- Pastor Bob Sparenberg Show 3-24-10
The idea that each one of us should “ride” (live) for a reason seems logical. In fact, when children discover the reason for their existence, their self-worth is transformed and attitudes dramatically improve. This belief is embodied in the person of Pastor Bob Sparenberg. Bob is a motocross enthusiast who emigrated from Belgium. He often jokes about being a B.A.D Boy—you see B.A.D stands for a “Belgian Against Drugs.”
Bob initially founded the De Coster’s Kids Program in 1980 with five-time world champion—Rodger De Coster. Pastor
Bob and his team travel from school to school with a mobile education unit, consisting of a 40-foot race team trailer that functions as a classroom complete with exhibits showing the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, smoking and gang violence. I had the privilege of seeing this program in action last summer and was thrilled to have Pastor Bob as a guest on our show.
The Mobile Education Unit
One of Bob’s favorite quotes is from a book called Temperance which reads like this,
“There is everywhere a work to be done for those who through intemperance have fallen. In the midst of churches, [schools], religious institutions, and professedly Christian homes, many of the youth are choosing the path to destruction. Through intemperate habits they bring upon themselves disease, and through greed to obtain money for sinful indulgence they fall into dishonest practices. Health and character are ruined. Aliens from God, outcasts from society, these poor souls feel that they are without hope either for this life or for the life to come. The hearts of the parents are broken. Men speak of these erring ones has hopeless; but not so does God regard them. He understands all the circumstances that have made them what they are, and He looks upon them with pity. This is a class that [demands] help. Never give them occasion to say, “No man cares for my soul.” (Temperance, White, pg. 126)
When I was a kid my dad bought a Suzuki 90. It had a beautiful blue body with a chrome gas tank, and I wanted to learn to drive it. I was about twelve, and my dad didn’t think I was ready. I begged and begged. Finally he let me try it out. He told me how to do everything, but it wasn’t until I got on it, powered up the engine, and took off that I really began to learn. Yes, I made many mistakes and went through hedges, over ditches, through pot holes with my dad yelling directions, and me trying to gain control. When I finally came to a stop I burned my leg on the exhaust pipe. And did that stop me? No, I drove it whenever I had a chance.
Yes, each one of us should “ride” for a reason. Only by “riding” for a reason can we stop some of the pain that comes with addictive and high-risk behaviors.
