HOWARD BANKHEAD
Blog: January 2012
PUT GOD FIRST AND
THE YOUTH WILL BE SAVED!
As we know, to accomplish any significant goal requires the support and cooperation of others. I learned from experience that effective leadership is the key to any business, whether for profit or non-profit. But believe me, the first leader you need is God!
I have come to realize that when you are doing God’s work, you must first get his blessing. If you are in the business of youth development for the money, may be you don’t need Gods endorsement. But if you are in the business of youth development as a mission or ministry, God must be put first.
Let me tell you a brief story.
In 2001, due to medical problems with my knees, a good friend, Andre’ Harris, introduced me to golf. I behaved like the typical black man and said golf was for white boys, but I gave it a try. As I think about it now, I laugh; because I was very, very wrong. I will never forget it.
When I hit my first golf ball, I was hooked. From my perspective, golf is for anybody that loves a challenge and/or loves having fun at something that is hard to do.
In high school and college, I was a jock; a superstar in football and track. I was very competitive. Golf allows me to be a jock again, and I love it. In addition, golf teaches other values that I wish I had experienced as a child. Things like integrity, perseverance, responsibility and patience to name a few.
During the same time period in 2001, I realized that I didn’t like the images and behavior of basketball and football players, and the game. In my opinion, the players and the games had changed and adopted some of the same negative characteristics as rap music, the negative images, sex, violence and vulgarity.
As I started playing golf and with Tiger Woods emerging in the sport everything began to change. My discontent with the traditional sports of basketball and football; and with my introduction to one of the oldest; yet nontraditional sports, golf; is for me still mind boggling.
So, with my innate concern for youth and my stance against the negative influence of pop-culture through music and sports, I had to do something, not just complain. The impact of golf on my life, and by me wanting to give youth an opportunity and experience that I never had as a child, I founded the Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development program.
For some strange reason, I knew I was about to embark on something big! By starting these programs with no money, I knew any success I had was God’s doing. God was working in me, on me, and through me and I accepted Him. Now as I write and reflect back, I knew I was on the right path, but something was still missing!
In 2002, when I first started my youth golf program, I knew I had to be prayed up and get closer to God. A friend of mine, (Lynn Harris now deceased), gave me The One Year Bible.
Ironically, I was raised in the church, but I never read the bible. So, here I was 46 years old and I finally started reading the bible. So far, I have read the entire bible six times. From 2002 until 2010, I read the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs every day. However reading and studying the bible is not the same thing.
From 2002 to 2009, I presented youth life and golf skills to over 2,700 kid’s ages 7-18. I helped students get scholarships and positively impacted their lives and families. But something was still missing!
I thought that by reading the bible and doing God’s work by serving youth through my programs I would receive God’s blessings. But, instead of being blessed, it seems I was cursed! I had lost my youth golf program, I was sued, I am in debt and I am not able to provide for my loved ones. These are only a few of the curses that I am dealing with. But the worst curse of all is not being able to work with the children. I know several kids lives are negatively impacted due to the lack of the life and golf skills program.
I looked to my board members for leadership and support, but that was a mistake. In the non-profit world, the board is supposed to provide the resources needed to carry out the mission.
I now realize that the leadership that I depended on from the board… is from the Lord! Yes, a board’s responsibility is to fulfill its duties, but you must put God at the head of the board!
I believe that submitting and committing to the Lord; will help me get back what I lost and more.
My soon to be pastor told me that once I give myself to Jesus…God will forgive, restore and build my life back! He said God will make the latter greater than the former!
And I do believe!
Let me know your thoughts on this. Send me a message with your comments on my Youth Development Blog..
Howard Bankhead
Executive Director
Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development
604 Jordan Lane
Huntsville, AL 35816 USA
256-604-8172
