By Jennifer Edwards
WINTER SPRINGS -- Young boys hurling knives and cracking whips might be alarming at first glance, but in the back yard of Starlight Baptist Church it's done with good intentions.
On most any Thursday evening, about a dozen youngsters are learning to handle the dangerous weapons as members of the Starlight 1611 Crusaders Boys Club, which aims to teach them discipline, responsibility and respect. The club is named after the year the King James Bible was printed.
John Bailey, a church member, founded the club about eight years ago as a way to help guide boys into manhood.
Bailey uses combat weapons in his club because they are the tools he knows best. A professional knife thrower, Bailey developed his talent after a drunken driver struck his motorcycle in 1966. The accident damaged his left leg and made more rigorous athletics impossible.
To stay in shape, Bailey focused on his knack for throwing knives. He picked the sport up from his father and then honed his skills when he served in the Army. The motorcycle accident happened just days before the 19-year-old was to ship off to Vietnam. After his recovery, he still served in the Army but was not sent overseas.
"You should use your talents to help others," said Bailey, 53, who runs the club as a volunteer. "I would rather these boys throw knives in a safe environment instead of sneaking one out of the kitchen and throwing it into a tree. They might get hurt or break something, and all they're learning is deception that way.
"I want this club to help the boys to be well-grounded. By the time they are 12 years old, they should have no problem with their self-esteem. I try to help them develop the character to do the right thing on their own and not be malicious or destructive."
Bailey never had any children of his own, but he considers the club members "my boys." He runs a tight ship. All the boys address him as "Brother Bailey" or "Sir" and wear sharply creased uniforms of blue shirts and fatigue pants. Military-type lineups and prayers kick off each group meeting. When Bailey's authoritative but kindly voice rings out over the group, the kids halt and listen.
On a recent evening, the boys practiced throwing 12-inch knives and flicked bullwhips for about an hour as Bailey supervised and guided them.
"That`s great. Look at that. He didn't miss one," Bailey called out after 9-year-old Josh Posey threw a couple of knives into a target. "Way to go, Josh."
Many of the boys said they enjoy the competitiveness and sportsmanship of the club. Close friendships have developed among members, who can join the club at age 8. "We know Brother Bailey will always be here for us, and we can count on him," Josh said. "I look forward to this and can`t wait `til Thursdays so I can see him and all my friends." While some of the boys` parents admit to having uneasy nerves when they first heard about the weapons, they now praise the club.
"I was scared at first that my son was going to come home and start throwing knives, but that hasn`t happened," said Leo Dixon of Lake Mary, whose 11-year-old son, Christopher, is a member. "They are taught to use the knives and whips with caution and respect, not anger. It doesn`t bother me because of the tight supervision here."
At a recent club meeting, Bailey started the night off by reading a few Bible passages aloud and doling out some advice. "Everything we have is a gift from God, not something we`re entitled to," he told the boys. "When you`re dead and gone, you`re dead and gone. All the material stuff that you have just isn`t important. Helping and loving others is what will matter in 1,000 years. Keep that in mind. That`s very important in your life."
Then the boys attacked a pile of old appliances and electronics equipment. With Bailey`s help, they attempted to disassemble them and identify their parts. The boys eventually will be tested on the different types and uses of the tools they used in the exercise.
Bailey helped 11-year-old Shayne Garrow of Longwood unscrew the clear, plastic cover of a tape recorder.
"Golly, this thing isn`t coming apart for anything," Bailey said when he took over after Shayne made several unsuccessful attempts. Moments later, the top of the recorder popped off and Bailey handed the machine back to Shayne.
"Wow," Shayne said, impressed by Bailey`s strength. Then, he peered into the machine and asked Bailey, "Is this the motor?"
"It sure is," Bailey nodded, then called all the boys over to take a look at it, too.
Many parents said they have observed improvements in their sons after they joined the club. The young boys, they said, are more willing to take on leadership roles and responsibilities.
"Everything is positive," said Josh`s mother, Misty Posey of Winter Springs. "I have not seen anything negative out of Josh. He`s growing in the correct way now. It`s more than what any counselor could ever do for him."
Dixon added, "A lot of men today don`t spend time with their children. Clubs like this can help make up for that. Since my son has been involved, he wants to help me whenever there`s anything to be done and stays outdoors more instead of watching TV all the time."
Bailey hopes other adults start up such free youth clubs. Too many youngsters are growing up without enough guidance, he said, and some join gangs to feed their natural desire for fellowship. "There`s a lot of kids out there that are just giving up," Bailey said, "and it`s up to everyone to help as many as possible."
Another article about Lash and Steel
Spreading the good word with knives and bull whips
By JENNIFER MOSSCROP, nfmneighbor@breezenewspapers.com Friday, December 01, 2006 — Time: 10:51:29 AM EST
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Equipped with bull whips, throwing knives and steel tomahawks, 2003 Knife Throwing Hall of Famer, John Bailey and his wife, Monika, were special guests at the Community Festival held at Victory Baptist Church Nov. 18.
Bailey demonstrated different techniques and tricks often using his wife as his assistant and incorporated biblical principals into his performance.
