MINISTRY HISTORY & PROGRESSION
1990-1991
Cleveland Glenville, Cleveland JFK, Maple Heights, and Solon high schools.
1991-1993
Revere, Buchtel, Firestone, Cuyahoga Falls, and Medina high schools plus Kent State U.
1993-1997
Revere, Buchtel, Central-Hower, Ellet, Firestone, Garfield, North, CVCA, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Medina, Highland,
Medina 1st Baptist Christian., and Norton high schools.
1998-1999
Revere, Buchtel, Garfield, Canton South, Cuyahoga Falls, and Hudson high schools.
1999-2007
Cleveland Browns individuals (Irv Smith, Corey Fuller) 1999-2000. St. V–St. M bsktball (1999-2008), Hudson HS fb, Akron U. bsktbll (since 2003), Akron U. fb (since 2005), Kent St fb (1999-2003), Minor League Baseball (since 2003), Club Hockey (since 2002), Christian Hockey Camp (2002-2007), Children’s Teams (13 basketball teams, 9 baseball teams over 8 yrs), “Sports Plus” (weekly) Summer Outreach Camp at Hope Community Church, Hudson, Cleveland Indians minor league ministry (Tim Drew, Jon Hamilton, then chaplain ministry), Shawn Lazarus (since 2006) – guest speaking, Northwest HS
2008-2010
Hudson HS Fb, Streetsboro HS Football, Streetsboro Middle School Basketball, St. V-St. Mary lunch devotional visits, Ted Ginn Academy (Glenville Fb, 2007-09), Minor League Baseball (Cleveland Indians), Pro Baseball (numerous individuals in various organizations in both majors/minors organizations), Youth Baseball (4 teams), Youth Basketball (4 teams), St. Akron U basketball (coach, individuals).
Shawn Lazarus’ ministry: Michigan FB, MAC FB chapels, Akron Aeros chaplain, Northwest HS, Safety City - Canal Fulton, Guest visits to HS Fb teams, Mentoring men now ministering/coaching.
2011-2013
Western Reserve HS FB, Pro Baseball (Cleveland Indians minors chaplain, numerous MLB, MILB players), Akron U basketball team (counseling), Akron St. V-St. Mary lunch devotional visits, Canton Charge - chaplain (D-league).
Shawn Lazarus’ ministry: Michigan FB, MAC chapels, Akron Aeros chaplain, Northwest HS, Safety City - Canal Fulton, Guest visits to HS Fb teams, Mentoring men now ministering/coaching.
2013-Present
Streetsboro Youth Basketball, Akron St.V-St. Mary lunch devotional visits, Akron U basketball team (counseling),
Canton Charge – chaplain (D-league), Minor league baseball. Summer Sports Camp weekly at Hope Community Church.
Mentoring of coaches, educators, ministers, leaders.
Shawn Lazarus’ ministry: Michigan FB chapel speaker, Akron Aeros chaplain, Northwest HS, Safety City - Canal Fulton,
Guest visits to HS Fb teams, Mentoring men now ministering/coaching.
SPECIAL MOMENTS IN TEAM JAM HISTORY
1993 Irv Smith is selected in the 1st round of the NFL draft (N.O. Saints). Chicago branch of TEAM JAM begins, led by Mike Kuykendall.
TEAM JAM competes in it’s first “All-American Cage Classic” basketball tournament.
1995 Tai Streets (Chicago) plays for Chicago TEAM JAM basketball team. Tai goes on to play football for the University of Michigan and SF 49ers.
Basketball Development league is provided for Revere middle school athletes.
1996 Due to Karel Smith’s testimony as a HS athlete at Buchtel, John is introduced to Joe Paterno and future Rutgers and Tampa Bay head coach Greg Schiano.
This becomes a key moment in Coach Schiano's testimony. Jimmy Oliver is selected, and becomes leading score, for the U.S. national basketball team in the World Championships, earning a Bronze medal.
1997 Ryan Lawrence tragically dies in an amusement park accident shortly after graduation. The testimony of his relationship with Christ lives on, sparking revival among Hudson HS students. Dozens come to know Christ. Greg Lewis and Scott Stewart graduate from Medina First Baptist Christian School.
