Brad's Story


Trusting Step by Step

Soul Trotters was created to provide high performance athletic footwear and apparel without paying a premium price. It was created as a brand that can be trusted step by step.

 Through a lifetime journey, owner, Bradley, has had faith and has trusted step by step in overcoming many obstacles due to a childhood illness, bacteria spinal meningitis. People around the globe were praying for him. (This was before social media!) His parents were told he wouldn’t live. He did. They were told that he wouldn’t walk again. By God’s grace, he went on to play pro basketball in Europe (Undefeated in 2 National Leagues) and was blessed by training with weights to become much stronger than the average man.  This is a miracle much more than he even knew, but has realized more and more in his adulthood. We now have vaccines for this illness. But kids who contracted bacteria spinal meningitis in the 1960’s mostly died, and those who didn’t, have substantial lasting effects from it, many very severe. Here is Brad’s “Story.”  Learn about how he became an overcomer with the Lord’s help and healing:

 (Brad)

When I reflect on my life, it has been a series of people telling me, “You can’t achieve this or that.”  Very high fevers are a part of bacterial spinal meningitis. Because of this, my brain was affected resulting in slower comprehension skills. Instead of outward physical disabilities, mine were invisible. Nobody made a connection between the meningitis and my difficulties. Teachers have said that I “just needed to try harder.” Many have doubted my abilities along the way. I have been bullied my whole life. Instead of becoming a victim, through perseverance I overcame. “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us …”  Romans 5

School in my early years were particularly difficult, because I just needed more tutoring.  My first grade teacher was impatient and of no help to me. My graded papers with an “F” on them were handed back from the front row for other students to see.  Since my name started with a V, I was in the back of the row. So I failed the first grade.  This really affected my self- esteem.  …But with God’s sovereign plan, my Dad was transferred after my first year of first grade and I started again at a new school.  Fortunately for me my younger brother’s birth was in September so he had to wait one more year and I remained a grade ahead of him rather than facing the embarrassment of being in the same grade. 

When I was in second grade, my teacher had us all line up facing the playground and she said, “Run to the other side as fast as you can.”  I beat everyone by a good distance.  She told me, “You are going to win awards someday.”  Those were my first words of encouragement athletically. 

Still, I was usually chosen last or second to last many times when teams were chosen in grade school at recess and in P.E. (People who knew me in my later teens or in my 20’s probably would have never guessed that, since I was usually chosen first!).  In 6th grade I was asked to play on the team for my height, but I was not good at all.  As I grew taller and faster than some kids, with good coordination on the basketball court, God in His sovereignty allowed me to see that I had a bit of an advantage.  I took this very small success and practiced and practiced—hours of shooting, dribbling and jumping. By 8th grade I was one of the best on the team, and in 9th grade was the best, averaging 20 points a game, mostly from turnaround jump shots.

When I first was playing basketball and seeing some success, there were folks who would doubt my ability. But little did they know, that just motivated me and I was determined to prove them wrong.  I can remember on several occasions coming out and hardly missing a jump shot and just taking over the game and leading my team to victory in school and then the pros.

It was the same in the corporate world. Many would doubt my sales abilities until they would be out in the field with me. They would see how I would turn a whole territory around, that I really had the trust of the customer and that the customer held me in high esteem. God had given me ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Then when I moved into sales management, there were always those executives’ that held me back, because I was a little slower to process things. But the Lord molded me, made me stronger and prepared me for the next step through these difficulties.  In 2006, I went back to college and had a goal of graduating by the time I was 50.  In God sovereign plan, I took my last final exam on May 19, 2010, 2 days before my 50th Birthday on May 21. I then graduated 1 week later on May 28 with a BS degree in Organizational Leadership from BIOLA University.  God Be Praised!

This is what inspired SOUL TROTTERS.  Soul Trotters is to be a reminder that in the midst of trials, God has a plan for you.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9  There is nothing supernatural about wearing Soul Trotters sports apparel, but by wearing it, we hope you will be reminded that you are an OVERCOMER. So show you are an Overcomer and Order Soul Trotters apparel today!

 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

My Life Verse: Ephesians 2:10  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Be encouraged from the book of James in facing trials and how you handle them.  “Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask Him, and He will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.

When Brad wasn't even looking for it at all, God opened the door for him to work full-time as a Hospice Chaplain.  Brad ministers to all kinds of folks, with all kinds of backgrounds, to both the spiritually inclined and those have no relationship  with God.  A very fruitful, challenging and  rewarding ministry that God designed just for the way God gifted Brad. 

…God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”

James 1: 2-5 & 12

1983 Manchester Cup Final Champions

  

Calvin Lane 7'6" 425lbs shoe size 25  & Baselinebrad 6'3  shoe size 13

Magic Johsnon & BaselineBrad at Joe Weider's Mr. Olympia Show Las Vegas

 Arnonld Schwarzenegger & BaselineBrad - Arnold Schwarzeneggger Classic        Lou Ferrigno weighing in at 325 lbs. Training for the Masters Olympia         My brother Mark, Joe Weider Fitness & Nutrition Guru & BaselineBrad 

Cornell Warner starting Forward for Milwaukee Bucks 1975 & BaselineBrad 

     Terry Crews, actor AGT Host & BaselineBrad 

Hershall Walker former NFL running back & businessman & BaselineBrad      John Salley 6'11" Former Power Forward w/ Detroit Pistons Champions & BaselineBrad Schroeder former NFL QB & now evangelist & BaselineBrad 

Roland Kickinger Former Pro BodyBuilerer & Actor & Friend & BaselineBrad 

BaselineBrad lifting weights downstairs in HS

Baselinebrad in HS

BaselineBrad as a Freshmen in HS #50