Expansion

Recently while volunteering at a high school that serves the Sunnyside community, a student named Jeremiah came up to me. The senior student asked, “What do you do?” I communicated I worked with a Christian nonprofit that teaches people how to share the gospel and helps them grow in their walk with God. Encouraged, he told me he was a Christian and would like to meet me next week.

The following week Tyrone Tompkins joined me, and Jeremiah came up to us. He shared the exciting news that he’s attending Alabama A&M university next year. I asked, “Why go out of state?” He expressed that he loved his community but believed that going away to college and experiencing a different way of life would help him to better serve his community when he returned.

Jeremiah asked Tyrone if he was married and had children. Tyrone shared yes to both questions. Jeremiah, looked in awe, exclaimed, “You are two Christian Black men, who are married and loved your families!”  He then asked if we could help him grow in his faith and teach him how to share his faith with others. Tyrone and I looked at each other and replied, “We could do that.”

Tyrone Tompkins and I cofounded the Batho Pele Resource Center (BPRC). Jeremiah represents the future, but Jeremiah lives in an underserved community. These communities lack the resources in four key areas of community (family, school, church, and business). The family lacks the resources to provide nurturing environments where parents and children can reach their full potential. The church lacks resources to offer social support and reach more individuals in need. School lacks resources to prepare young minds to become leaders and innovators of tomorrow. Small business lacks resources to create jobs to foster economic prosperity. In the spirit of hope and innovation, BPRC forges connections by linking underserved communities to essential resources.

Our mission is to empower, equip, and enrich lives, creating a tapestry of resilience and potential. Our vision is to develop underserved communities into Great Commission communities that draw people to Christ.

On the foundation of evangelism and discipleship, we see Jeremiah returning from Alabama A&M and becoming a husband, father, church member and business leader in Sunnyside helping this future Great Commission Community draw people to Christ.

Imagine a community where Christian families flourish, churches provide refuge through spiritual development, schools equip future leaders, and small businesses fuel economic growth. At Batho Pele Resource Center we believe this vision is possible.    

Tyrone and I shared this vision at a recent dinner and the principal at Eisenhower Ninth Grade School desired for us to begin our BPRC outreach on his campus. I am excited about expanding our ministry into the underserved community of Acres Homes.