“Churches are in the people business for the Lord Jesus Christ,” said Pastor John Matey. “A bunch of people come as a result of events like these. Neighbors get to know us and we are able to get new people into the church.”
“Titus 2:10 said adorn the gospel, make it attractive to people,” Bailey explained. “I use the talents I have to draw people in and get kids and even adults to church.”
With this thought in mind, the Bailey’s tour the country with their Lash and Steel Baptist Evangelist Ministry getting people motivated about God through fancy knife work and ear-piercing whip cracking performances. They have visited 21 states in the past 6 months including Oklahoma, Texas, California, Ohio and New Jersey. North Fort Myers was the last stop on their tour before heading back to their home in Winter Springs, Fl.
The Bailey’s plan on touring for 9 months next year with stops out West.
“Pastor Matey knows this is not a business, it’s a missionary,” Bailey said. “And the kids get to see something that they have not seen before.”
At Victory Baptist Church, located on Hart Road, he compared his bull whip to a church. He said a local church is built of people with Jesus as the core. Events like community festivals are the strands that wrap around the church.
“The handle of the church is the pastor,” Bailey said. “He directs the church to do the right things.”
Bailey learns a lot of his bull whip tricks from “Whip Coach of the Stars,” Alex Green, at the annual Wild West Arts Convention. Green has taught famous actors like Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas and Hallie Berry how to crack a whip.
As for the steel part of the show, Bailey uses everything from tomahawk throwing axes to bayonets used as throwing knives. Most of them he designs himself for Boker, a knife company in Solingen, Germany.
“Most impalement artists only use one kind of knife,” Monika said. “What is unusual about John is that he uses different knives that have different weights and feels.”
As Bailey’s assistant, Monika, is put into some compromising positions - all in the name of entertainment. One trick calls for her to stand against a wall with a balloon under each arm. Her husband picks up a tomahawk and lunges it towards the balloons, popping them instantly.
For another trick, Monika holds a long-stemmed carnation out to her side. With a bull whip, Bailey cuts the flower to pieces one crack at a time until only a two-inch stem is left in her hand.
“We have a rule,” Monika said. “If John hits my clothes, he has to replace them and buy me jewelry. If he cuts the skin, I get a Lexus.”
Bailey was awarded International Instructor of the Year in 2003 by the Wild West Arts Convention. He specializes in speed and accuracy with the bull whip and he said he usually comes in second place with quick draw knife throwing competitions.
At the Community Festival, Bailey showed curious festival-goers both young and old, how to throw a knife and have it stick into the wood. Ten year old Bryan Bishop from North Fort Myers was one of his pupils.
After ten minutes, Bishop was sticking every throw.
“That’s pretty sweet, I’ve never seen anything like that before,” said Bishop, as he watched Bailey’s performance.
In addition to Bailey’s visit, the church had many activities for children including a dunk tank, face painting and egg tosses. Some visitors, including Pastor Matey, were taken to a rigged-up jail by a “deputy” for no reason at all and had to sit for 15 minutes in jail or come up with $3 bail.
The money went towards the church’s festival expenses.
For more information about John Bailey’s Lash and Steek Ministry, visit www.lashandsteel.com.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Boy's Club Mission Statement
To the parents or guardian of the Starlight Boy’s Club
(Starlight’s 1611th. Crusaders)
The objective of the boys club is to instill confidence, but anchor that confidence with self-discipline. The “1611th.Crusaders Boys Club” was started to help boys, test them in a safe environment. To prepare them physically and mentally from the standards and values this country was founded on. The boy’s are taught Bible wisdom, and its applications, and importance in every day life.
So as they grow in age they will also grow in Christ, grounded in faith, and stronger young men, knowing that they are “…standing on the promises of God.”
Commander,
Lt. Colonel
John L. Bailey
Before any activities there is a roll call, announcements and a study (Proverb for the week). During this time the boys have to show to the leaders satisfactory self-discipline in their speech and behavior. Failure meets with discipline in the form of push/up, sit/ups, running laps to the disrupter(s). This seldom happens.
We impress on the boys that:
Some of these strenuous activities will be selected to match the boy’s ability to grasp and learn. Here is a small list of some of them. (Not necessarily in order):
1. Bullwhip tricks and drill team
2. BB gun target shooting (only after safety classes) *
3. Archery, Fencing and Firearms live fire at the range. [Firearms] (ONLY after gun safety classes and ONLY for boys over 12 years old and ONLY at my discretion and Parents/Guardian signed OK)
4. Obstacle courses, Medieval sports, Boxing, Karate, Camping, Drill team, and Weight lifting,
·
NOTE:
I am a certified NRA pistol Instructor, I.P.S.C. National Range
Officer and A.P.R.A. Range Officer.
If you have any objections to any of these activities please get back with me.
*** Boys will be boys *** as the saying goes and as such; they will get nicked and scraped. I want the boys to extend themselves to the next step in their growth. Often with the extension comes over extension, and with boys that means skinned knees, splinters, bumps, bruise and even an occasional bloody nose. So if this is going to be a problem let me know NOW.
John L. Bailey
Captain, Starlight’s 1611th Crusaders
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Click here to see what other churches have to say and pictures 
short bio of John
Click here for the Event Planner Click here for the Event Suggestions