1998 Rob Eggers and Landon Hackim represent and compete with Athletes in Action’s national basketball team. Almost 30 young men travel to an Atlanta–Detroit football game in Detroit, stay in the Falcons hotel and hear Atlanta's Ed Smith share his testimony. STEP 2 owner Tom Murdough give us two free Super Bowl tickets. The first TEAM JAM athlete plays in the Super Bowl (Ed Smith). Chad Mraz attends his first year at Akron SVSM.
1999 Irv Smith is the first player acquired by the “new” Cleveland Browns in a trade with the SF 49ers. Irv talks about John in local media coverage. Landon Hackim’s efforts at Cuyahoga Falls HS result in over 25 students coming to know Christ. The Divine Soldiers (Jason/Brandon Wallace) reacquaint with TEAM JAM and combine efforts. Over 2500 young people profess Christ thru their concerts. John is introduced to an Akron SVSM freshman named LeBron James by his high school coach (and future Akron U. coach), Keith Dambrot. Keith suggests that he spend more time helping the team and LeBron.
2000 Kyle Mraz becomes the first TEAM JAM athlete to graduate from Christian college.
2001 Dante Booker receives a scholarship to Auburn U. and is featured in numerous newpaper articles locally. Damien Wilkins (Georgia U.) surrenders his life to Christ while TEAM JAM visits Dante Booker and his Auburn teammates at a game against Georgia.
2001 Lunch time Bible Studies at St. V. begin with basketball team members throughout the 2001-02 and 02-03 school years. The Hurley brothers (state wrestling champions) give their lives to Christ. Brad Jackson (Akron Firestone) becomes the first TEAM JAM athlete to win a Super Bowl Championship (Baltimore Ravens).
2002 Greg Lewis and John Saucier are featured in “Sports Illustrated” magazine and in South Carolina’s “The Herald” newspaper. Greg graduates from Winthrop U.
John joins Tim Drew in Georgia and Florida as Tim sponsors over 20 peers (including future 1st round pick and major league brother Stephen Drew) attend a Promise Keeper event. Tim then makes the opening day roster for the Cleveland Indians.
Our last TEAM JAM basketball team defeats the NEO Shooting Stars (LeBron played for NEO Shooting Stars) in a local tourney. (Of course, NEO came back to beat us in the championship). Game results were covered by the 11pm Cleveland news stations. The team included Romeo Travis, Matt Futch, Rishawn Norwood, Chris Steens, future country music singer Matt Stell, and Chad Mraz. TEAM JAM assists in helping Hockey Ministries International establish a Christian Hockey camp in Cleveland.
2003 TEAM JAM is featured in Baptist Bulletin’s monthly magazine and AWANA’s monthly publication. LeBron James is the first TEAM JAM athlete to be selected in the first round of the NBA draft – selected 1st overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Mike Rupp scores the game winning goal in game 7 for New Jersey in the Stanley Cup finals of the NHL.
2004 – John is asked by Baseball Chapel to be a chaplain for the Cleveland Indians rookie team affiliate, Mahoning Valley, in Niles, Ohio. Dr. Ryan Faulkner (Revere HS ’97) is featured in a publication for his work with young people in treatment programs. Jake Coyle accepts Christ as his Savior in the middle of an ice rink during our camp.
2005 - John is asked to give chapels prior to football games for Akron U. and Akron U. opponents. Several baseball players on Johnathan Saucier’s, TEAM JAM sponsored, baseball team as Christ to be their Savior during the season. Hudson HS assistant football coach Jeff Hildebrand asks Christ to be his Savior during pre-game warm-ups before one of his games. Shawn Lazarus gives his testimony for the first time at a Divine Soldiers Concert. TEAM JAM hosts it’s first Christian Hockey Camp (separate from HMI)
2006 – While guest speaker at FCA's week long camp in Springfield, Illinois. Former pro hockey player, Mark Bassen, leads worship. Andy McCollum (St. Louis Rams), makes a guest appearance sharing his testimony. The week culminates in 170 teenage campers professing in their camp evaluations that they asked Christ to be their Savior for the first time. There were only a little over 200 (202) campers who attended the urban camp. Mahoning Valley players share their testimony at a “Faith Day” event after one of their baseball games.
