Buffalo is a city with God opportunities brimming on every block. Our scheduled Nine Minute Speakers - Corey and Paulette from Teens In Progress were called to an emergency meeting with young people at the Hope Center. We are glad that young people can count on Corey and Paulette in times of trouble. God knew our need for another speaker so He provided a double portion of speakers!
          When Pastor Ed Rarick did a great job explaining to the young people how God loves all of us equally. He also took us on a beautiful trip through Psalm 139 to give evidence of God's love for us.
          After Pastor Ed finished, Minister John Sullivan took over the Nine Minute duties. He told a deeply moving story about his family being entrenched in the drug culture of Buffalo and how God helped him climb out. Minister John used Romans 8:15 as his inspiration.  "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 
          Plenty of folks pitched in to make this a special BWAP night. We had several new mentors and visitors along with kitchen help and regular BWAP Staff. Thank you for helping us love young people like Jesus would have us love all people! 

• BARBARA GREER 
• LORRAINE EADS
• DEBORAH JONES
• RONALD JONES
• MINISTER JOHN SULLIVAN
• AL CHASE
• LATASHIA SWYGERT MARTIN
• JASON STEBICK
• DEIRDRE WRIGHT
• TOMMY MCCLAM
• WANDA TORRES
• RICHARD FORD
• LINDA KUEBLER
• ELLEN LODS

          We believe (because of good evidence!) that God is enlarging His territory through BWAP. Brothers With A Purpose is looking to expand in other US Cities and internationally. Would you like to get involved in a ministry that puts God first? This is our Mission Statement:
          "To help 16-30 yr. young men become Christ-centered role  models who mentor the next generation."
Contact us if you feel a spark in your heart.
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.

     Believing in yourself is one thing, but when you get to be a father, you have a child to believe in. Modie Cox delivered a powerful message to the young people at BWAP tonight.
     When adversity strikes, perseverance is the only cure. You have to walk through the hard times. Modie Cox has walked (or dribbled) through many hard times. He escaped a tough childhood through his tenacity and skills on a basketball court.
     Ask him about humility and he will say that "Everyone should spend some time in jail." Modie spent some time there even though he was innocent except for hanging out with someone who couldn't be trusted.
     Professional athletes can be excellent role models for young folks. Modie started his own mentoring company called "Winning Because I Tried" - WBIT. God is opening up doors because a man made himself available.

Thank you Modie for inspiring our young people. We appreciate you.
Jesus loves you and so do we.

          BWAP welcomes the Founder and President of "Winning Because I tried" Modie Cox to BWAP LXXXII. Modie is a Niagara Falls native, and also a LaSalle High School graduate, was a stand out basketball player (McDonald’s Honorable Mention and WNY Player of the Year), leading his teams to several state championship appearances. In 1988 Cox was a member of the 27-0 State/ Federation championship team.
          He was recruited by many division I colleges and ultimately decided to attend the University at Buffalo on a full athletic scholarship. At UB he continues to hold records in steals and assists, ranking him third in school history. Cox, also has the highest career assist total in UB’s Division 1 era. His 8 steals in a game still stands as a record. Cox holds two of the top ten highest single season assist marks at UB.
​          After UB, Modie went on to play professional basketball in both Europe and Africa averaging 15 points and 9 assists per game. In 2004 he returned home to play for the Buffalo Rapids and Silverbacks of the American Basketball Association.

                                           BWAP - Brothers With A Purpose

WHEN:      Thurs. Jan 19, 2017 
WHERE:    City Reach Buffalo, 260 Eggert Road, Buffalo
WHY:         We mentor young people 16-30 yrs. old through basketball, guest speakers and dinner
COST:        $1.00
THE BWAP MISSION:
"We help 16-30 yr old young men become Christ-centered role models who mentor the next generation".

You can get involved by sponsoring a dinner, becoming a speaker, referee, greeter, or a BWAP chauffeur.
Call us today, life is short. Don't get to the end of your life and wish you had gotten involved in something eternal.
716-830-8240

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
​Jesus loves you and so do we. 

