Being safe takes greater effort these days. No one's safe from violence whether you're in a church, school, community center or at home, How can young people filled with promise and potential stay safe?
​   When a World Champion in Karate speaks, it's from the heart of self defense. Marty Cacavas brought his knowledge and experience regarding self defense and greatness to the young folks at Brothers With A Purpose. 
​     All young people are filled with promise and potential. "Greatness dwells within you!" Marty told the crowd. He gave them tips on what to do in dangerous situations. Avoid crowd fights, make your intentions of non-violence known and fight only when it's the last choice. In our gym we will get quicker in quelling any physical aggressions.
​     Putting in your time in a jail cell will have an end, even if you're doing life - because life as we know it has an end. You can only have so much security in this world. However, you can have eternal security after you leave this world. "The most important decision you will ever make is accepting Jesus Christ into your life." Marty told the young people. God will lead you in your decision making and give you eternal security. Thanks Marty for your heart. Jesus loves you and so do we.
     BWAP is taking the next two weeks off. We're praying about the future. Safety is important. If we can't find enough mentors who will build relationships and help create a mindset of respect and safety in the gym, we will not open.
​     Last year was our busiest year in terms of collaborative efforts in serving the community. More folks were reached with the love of God through Youth With A Purpose than ever before in our 16 year history. BWAP is one of many YWAP Programs. The Brothers With A Purpose Mentoring Program received less financial support than ever before. That has caused a shortfall of $700 in our rent budget. Yes, we pay rent for the space we use that is run by volunteers. We will not open until we create a business model that will keep young people safe and cover the costs of doing ministry. We appreciate your input.

      Brawn, muscle and force will only take you so far in life. Eventually you get to a point of learning to get respect by giving respect.
​    When young men learn about submission to God's purpose for their lives, they begin to know real strength through Christ.
     After a few second chances, most guys learn how to control the anger that rages inside their hearts. Anger is usually rooted in emptiness. Something is missing in their lives.
     Plenty of young men grow up without knowing a Dad or a man who can guide them. Real men are strong, aggressive & combative, as they serve God through sacrifice in the humility of Christ.
​     Next week (12-21-17) we are planning a Christmas Celebration for our young folks. If you can help provide dinner, gift cards or some small gifts. please let us know. 716-830-8240 ​

     Battles in life are similar to battles on a basketball court, Carol McLeod, the Founder and Director of Just Joy! Ministries used basketball and the Bible to teach young men about winning battles in life.
​    When she began with her own personal basketball story about being a record holder for assists, she had the young men listening with their hearts.
​     As she moved from humor into her Bible lesson, Carol displayed the skills of a master teacher. "Everyone has to slay giants in life," she told the young men.
​     Pushing past your fears and defeating giants by following hard after God will help you go beyond your problems.       Thank you Carol McLeod and your volunteers who went the extra mile by preparing a fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner. Your kindness and generosity will pay a generational dividend! Jesus loves you and so do we. 
     ​If you would like to learn more about defeating giants, you can read about David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 in the Bible. Carol made some good points about David making some mistakes along the way in his life. He was far from a perfect young man, but he knew how to turn from his mistakes and accept the consequences. God will do the same for you. 

          Best selling Author and Speaker Carol McLeod will speak to inner-city young men this week.
​          When Carol speaks, she teaches folks how to go beyond in everything they do.
​          A good way to describe her teaching style would be "Go beyond the extra mile!"
​         Plenty of other women surround Carol with love and support. Together they make Just Joy! Ministries into an overpowering force that provides proof that God's love conquers all.  
​     BWAP is Brothers With A Purpose - a mentoring program for young men affected by gang violence, drugs and poverty. We help 16-30 yr. old young men become Christ-centered role models for the next generation. Every Thursday we play basketball from 7-8:10 pm. At halftime, we listen to a Nine Minute Life Direction Speaker and then we have dinner. After that we return to the basketball court until 9:30 PM. It's only the beginning of what we intend to be life long mentoring relationships.
​          When: Thursday, November 16, 2017 7-9:30 pm
          Where: City Reach Buffalo 260 Eggert Road Buffalo, NY 
​#ywap4God #ywap716 #ywapbuffalo #JLYASDW
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     Beginning a night of basketball with prayer at midcourt is how we start our BWAP Program.
​     When Pastor Ed Rarick spoke at halftime, he urged the young people to "press toward the mark."
     Accept the struggles of life as steppingstones toward God's potential for your life.
​     Philippians 3:14 "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
​     BWAP is Brothers With A Purpose. We help young people affected by gang violence, drugs and poverty become Christ-centered role models who mentor the next generation.​

