to my heart, I sent it of course. Since then, Luke has sent several of these such notices.

I became curious about what he was doing and asked. Turns out, Luke is 25 years old and he is already so much wiser than his years. Living in Lansing, Illinois, a college student, majoring in Clinical Psychology at South Suburban College. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg in my quest to get to know him.

Luke didn't start life with the best of circumstances. Growing up on the south side of Chicago is not one of the easiest places to get your education and to keep your mind on the right things. Luke, coming from a good Christian family who just didn't have much money, set him on a path of serious problems before he ever made it to high school.

Addicted to several drugs over the course of his teen years, he finally got a firm footing and changed his life. Enrolling in college and staying straight has given Luke a new purpose in life. He feels that even though he, himself has never been abused or molested or mistreated, his calling is to make himself available to be as much help to kids who have, as possible.

His goal is to, at some point, start a community outreach in his town, for troubled teens. He currently volunteers for the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children.(NCMEC). He puts all of his spare time into promoting and assisting this wonderful organization. Putting up posters, networking on the internet and as money allows wants to design a website dedicated to this purpose.

Luke says his heart is helping to find missing kids. He feels that if enough emphasis is placed on exposing these horrible crimes and educating people, maybe the number of kids that are abused or kidnapped will go down. Luke told me, "The children are our future". "If we let the public know how kids that are snatched feel, the torment and fear they live through in these situations, maybe more people will get involved".

Luke is definitely a young man with a huge heart. He knows that he is just one person. However, he feels that it is his mission to do everything he can for this cause. He hopes that with time and with the completion of his education, he will have both knowledge and the finances to aid him in his quest to keep as many children safe as possible.

He has asked me to urge anyone reading this to get active and find out how you can help with this daunting task. With kids going missing everyday it seems, Americans have to get involved. If you would like to help Luke and help kids everywhere, contact your local NCMEC or go online to www.missingkids.com.

You can check out my friend Luke and his efforts online at www.facebook.com. Just look up Luke Wiersma.