ST. PETERSBURG — As soon as they pulled into the church lot, Davion changed his mind.

 

“Miss! Hey, Miss!” he called to his caseworker, who was driving. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”

 

In the back seat, he hugged the Bible someone had given him at the foster home. “You’re going to be great,” Connie Going said.

 

Outside St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, she straightened his tie. Like his too-big black suit, the white tie had been donated. It zipped up around the neck, which helped. No one had ever taught Davion, 15, how to tie one.

 

“Are you ready?” Going asked. Hanging his head, he followed her into the sanctuary.

 

This had been his idea. He’d heard something about God helping people who help themselves. So here he was, on a Sunday in September, surrounded by strangers, taking his future into his sweaty hands.