Shawn Lazarus becomes Associate Director, beginning his outreach ministry.
TEAM JAM begins printing “trading cards” that feature player testimonies. There are presently 16 different cards that the athletes autograph and hand out all over the country. Tug Hulett, Shawn Lazarus (2), Joel Penton, Dwight Howard, Ben Zobrist (2), Drew Holder, Drew Sutton (2), Fred Bucci, Damien Wilkins, J.R. Towles, Josh Holden, Cody Strait, and Mike Rupp.
Mike DeRienzo (from the “Hudson revival” in 1997), heads to Iraq to serve as a Army Chaplain.
Mike had already been serving Christ as a youth pastor and was friend of the the (Ryan) Lawrence family (see 1997)
Kevin Sunde counts over 3000 people to have visited his property/home in Medina for the purpose of ministry, ranging from campouts, cookouts, sporting events, team practices, Sports camps, Fishing derbies, school and church events. These activities take place year after year
2007 “TEAM UP” events led by Shawn Lazarus, Joel Penton, and the Divine Soldiers begin.
Shawn Lazarus (Michigan FB) and Maurice Clarett (Ohio State FB) begin corresponding by mail.
LeBron James becomes the first TEAM JAM athlete to play in the NBA Championships.
Three minor league Indians surrender their lives to Christ.
John is asked to be co-chaplain for the Akron U. football team.
Shawn Lazarus begins conducting “Safety City” annually in Canal Fulton.
Hudson FB coaches lead football chapels of over 40 players on a weekly basis, even leading several team members to Christ.
2008 - Streetsboro HS football coach requests team chapel.. Several members of Johnathan Saucier’s 8th grade basketball team surrender their lives to Christ and start attending church youth group together. They also win their league championship. Several visiting minor league baseball team players request relationship with Shawn Lazarus to begin spiritually mentoring them. The Mealer family from Wauseon, Ohio suffers tragic car accident. Lazarus begins ministering to family due to meeting them at “Rivals” event. When Elliot Mealer goes to Michigan fb, the follow up with him leads to ministry with the fooball team.
2009 Shawn Lazarus leads a Double A minor league umpire to Christ.
1990-1991
Cleveland Glenville, Cleveland JFK, Maple Heights, and Solon high schools.
1991-1993
Revere, Buchtel, Firestone, Cuyahoga Falls, and Medina high schools plus Kent State U.
1993-1997
Revere, Buchtel, Central-Hower, Ellet, Firestone, Garfield, North, CVCA, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Medina, Highland,
Medina 1st Baptist Christian., and Norton high schools.
1998-1999
Revere, Buchtel, Garfield, Canton South, Cuyahoga Falls, and Hudson high schools.
1999-2007
Cleveland Browns individuals (Irv Smith, Corey Fuller) 1999-2000. St. V–St. M bsktball (1999-2008), Hudson HS fb, Akron U. bsktbll (since 2003), Akron U. fb (since 2005), Kent St fb (1999-2003), Minor League Baseball (since 2003), Club Hockey (since 2002), Christian Hockey Camp (2002-2007), Children’s Teams (13 basketball teams, 9 baseball teams over 8 yrs), “Sports Plus” (weekly) Summer Outreach Camp at Hope Community Church, Hudson, Cleveland Indians minor league ministry (Tim Drew, Jon Hamilton, then chaplain ministry), Shawn Lazarus (since 2006) – guest speaking, Northwest HS
2008-2010
Hudson HS Fb, Streetsboro HS Football, Streetsboro Middle School Basketball, St. V-St. Mary lunch devotional visits, Ted Ginn Academy (Glenville Fb, 2007-09), Minor League Baseball (Cleveland Indians), Pro Baseball (numerous individuals in various organizations in both majors/minors organizations), Youth Baseball (4 teams), Youth Basketball (4 teams), St. Akron U basketball (coach, individuals).
Shawn Lazarus’ ministry: Michigan FB, MAC FB chapels, Akron Aeros chaplain, Northwest HS, Safety City - Canal Fulton, Guest visits to HS Fb teams, Mentoring men now ministering/coaching.
