Robinson lands on feet with help of UACCB, John 3:16, Bad Boy Mowers

BATESVILLE – Unfortunately not all stories have a happy ending. Thanks to the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, John 3:16 Ministries and Bad Boy Mowers, 31 year old Renard Robinson can proudly say he is back on his feet.

With the promise of a bright future ahead, Robinson impressed many as a three-year starting running back and honor roll student at Newport High School. He graduated in 1996 with an athletic scholarship to Arkansas State University where he played football for the Indians the fall of 1996 through spring of 1999. After a few troublesome years, Robinson came to John 3:16 Ministries in April 2007 looking for help.

John 3:16 is a spiritual based boot camp for men with drug and alcohol addiction. "My life was a wreck with drugs and alcohol. I thank the Lord that He put something on Brian and Beverly Tuggle's hearts to accept me into the camp," Robinson said. "I am so thankful that they saw something in me."

While at John 3:16, Robinson benefited from a partnership between the facility and UACCB that provided a new opportunity for the residents in the form of college classes. John 3:16 with the help of the community has established a scholarship through the UACCB Foundation to offset the costs of classes for the men of John 3:16.

"I started attending UACCB in the fall of 2007 and I am still enrolled," he said. "Choosing UACCB was one privilege of being a resident at John 3:16 Ministries. I always wanted to become a pilot so when I learned about the (Doyle "Rog" Rogers, Jr.,) aviation maintenance program I figured it wouldn't hurt me to learn how to maintain aircraft. My plans are to graduate from this program and to achieve my airframe and power plant certifications. I plan to stay enrolled and to complete two classes that I need to receive an associate’s degree in this field but I am in my last semester of the aviation program."

"I graduated (from John 3:16) January 6, 2008 and went on to the Unity House," he said. "It’s a place for single men to get back into the world and work force." Robinson was hired by Robert Foster and Phil Pulley at Bad Boy Mowers his second week in the Unity House and has been there over a year. "Life is good thanks to Jesus because without Him I am nothing, but with Him I can do all things."

"In my free time, if I have any, I spend it with my son, talking with my daughter or my parents, my fiancé Nikki, horseback riding, or looking up in the sky trying to identify airplanes." He said at times he attends his home church but attends services at John 3:16 most of the time. "I consider services at John 3:16 like going home on Sundays."

He continued by saying, "I would like to say thank you to everyone that has supported me these last couple of years. You all have been great!"