PEA RIDGE — He doesn’t profess to be an athlete and at 50, walking 100 miles is no small feat for Edwin Brewer, pastor of First Assembly of God, Pea Ridge.
His love for young people propels him, even when his hip starts hurting and he stops at a local business to rest before moving on.
“My body is not enjoying thisat all,” Brewer said, smiling, “but it’s worth it, seeing the kids, the smiles on their faces, trying to put hope in their lives. It’s worth that.”
Trying to walk from one to two miles a day, Brewer has already gone past his half-way mark.
“It does take a lot of time,” Brewer said.
Providing after school care for sixth- to 12th-graders, the youth program at the church has expanded to ministering to nearly90 young people on Wednesday evenings.
“We have games, feed them and then break into age groups for ministry teams,” Brewer said.
The children are picked up from school and given a ride to the church on Weston Street.
Several adults work at the program, monitoring the activities and preparing and serving the food. One restaurant, Rainbow House, donates a meal once a month. Tysons also donates food.
Activities include soccer, flag football, ping pong, fooseball, air hockey, Xbox, Wii and a movie room.
“All the money I raise is to pay for the equipment and the food,” Brewer said, adding that he would like to be able to put in a concrete slab for basketball and possibly a skate park in the future.
“I love kids. There’s all typesof different kids out there.
Some kids are thriving, you never wonder if they’ll be successful. We’re there to cheer them on,” he said.
“For the kids that don’t believe in themselves, who don’t have a lot of hope, I want them to know that they can do anything they put their minds to. Maybe we can build hope in thekids that don’t have hope.
All things are possible through Jesus Christ.”
Brewer said that several years ago he began dealing with someone close to him who was struggling because of abuse and it gave him more insight into some of the issues today’s young people face.
“Ultimately, this hasnothing to do with me, counting the other group that comes in at 6 p.m., there is a team of 15 to 20 people who have committed up to four years into this,” Brewer said. “I was asked one time to define ministry. Basically, it’s just touching lives.
“It can’t be about me and it can’t be about you, it’sabout God’s ministry and about touching lives. It’s about those kids. I’m walking for our future. My worship leader, Rob Larue, is walking also,” he said.
Anyone wanting to sponsor Brewer or Larue on their walks or contribute to the ministry is asked to contact First Assembly of God Church.
News, Pages 1 on 03/21/2012