Last week we used our art supplies from All Church to learn the verse Isaiah 64:8 “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand”. 

 As we molded the clay on Tuesday some of the kids lost their patience, and it was a great opportunity for us to see just how patient our Father in heaven is with us as he molds us.

 On Wednesday, the kids were excited to see how their pots were drying, again it was a good reminder of how our Father in heaven watches jealously over us. We made sure to not touch our pots, so we wouldn’t interrupt the drying process. We explained to the kids, there may be times in life when you don’t feel the Lord-but you can trust He is always watching over the work of His hand. 

 On Thursday we painted the pots! The kids loves seeing their creation take on “new life” with the colors. We were reminded of how we are all human and made from dust, but have different features and colors the Lord used to make us unique. And how a relationship with God can add color to our lives. 

 Finally, on Friday we discussed how we should treat one another, since we are all the handy work of God. It was a great week of application and learning different qualities of our Father in heaven.

One thing I believe God rewards is FAITHFULNESS. This is James, who’s been a part of this ministry for many years. Here he is sweeping the gym – no requests, no probing, no incentives – just because it’s in his HEART to do.

He just does it because he’s “in the Lord’s house”. He enjoys the devotionals and prayers and is a regular each week.

Continue to speak blessing over those who “labor among you” in Jesus’ name.

Living the Christian life, we often ask ourselves and God questions. Probably the No. 1 question is, “What does God want with me?’

The answer is found in Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

What does that look like?

Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:7-38: “…’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’… You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Last week we hihglighted new board member Steve Peterson; this week we will focus on Johnny Alexander.

Johnny became involved with Lord’s Gym Ministries through the bicycle program. He volunteered to repair bicycles with our youth.

“I immediately became interested in all the wonderful things the Lord’s Gym is doing and I wanted to be involved,” he said. “For me it’s about a connection to the city and serving Christ in a meaningful way – helping out the people in our city who are hurting the most.”

Johnny, 47, came to know Jesus in 1992, his freshman year at Miami University. He ran track and joined the Christian organization Athletes in Action, where he learned what life was like with a relationship with Jesus.

Excited to be a part of the board, Johnny hopes it will be an opportunity to continue growing in the Lord. He’s also excited to “come along side others following Jesus who are working to change hearts and show others Jesus.”

It was April 1, 2001, a week before the Cincinnati Riots, that I left the corporate world and came to work for FOCAS.

At the time, we operated the original Lord’s Gym and Lord’s

Pantry in Over-the-Rhine; and, we were actively involved in serving a remote region of Haiti, which is where Dick started FOCAS in 1986.

So many lives have been transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and much has changed operationally in 20 years. Today we have three locations and a mobile ministry. Betsy and I could not be more thankful to everyone who has made it possible for us to serve in such a wonderful ministry.

To celebrate, I’m planning to ride (that is peddle) my way across the U.S. along the Trans American (TransAm) Bicycle Trail starting early May 2021. It should take three months to cover 4,200 miles.

I enjoy biking. It is now a popular ministry tool with our youth and leaders. Last year we biked and camped 280 miles together.

I decided in 2018, to set my eyes on the TransAm Trail with the goal of accomplishing it by Dec 2022 when I will be 65. My anniversary year seemed to be the perfect time.

My goal is to hear from God concerning my next 20 years of ministry. I will report each day a word of encouragement and what I’m learning.

An additional goal is to bring attention to FOCAS’ virtual athletic event for youth called the Youth Resiliency Adventure. You can think of it as Scott’s Youth Resiliency Adventure on the TransAm Bicycle Trail.

There is so much more to share with you as I would love to bring you along for the ride via social media outlets and the like. More on this to follow. My personal website is YRAdventure/Scotts-YRA.

You can use your change to help me bring about change in the Tri-State or your own backyard. I am asking for you to prayerfully consider investing a penny, nickel, dime, quarter, or dollar per mile or an amount God places on your heart. You can invest at https://bit.ly/ScottsYRAdonate. Select the option Scott’s TransAm YRA to give. Funds raised will support trip expenses and the YRA. I also would appreciate your prayers in the planning and execution of this huge

undertaking, especially in a tumultuous Covid-19 environment.

Stand Firm, Scott Bowers

Rodger Mishler and Mike Miller have retired from the board and we welcome Steve Peterson and Johnny Alexander. This issue we will highlight Steve; the next issue, Johnny. We are very grateful to our board.

Steve 56, can relate to many of the men who walk through the doors at the Lord’s Gyms. He once struggled with addiction.

In his 40s, while in Cleveland, Steve lived across the street from a church. Church goers would frequent his porch to speak with and pray for him. “They wore me down,” he laughed. Their kindness and persistence changed his heart.

Steve eventually came to Cincinnati and got on his road to recovery. He began working at Lord’s Gym, after several years of

working out and volunteering. Now he serves on the board.

“This ministry is important to me first because it was there to help me as a client in recovery – helping me grow physically and mentally and spiritually,” he said. “It also provided an outlet to give back what I had been given. It is definitely an important part of this tri-state area and the people it serves.”

Next week we will feature new Board Member Johnny Alexander.

Throughout the Bible we see how God makes his covenants (promises) with the man. One of the first pacts was the rainbow.

Sometimes we take for granted that everyone understands and knows what one of the most visible and palpable signs and covenants of God with humanity means. To our surprise, most of them(16 kids at the Family Activity Center) did not know what the rainbow means!

It was nice to be able to explain what the rainbow means and how that represents the faithfulness of the God we serve.

One of the kids said that there is not much difference between what happened before the flood and the times today. It was certainly an excellent observation! It was also exciting to let him know that we now have a lifeline in these floods of the pandemic, divisions, and moral crisis. That salvation, that solution, is faith and hope in Christ our Savior!

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

“Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

“I have decided to stick to love… Hate is too great a burden to bear.”