Jimmy Bradley

How did you meet Pastor Yadessa?

I met Pastor Solomon Yadessa during the opening ceremony of the Northwest Community Center in February 2016. We immediately connected as like-minded Believers and kept in touch over the ensuing months. He then asked me to help with a new ministry idea of welcoming Congolese and Rwandan refugees in the Vickery Meadow area. We started with a Saturday kids outreach and later invited them to bring their families to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church on Sundays.

How has working with the families being served be the MEMNT affected you spiritually?

Working with families in the Multi-Ethnic Ministry has been very spiritually rewarding. I have seen the kids grow spiritually over the last few years. Plus, their parents have been influenced to attend church on Sundays.

You have developed a strong relationship with the children and they look to you for guidance.  How did you build this rapport?

I care for them deeply. I pray for them and their parents. When Pastor Solomon needed me to pick up kids and take them back home, it was an easy decision and helped me build a strong relationship with them. You get to know them fairly well while transporting them from home to church and back.

How do you use your professional skills while volunteering with the ministry?  

I am blessed to help my dad, Brad Bradley, with his photography business. He is very well known and a pioneer in sports photography. I have been able to use modern technology to photograph the kids playing (the photo accompanying this article is his), worship services, Karibu weekend program activities, confirmations, and baptisms.

How do you make time to help with the ministry?

Before I met Pastor Solomon I was visiting Vickery Meadow to assist refugee families and ultimately introduce them to Jesus Christ. Since meeting Pastor, it has been a privilege to help him as brother and friend. I believe the Lord called me to help him five years ago and to continue in some aspect today, though my time now is spent primarily caring for my 98 years “young” dad.