For as long as he can remember, Ronald Hampton has always been concerned with people going through difficult times. After he experienced a few hard times of his own, Hampton knew to turn to Christ for answers.

"Adrian, my son, pricked my spirit," said Hampton speaking of the time when he became so sick he had to be hospitalized and undergo emergency surgery. "My daughter Carmen wasn't born yet. My wife Cynthia would take Adrian to church every Sunday, but I wasn't going to church with them and Adrian wanted to know why. Even though I came up in church, at that time I was only visiting every now and then."

Hampton began attending Prince of Peace regularly with his wife and son.

"Once I joined Prince of Peace, I never turned back," said Hampton, who recently held the inaugural service for Right Direction Christian Ministries, his own nondenominational church. "I had been a member for many years, but after I was appointed the first youth minister at Prince of Peace, pastor Noah Alexander afforded me the opportunity and freedom to move the youth department in a different direction.

"The Holy Spirit allowed me to restructure the department, but my interest began drifting in another direction. I wanted to work with children, but after 12 years of doing so, I discovered that if you don't work with the adults you won't accomplish as much with their offspring."

About 100 of Hampton's relatives, friends, co-workers and other guests came out to hear a message encouraging them to endure the hard times because better times were ahead.

"I believe in preaching practical things, but not in diverting from the Word," said Hampton, 56. "Different aspects of struggle can be addressed through God's Word and through community resources. We are not just a stationary church. God is calling for folks that are not afraid to work. We will go out and seek those who need our assistance."

In addition to continuing with his nursing home ministry and providing biblical resources to the community, Hampton plans to offer family, marital, addiction, financial and other counseling services.

Right Direction Christian Ministries meets at 1:30 p.m. Sundays. Services temporarily are being held at New Beginnings Church, 2300 Frayser Blvd. Call 496-3938.