          Young men affected by gang violence, drugs and poverty are familiar with brokenness. Tonight at BWAP CXVI we told the story of a POW who forgave the guards who tortured him through God's grace.
​          When young people hear about stories of courage and forgiveness, brokenness takes on a new meaning. Louis Zamperini's story of faith in God inspires and gives hope to all who listen. Grace 
​          After hearing stories about God being such a powerful influence on the lives of men and women, young people begin to change. That's what we're witnessing at BWAP.
​          Please pray for us as we continue to look for more excellent ways to mentor the fatherless. We help 16-30 year old young men become Christ-centered role models who mentor the next generation. 
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          Basketball is a sport most folks would think you need two hands to play with any skill. Mountain climbing is a sport most folks would think you need two legs.
​        When the young men were told the story about a one legged mountain climber, there just happened to be a one handed basketball player sitting among them.
​        After Todd Huston lost his leg due to a boating accident early in life, he accomplished a greater feats with the use of only one foot and a prosthetic foot.
​        Painful experiences can be turned into unparalleled opportunities. Tragedy to triumph. The young men at BWAP are growing week by week because God has put together a program that mirrors the death and resurrection of Christ. Only God could put together a basketball program with a one handed man and a story about a one legged mountain climber. Thanks God, good job!​

          Beautiful and fruitful discussions happen when an open and honest atmosphere is created.
​          World Karate Champion Marty Cacavas shared his heart and the guys at BWAP shared theirs back.
​          A lot of messages about which way is the right way are bombarding young people today.
​        Plenty of messages have some good in them, "Buddah, Allah, Jesus, I see people on the internet all talking about the message, but "what is the Jesus message?" That's what a young man asked after Marty's Nine Minute Life Direction. Marty shared part of his life journey and how he found Christ. He spoke about being honest whether we disagree or not.
​          The first answer of what the Jesus message is can be found in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." 
​          The second answer can be found in Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," We asked the young man how many people actually drive 30 miles per hour in a 30 MPH Speed Limit? He laughed and said "Probably nobody!" That's true and it reflects man's inability to live within rules. God knew that we needed some grace because we are unable to follow rules when left to our own abilities. That's why Jesus died on the cross, to pay the penalty for our inability to play by the rules. By believing in the Jesus message and accepting his message into your heart as a way of life, that gives us a forever relationship with God the Father. That's a life in heaven where there is no need for speed limits because heaven has no limits on everlasting love.
          Just in case you haven't heard about the YWAP Banquet of Testimony happening on Friday, Oct. 20, 2017 at 6 pm, you can read about it here,
​Please Have Dinner With Us at The YWAP Banquet of Testimony.

          Battlefields in life can happen on land or in your mind. Young minds tend to think that avoiding discipline will make life easier. Conflict brings about the greatest growth in people.
​          When young people think they can live anyway they want and get forgiveness later, this can be an eternally dangerous belief. The Bible is pretty clear on that subject. Hebrews 10:26 International Children’s Bible "If we decide to go on sinning after we have learned the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins." 
​          Anytime you give young people a comfortable place to ask questions and share there hearts, the fertile ground will reveal Truth. We encourage all questions and beliefs to be shared and examined under the Light of the Bible.
​          Plenty of folks think they can live anyway they want and start being good later in life. That's dangerous. Here's another heart nugget from the Bible in The Message.
Ecclesiastes 11:9
You who are young, make the most of your youth.
Relish your youthful vigor.
Follow the impulses of your heart.
If something looks good to you, pursue it.
But know also that not just anything goes;
You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.
​                              We Would Like To Invite You To The YWAP Banquet
​          We would be honored if you would consider coming to the YWAP Banquet on Friday, October 20, 2017. The dinner is free. You will be encouraged by the testimonies of four young men. They will speak of how God has changed their lives. They will also share an opportunity for you to help them share God's love by washing feet, giving away shoes and sharing the hope of Christ in schools.
You can learn more about this opportunity here: WILL YOU HAVE DINNER WITH US? 

     Being written off as worthless is a feeling that most convicted felons identify with. Last night at BWAP, one man’s story of redemption gave hope to many young people who ate up his words like a Thanksgiving dinner!.
     When Thearthur Duncan the Felon/Attorney spoke, the young men soaked up hope and encouragement through his story. Young people can easily identify with the temptation to make easy money on the streets. As he spoke, the guys entered into a new thought process, confidence in doing the right thing began to percolate behind their eyes.
     As he told his story of overcoming, he gave credit to God for getting him out of the hole of his life. Through dreams, visions and circumstances, God spoke to Thearthur about heaven, hell and following a new plan for his life.
     Plenty of questions from the crowd are always a good indicators of well the speaker reached the audience. These guys never stopped talking, even on the ride home in the YWAP Van!
What did people say?
“He was the best speaker we’ve ever had!” (Please note we’ve had over 100 speakers and guys say this about a large majority of them!)
“I would come here just for the speakers and not even play basketball!”
​     Thank you Thearthur Duncan fro allowing God to use your life story to give hope to folks who need to learn resiliency. We appreciate you. Thank you Judge Hannah, your daughter Taylor and Shawn Fagan for your generosity and compassion. Jesus loves you and so do we.
     If you would like to learn more about Thearthur Duncan The Felon/Attorney, please follow this link:
​http://www.felon-attorney.com/
You can also buy his book on Amazon by following this link:
​FELON ATTORNEY By THEARTHUR DUNCAN