        Beyond your wildest dreams! Sammy V. exhorted the young men and young women at BWAP LXXXI to accept a life of nothing less.
      While Sammy detailed the adversities that he faced and overcame, the young people paid close attention as they can identify with adversity.
        Adversity is a normal part of life that will make you stronger. It's the only way to achieve your dreams.
        Passion for volunteering to share his inspirational story, Sammy Violante peaks to thousands of students every year. What are the 15 Most Powerful Words In The World?
 "BE WHO GOD MEANT YOU TO BE,
AND YOU WILL SET THE WORLD ON FIRE." - Sammy V.
 Thank you Sammy, for being an inspiration to our young folks. You left a lifelong impact on their hearts. Jesus loves you and so do we.   
 
 The following was taken from http://sammyviolante.com/
"Volunteerism has been a major component of my recovery from OCD and continues to keep me focused on
my WIN (What’s Important Now) philosophy!"

"Violante goes twice a week to Compass House, volunteering as a mentor.
Developing a great relationship with the youth counselors gave Violante
an opportunity to gain the trust of the young people there, he said."
"Violante now serves other organizations, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation and St. Gregory Youth Ministry in Amherst. He volunteers as a youth counselor and mentor assistant to disabled and disadvantaged children at Cradle Beach Camp in Angola and is a career life coach for the University at Buffalo School of Management. He is a 1975 graduate of UB."
"He also worked with Buffalo Bill, Trent Edwards and former Bill, Thurman Thomas at St. Adalbert's Response to Love Center in Buffalo feeding underprivileged children, he said. Recently, he also joined the Big Brother/Big Sister program and continues to give free motivational speeches to youth groups."
YWAP NOTE:
Sammy is a speaker who will inspire you to life beyond your wildest dreams, you can reach him at: 716-634-7294

The following information was taken from the Tiger Times.

     "You can do it” “I believe in you”-Sammy V.Posted on February 9, 2015 by lyndonvillecsd“You can do it” and “I believe in you,” were just some of the inspirational words Sammy Violante shared with Lyndonville 5th-12th grade students during an assembly Monday. Sammy shared his life story and the important lessons he learned along the way. With his speech focusing on adversity and how to overcome difficult situations in life, he inspired our students.

     Sammy shared how he thought he had it all; top career, money, wife, nice car, fancy house, etc. but was never completely happy. In his 40’s, Sammy was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and lost his successes to the disorder. It was through this rough patch that he learned he was never truly successful because he wasn’t happy in his life.  

     He took this adversity and turn it into something positive. With inspiration from his father, he sought help and eventually took charge of his OCD. Sammy saw this as a new opportunity to focus on what he loved, mentoring children.  Sammy began volunteering at the Compass House, an organization to help homeless and runaway teens.      
     He discusses his life story and teaches life lessons to children in order to inspire them to overcome any adversities they may face throughout their life.
Sammy’s main take away is to pursue your passion in life and only then will you be completely happy. He encourages students to work their hardest and go above and beyond. In the words of Sammy Violante, “attitude is altitude.”

For information about BWAP, please call 716-830-8240
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we. 
​JLYASDW

      BWAP has been a YWAP Program for several years. YWAP has been a successful ministry for over 15 years. Good ministries maintain a prayer focus as they adapt to God's leading through seasons of cultural change.
     When you look at the picture above, many things might be apparent. One of them is that BWAP is a lot more than basketball.
     Athletics is only a relationship building tool. We use basketball to gain an entry point into a trusting relationship that builds opportunities for young men to reach for their God-given potential.
     Purpose in life should be more than just staying alive. Our goal in the BWAP Program is to help 18-30 yr. old young men become Christ-centered role models who mentor the younger generation. Another way to say that would be; "We help old gangsters change their lives and teach them how to mentor "wannabe gangsters" by acting like a big brother instead of a gangster."

Rev. Will Coplin believes that God would have us change the meaning of BWAP to "BROTHERS WITH A PURPOSE." He came to that belief after he prayed. We agree for good reason, brothers hold each other accountable and are supposed to love one another.

"If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar;
for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen
cannot love God whom he has not seen."
1 John 4:20
 
"Whoever hates his brother is a murderer,
and you know that no murderer
has eternal life abiding in him."
1 John 3:15

Thanks for your time and praying for the young people at YWAP. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.
​#BWAP #LIFETICKET #JLYASDW