2011-2013
Western Reserve HS FB, Pro Baseball (Cleveland Indians minors chaplain, numerous MLB, MILB players), Akron U basketball team (counseling), Akron St. V-St. Mary lunch devotional visits, Canton Charge - chaplain (D-league).
Shawn Lazarus’ ministry: Michigan FB, MAC chapels, Akron Aeros chaplain, Northwest HS, Safety City - Canal Fulton, Guest visits to HS Fb teams, Mentoring men now ministering/coaching.
2013-Present
Streetsboro Youth Basketball, Akron St.V-St. Mary lunch devotional visits, Akron U basketball team (counseling),
Canton Charge – chaplain (D-league), Minor league baseball. Summer Sports Camp weekly at Hope Community Church.
Mentoring of coaches, educators, ministers, leaders.
Shawn Lazarus’ ministry: Michigan FB chapel speaker, Akron Aeros chaplain, Northwest HS, Safety City - Canal Fulton,
Guest visits to HS Fb teams, Mentoring men now ministering/coaching.
SPECIAL MOMENTS IN TEAM JAM HISTORY
1993 Irv Smith is selected in the 1st round of the NFL draft (N.O. Saints). Chicago branch of TEAM JAM begins, led by Mike Kuykendall.
TEAM JAM competes in it’s first “All-American Cage Classic” basketball tournament.
1995 Tai Streets (Chicago) plays for Chicago TEAM JAM basketball team. Tai goes on to play football for the University of Michigan and SF 49ers.
Basketball Development league is provided for Revere middle school athletes.
1996 Due to Karel Smith’s testimony as a HS athlete at Buchtel, John is introduced to Joe Paterno and future Rutgers and Tampa Bay head coach Greg Schiano.
This becomes a key moment in Coach Schiano's testimony. Jimmy Oliver is selected, and becomes leading score, for the U.S. national basketball team in the World Championships, earning a Bronze medal.
1997 Ryan Lawrence tragically dies in an amusement park accident shortly after graduation. The testimony of his relationship with Christ lives on, sparking revival among Hudson HS students. Dozens come to know Christ. Greg Lewis and Scott Stewart graduate from Medina First Baptist Christian School.
1998 Rob Eggers and Landon Hackim represent and compete with Athletes in Action’s national basketball team. Almost 30 young men travel to an Atlanta–Detroit football game in Detroit, stay in the Falcons hotel and hear Atlanta's Ed Smith share his testimony. STEP 2 owner Tom Murdough give us two free Super Bowl tickets. The first TEAM JAM athlete plays in the Super Bowl (Ed Smith). Chad Mraz attends his first year at Akron SVSM.
1999 Irv Smith is the first player acquired by the “new” Cleveland Browns in a trade with the SF 49ers. Irv talks about John in local media coverage. Landon Hackim’s efforts at Cuyahoga Falls HS result in over 25 students coming to know Christ. The Divine Soldiers (Jason/Brandon Wallace) reacquaint with TEAM JAM and combine efforts. Over 2500 young people profess Christ thru their concerts. John is introduced to an Akron SVSM freshman named LeBron James by his high school coach (and future Akron U. coach), Keith Dambrot. Keith suggests that he spend more time helping the team and LeBron.
2000 Kyle Mraz becomes the first TEAM JAM athlete to graduate from Christian college.
2001 Dante Booker receives a scholarship to Auburn U. and is featured in numerous newpaper articles locally. Damien Wilkins (Georgia U.) surrenders his life to Christ while TEAM JAM visits Dante Booker and his Auburn teammates at a game against Georgia.
2001 Lunch time Bible Studies at St. V. begin with basketball team members throughout the 2001-02 and 02-03 school years. The Hurley brothers (state wrestling champions) give their lives to Christ. Brad Jackson (Akron Firestone) becomes the first TEAM JAM athlete to win a Super Bowl Championship (Baltimore Ravens).
2002 Greg Lewis and John Saucier are featured in “Sports Illustrated” magazine and in South Carolina’s “The Herald” newspaper. Greg graduates from Winthrop U.
John joins Tim Drew in Georgia and Florida as Tim sponsors over 20 peers (including future 1st round pick and major league brother Stephen Drew) attend a Promise Keeper event. Tim then makes the opening day roster for the Cleveland Indians.
