A ministry associate for H.I.S. BridgeBuilders is in the communities, building relationships, sharing the gospel, and sharing their lives with those around them. The following was written by John Paul, a Ministry Associate in the Cedar Springs community. John Paul has just begun the H.I.S. Athletics program of BridgeBuilders.

            The H.I.S. Athletics program began Tuesday, January 16, 2007 with the hope of forty or more children. I, John Paul Schulze, a Ministry Associate in Cedar Springs, had personally spoken with over sixty families, all showing interest to trust me with their child in this new program. However, that did not develop as I planned and as I again forgot God’s sovereign power the program began slowly. 
            I arrived at the gym on the first day and only one kid showed up. Not only was it one kid, but a kid I had not even come in contact with. God’s sovereign plan I suppose?  He was removed from alternative school in the fall and is waiting to be enrolled by his parole officer elsewhere. Since our first meeting that Tuesday, he has been with me everyday from 12:00pm-5:00pm. Shadowing me, he is able to do required community service hours, giving me an opportunity to take advantage of teachable lessons in his life. 
            He is now enrolled in the H.I.S. Athletics program, everyday participating in Bible studies as well as improving his basketball abilities. He has been raised by a deaf mother and sadly, no father. Understanding the need of a father-figure in his life, he told me he wants to be my son in law, which is very painful to hear, but flattering at the same time. Through our time together doing simple drills on shooting a ball, I have instilled into his mind that hard work pays off. While at the gym, he has expressed, several times, a desire to quit. I told him that if he quits because he has trouble making five three-foot jump shots in a row, then he will likely quit in school, quit on his future family and eventually himself, and never see his dreams realized. He dreams of graduating high school and make something of himself. I will be here everyday teaching him that he CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens him. Seeing joy in this boy’s life gives me hope that this community will be changed by the power of LOVE.  He is becoming more confident in who he is and now, always reminds me he does not want to quit.
           Todrick (Ta-ta) is an adorable nine year old.  Through baseball, I have been teaching him to become a creature of habit. Many of the children in whom I come in contact have little or no structure in their lives.  I am attempting to teach them that doing things the right way every time, will pay off.  Quitting is not an option nor is laziness. Ta-ta is learning to catch the ball in the glove the correct way. When he gets lazy and tries doing it his way, I stop him. Like many of us, he still believes his way works, so I allow him do it his way and he quickly learns for himself that his way is not near as effective. I stress to him the importance of doing all things the right way. Sometimes the right way does not seem to work at first, but with practice, they are quickly convinced. This life lesson is about much more than catching a baseball and I am excited to go on this learning adventure with Ta-ta. 
            Stacey is thirteen years old and loves basketball.  He has never been pushed to accomplish more in his life. He is generally the first to quit. With my  constant encouragement and slight pushing, I hope he continues to grow rather than quit when life gets tough.  
            The boys described above are representative of the child in Cedar Springs: all the potential in the world, with no hope or belief in themselves. Through the power of the Gospel, I am going to give them hope and belief through the abundant grace and love of Jesus. H.I.S. Athletics will grow and I need to be spiritually fit and mentally prepared to take on the sovereign plan God has for me.