100 People Network

Profile written by Eric Lee; Photography by Phillip Glickman

“Thanks to Michael Jordan and God’s sovereignty, basketball is a huge global ministry opportunity,” explains Ronnie Bush, the fourth Goer of the 100 People Network. This summer he’ll be moving to Taiwan to serve for two years. Ministry looks different for different people and for Ronnie, it will include using basketball to share God’s love in a country where a majority of the people are considered to be unreached people groups.

“It’s humbling to see how God’s brought together my passions and life experiences for such a time,” said Ronnie.

A former college basketball player at East Texas Baptist University and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Ronnie is now preparing to pack what few earthly possessions he can fit into a suitcase and then journey halfway across the world to a country he’s never visited… much less lived.

During high school, Ronnie did what all too many of us do: run from the truth. After growing up in church, he sat down for a heart-to-heart with God during his freshman year. “There’s no way I can live for You… no way I can give up the things You’re asking me to give up,” he rationalized. And, as Ronnie puts it, God let him wander away. It was the beginning of a dark time during which he idolized basketball and the approval it garnered, and he fell prey to the vain pursuit and lies of sin. But God wasn’t about to let Ronnie’s story end there. His senior year, Ronnie experienced an awakening of sorts as he realized his own depravity and need for complete surrender to his Savior.

Ronnie knows God used his high school experience to refine his faith and to prepare him for ministry.  The building of this foundation continued during his college years when circumstances landed Ronnie back home in small-town Danbury, Texas. While there, a leg injury kept him from his basketball career. In the wake of departing church leadership, Ronnie suddenly found himself surrounded by teenagers who desperately needed guidance. What he thought would be a two-month commitment serving the youth of Danbury turned into two years. But Ronnie wouldn’t trade any of it, including the chance to reconnect with his friend Brandon, a fellow ETBU basketball player. They have a friendship akin to David and Jonathan. Brandon later moved to Taiwan and ultimately became the catalyst for Ronnie’s own move when he asked Ronnie to consider ministry in a neighboring city.

Ronnie hopes – through God’s grace – that he’ll be able to utilize his biblical and theological training from Moody and his life experiences to develop a youth ministry at a young, English-speaking church plant in Taipei. Opportunities await him to share Christ with students and parents at a large school located within five miles of the church. He will also have the chance to teach from the pulpit part of the year and partner with the church to take the gospel to unreached people groups in Nepal.

What has Ronnie done to prepare for the cultural and linguistic differences that he will encounter?  Surprisingly, relatively little. He wants to be cautious about developing preconceived notions. “The language barrier is definitely scary. I can barely speak English and now I have to learn Chinese,” he joked. And while he says he’s a little nervous about being embraced by the local church, eating Taiwanese food, and being mistaken for rapper Eminem, he knows God will provide.

He is excited to see his relationship with Christ grow as he lives a life of total trust, surrender and child-like faith. “Ultimately what drives me is the glory of God,” Ronnie said. “When we love and reflect Him, He will save souls and the burden to reach people is no longer ours alone.” Ronnie can’t wait to meet and learn from the people of Taiwan, to serve alongside his fellow church leaders, and particularly to reconnect with his buddy, Brandon. Though they will be at different churches, they look forward to biblical community and encouragement as they share living quarters.

At the end of the day, Ronnie hopes the Taiwanese will say of him what Paul said of the Thessalonians – that he was so affectionate and loving, he didn’t just share the gospel, but he shared his very life with them (1 Thess. 2:8).  

So if you’re in Taiwan and spot “Eminem” sharing Christ and playing basketball with some local youth, stop and say hello. You’ll be glad you did. Ronnie will undoubtedly welcome you with open arms. Just be sure to pack your Air Jordans.