Kenny Hilliard is part of a group of NGU students who minister in the community through skateboarding.Reaching out to people where they are can be the best way to reach them for Christ – at least that is the theory of a group of North Greenville University students who are blending skateboarding and the gospel.
“Skateboarding has been connected with the punk culture and rebellion. There has been such a need to show that skateboarding can be a positive thing,” said Brandon Nelson, a senior from Summerville and a member of Crowfield Baptist Church.
A group of NGU students has done just that – using skateboarding, they are reaching out to bring local kids into a relationship with Christ. The team meets just a few minutes away from North Greenville’s campus at a home in the area.
“We skateboard from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and then do devotions from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mainly Brandon leads the devotions, but anyone can lead it if they want to. It is very open to discussions. We always meet Thursday at 5:30,” said Seth Anderson, a sophomore from Laurinburg, N.C., where he is a member of Stewartsville Baptist Church.
“The idea for turning this into a ministry came from the need. It’s all about building relationships, hanging out, skating, cracking jokes at each other and just encouraging each other,” said Nelson. “I enjoy both skating and the devotional time.”
“I’m good friends with Brandon, and we talked about it and actually kind of started it last year. But it didn’t really get kicked off until this semester,” said senior Kenny Hilliard, who is a member of First Baptist Church, Fountain Inn. “It means a lot to the kids to see guys our age who actually care about them. We’ve seen them grow a lot, and we have influenced them – or at least I hope we have. It really seems like we have.”
“I’ve been involved in this ministry since last semester. I’ve been able to fellowship with a lot of people you wouldn’t normally meet outside of college. This ministry is exposure that a lot of these kids normally wouldn’t get,” said Blake Rochester, a freshman Rock Hill and a member of Rock Hill First Baptist Church. “They come here to skate and then stay afterward and listen to what we have to say.”
The skateboarding and Bible study take place at the home of Brett Brown, who sees the impact it has made on his son Michael. “A lot of the kids are right off the road. This is kind of like a hangout,” said Brown. “I had the ramps and everything. I have a basement downstairs, and I thought it would be a good way for Michael to stay connected to kids at school his age. It’s a wonderful thing to have a Christian school this close. Why not have your kid involved with the kids there. This has been a big influence in Michael’s life. Brandon gives him a lot of advice that he wouldn’t take from me.”
“I get to spend time with God and hang out with friends,” said Michael Brown.
Some NGU faculty members have shown their support by bringing their children. “I have three boys – Isaac, who is 14; MacKenzie, who is 11; and Caleb, who is 9. We bring them here every week. This is a good opportunity for them to be able to practice skateboarding and to learn new moves from other people,” said Tony Gideon, a Spanish instructor.
“But the main reason we bring them here is because we know there is a spiritual aspect in this, and that the Lord is the center of this ministry. Brandon has been doing a very good job in devotions and leading and challenging the kids in their walk with God,” said Gideon. “I know that God has his hand on Brandon and the passion that Brandon has for young people. I know that God is using him, and will continue to use him in the future.”