Our last TEAM JAM basketball team defeats the NEO Shooting Stars (LeBron played for NEO Shooting Stars) in a local tourney. (Of course, NEO came back to beat us in the championship). Game results were covered by the 11pm Cleveland news stations. The team included Romeo Travis, Matt Futch, Rishawn Norwood, Chris Steens, future country music singer Matt Stell, and Chad Mraz. TEAM JAM assists in helping Hockey Ministries International establish a Christian Hockey camp in Cleveland.
2003 TEAM JAM is featured in Baptist Bulletin’s monthly magazine and AWANA’s monthly publication. LeBron James is the first TEAM JAM athlete to be selected in the first round of the NBA draft – selected 1st overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Mike Rupp scores the game winning goal in game 7 for New Jersey in the Stanley Cup finals of the NHL.
2004 – John is asked by Baseball Chapel to be a chaplain for the Cleveland Indians rookie team affiliate, Mahoning Valley, in Niles, Ohio. Dr. Ryan Faulkner (Revere HS ’97) is featured in a publication for his work with young people in treatment programs. Jake Coyle accepts Christ as his Savior in the middle of an ice rink during our camp.
2005 - John is asked to give chapels prior to football games for Akron U. and Akron U. opponents. Several baseball players on Johnathan Saucier’s, TEAM JAM sponsored, baseball team as Christ to be their Savior during the season. Hudson HS assistant football coach Jeff Hildebrand asks Christ to be his Savior during pre-game warm-ups before one of his games. Shawn Lazarus gives his testimony for the first time at a Divine Soldiers Concert. TEAM JAM hosts it’s first Christian Hockey Camp (separate from HMI)
2006 – While guest speaker at FCA's week long camp in Springfield, Illinois. Former pro hockey player, Mark Bassen, leads worship. Andy McCollum (St. Louis Rams), makes a guest appearance sharing his testimony. The week culminates in 170 teenage campers professing in their camp evaluations that they asked Christ to be their Savior for the first time. There were only a little over 200 (202) campers who attended the urban camp. Mahoning Valley players share their testimony at a “Faith Day” event after one of their baseball games.
Shawn Lazarus becomes Associate Director, beginning his outreach ministry.
TEAM JAM begins printing “trading cards” that feature player testimonies. There are presently 16 different cards that the athletes autograph and hand out all over the country. Tug Hulett, Shawn Lazarus (2), Joel Penton, Dwight Howard, Ben Zobrist (2), Drew Holder, Drew Sutton (2), Fred Bucci, Damien Wilkins, J.R. Towles, Josh Holden, Cody Strait, and Mike Rupp.
Mike DeRienzo (from the “Hudson revival” in 1997), heads to Iraq to serve as a Army Chaplain.
Mike had already been serving Christ as a youth pastor and was friend of the the (Ryan) Lawrence family (see 1997)
Kevin Sunde counts over 3000 people to have visited his property/home in Medina for the purpose of ministry, ranging from campouts, cookouts, sporting events, team practices, Sports camps, Fishing derbies, school and church events. These activities take place year after year
2007 “TEAM UP” events led by Shawn Lazarus, Joel Penton, and the Divine Soldiers begin.
Shawn Lazarus (Michigan FB) and Maurice Clarett (Ohio State FB) begin corresponding by mail.
LeBron James becomes the first TEAM JAM athlete to play in the NBA Championships.
Three minor league Indians surrender their lives to Christ.
John is asked to be co-chaplain for the Akron U. football team.
Shawn Lazarus begins conducting “Safety City” annually in Canal Fulton.
Hudson FB coaches lead football chapels of over 40 players on a weekly basis, even leading several team members to Christ.
2008 - Streetsboro HS football coach requests team chapel.. Several members of Johnathan Saucier’s 8th grade basketball team surrender their lives to Christ and start attending church youth group together. They also win their league championship. Several visiting minor league baseball team players request relationship with Shawn Lazarus to begin spiritually mentoring them. The Mealer family from Wauseon, Ohio suffers tragic car accident. Lazarus begins ministering to family due to meeting them at “Rivals” event. When Elliot Mealer goes to Michigan fb, the follow up with him leads to ministry with the fooball team.
2009 Shawn Lazarus leads a Double A minor league umpire to Christ.