The BLOC (Believing and Living One Christ)

Ephesians 4:4-6
There is one body and one spirit -- just as you were called to one hope when you were called -- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Mission of The BLOC:
Strengthening Families Through Student Communities

BLOC Ministries, or The BLOC as it's often called, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation registered in the state of Ohio. The BLOC is a para-church organization uniting community (churches, schools, local businesses, and individuals) in the common goal of helping to strengthen and rebuild families.

The primary focus is on junior and senior high teens and their parents. The BLOC works in schools, providing resources such tutoring, counseling, mentoring, after-school programs, and in-school student-lead bible studies and prayer groups. The BLOC also works with area school parent-teacher groups to co-sponsor other events for students. Our main focus is BLOC houses where we work with families daily.

This all started back in 1998 as a ministry to line with the community.

The BLOC - the Past

This led to a search for a way to accomplish "more than this." The answer came as a community-based ministry started to develop under the name of Knoxville Family Ministries. However, the timing and God's will did not seem to lead in the direction of bringing this para-church ministry fulfillment.

It was at this point that that two of the ministry's leaders were called to ministry in Cincinnati, Ohio. After two years, the local team began to feel that "there has to be more to it than this." This gave birth to some wonderful ideas that the group believed were given by God.

Ideas from the Knoxville Family Ministries, along with new and creative ideas, combined into a dream that we now refer to as The BLOC. They wanted to direct their attention to giving parents and students help and hope in their daily lives -- not just to youth alone.

The dream expanded into ideas such as nine months of events that would be gifts to the community. This led to a worship service for teens in September of 1996. Preparation for this had began the previous January with events that involved more than 1000 parents, teachers, and students, including: outdoor BLOC parties, Sports Mall over-nighters, educational seminars for parents, and encouragement cards for teachers.

Three teams were put together to launch the effort to work in the schools as a ministry in the 1996-97 school year. These teams were made up of teachers, parents, students, administrators, and coaches. The teams and their leaders developed their ideas of ministry, as well as, training one another in what parents, teachers, and students were able to do within the laws of church-and-state. The Lord opened every door that they came to in working with the schools. Doors that had been closed for two years were now swinging wide open to The BLOC.

During this school year, events were held each semester for Jr. High and Sr. High students, teachers, and parents. Because of their strengths, they focused on the areas of Delhi, Bridgetown, and Oak Hills schools in suburban Cincinnati. More than 3,500 people were reached in some way through events such as dances, assembly programs, teacher breakfasts, and parents' nights. During the school year, there were seven BLOC worship services at the Oak Hills High School auditorium with an average attendance of 150. The first year was a success, however they were not finished with the dream.

The summer gave time to lay the plans for the 1997-98 school year. It started a little different, as plans for ministry expanded beyond the school grounds into the community. One project was to construct a maze at the Harvest Home Fair (a local fall fair sponsored by the area Kiwanis Chapter), and to provide dinner for the workers at the fair. Another was to help area families with a Toy Store and dinner at Christmas time. There were other events for Jr. and Sr. High students, as well as, teachers and parents. Seven BLOC worship services at Oak Hills High School drew attendances up to 250. Overall, about 7,000 parents, teachers, and students were touched.

Doors continued to open and many folks in the area wanted to help. Individuals, community groups, and churches, as well as schools, asked to become a part of The BLOC. Organizations such as Young Life began to work with us to make a difference. BLOC has also joined with the Youth Emphasis Project and two local pregnancy care centers to educate families. More and more people want to know why The BLOC exists, and how they can help. The ministry continues to grow and mature.

The BLOC - the Present

The BLOC is now in the Three Rivers, Price Hill, Dearborn, Harrison and Westwood communities, which are located in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. At the same time, we continue to build on the foundation already in place in the Oak Hills community.

The BLOC - the Future

With God's guidance and provision, The BLOC will focus on developing the ministry on a larger scale in Price Hill as well as Harrison. We want to have larger BLOC houses to offer more to students and families.

We are now in Atlanta and developing in Nashville. Our hope is to also expand to Knoxville, TN.

The BLOC now has a large BLOC house in Cleves & smaller one in Price Hill. We run bible studies in 9 different schools. We have started 4 after school programs. We have everything from sports leagues to weight rooms to counseling and computer labs.

We also help with:

• Family counseling
• Tutoring programs
• After-school programs
• BLOC houses (homes and/or storefronts used as places for students, support group meetings, counseling, etc.)
• Support groups for teachers, parents, students, and families
• Teaching offered to all local churches through those gifted in the community
• On-line support groups and education through The BLOC website
• Community family events
• Community worship services

The goal is to bring this community together in support of the hope to "Rebuild the Family."

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