Middleman turns church’s burden into ministry’s blessing

WACO—Jesus’ instruction to his disciples—“Freely you have received; freely give”—not only guides Middleman Ministries’ approach to reaching teenagers on the margins of society. It also governs its approach to churches and other ministries.

Giving away custom-made skateboards and other equipment to young people who may consider themselves misfits offers Middleman Ministries an avenue for introducing teenagers to the free grace God offers in Jesus Christ.

In addition to skating clinics and outreach in skating parks, Middleman—a ministry partner of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco—also seeks to pair adult Christian mentors with young people. One way the adults and teens bond is by working together on old cars.

“They learn by doing—lessons about restoration, redemption and vision. … By working on old cars, they learn about restoring value to what some may not see as valuable,” said John Barnard, Middleman’s founding director.

The newest aspect of that ministry centers on turning old vans some churches may see as a burden into a gift other skateboarding ministries view as a blessing.

The church van initiative involves Middleman receiving donated old vans from churches that no longer need them. Mentors and teens then restore the vans, and Middleman gives them to other skateboarding ministries around the country.

Barnard sees the initiative as a “win-win” for everyone involved. Churches are freed from the responsibility of maintaining insurance and registration for vehicles they are not using. Mentors spend quality time with young people working on the vans. And skating ministries can use the vans to transport skaters and their equipment to events.

“This is a gamechanger, as most skate ministries in the country are volunteer-led with tiny—if any—budgets,” Barnard said.

Middleman is committed to making the process as easy for churches as possible, he noted.

“All a church does is hand over a title and the keys. We put the insurance in our name the same day,” Barnard said. “We even have a car hauler trailer if the van doesn’t start.”

Middleman then works with the receiving skateboard ministry to put the vehicle in their name within 30 days.

Pastor M.L. Walker of Living Witness Missionary Church in Waco recently turned over to Middleman Ministries the keys and title to a church van.

“He was excited to not have the burden of insurance anymore after four years of paying on a van that didn’t run,” Barnard said.

Any church interested in donating a van to Middleman Ministries can contact John Barnard at 979-270-0822 or john@middleman-ministries.org.