Ministry opportunities knock on Scota's door
By Abe Hardesty • City People writer • Published: March 02. 2011 10:56AM
When Joe Scota is asked how he turned a Philadelphia-area sales job into the ideal hobby/profession/ministry in South Carolina, he's ready with a quick reply.
“Prayer,” says the martial-arts instructor, who holds a fourth-degree black belt in karate.
“I have a job I love, one that started as a hobby, and it gives me great opportunities to minister to people,” says Scota. “It really is the answer to prayer, and it's a great blessing.”
Scota's venture into martial arts began 23 years ago as a way to spend quality time with his 9-year-old son. His son began taking lessons in the Philadelphia suburb of Landsdowne in February 1988; Joe and daughter Nadine began a month later.
Scota, 32 at the time, progressed quickly. Within two years, he had earned a brown belt and, under instructor Dan Pope, had learned much about the basics of karate and the basics of Christianity. He began reading a chapter of the Bible each day.
“One day, he (Pope) asked if I was ready for the next step: a personal relationship with the Lord,” Scota recalls. “I prayed that day in his office and began having that personal relationship.”
“Things started to happen,” says Scota, a floor-covering salesman who at the time had spent his entire life in eastern Pennsylvania.
After much prayer about the direction of his life, Scota was reading a book that listed the top 50 places in America to live — and it included Greenville. It also mentioned that two of its high schools, Riverside and Eastside, ranked among the nation's top 10 percent.
Scota applied for a transfer to Greenville, and relocated here in 1993. For the next seven years, he worked in sales while teaching karate part-time. In 2000, he made karate a full-time venture.
“I know I'm doing what the Lord wants me to do. I never thought it would turn out this way,” says Scota.
As he teaches a skill that requires a great deal of personal discipline, Scota often is reminded that his work is a ministry. The karate, Scota says, opens doors of communication.
Sometimes, the doors open literally. Scota was watching TV at home on a recent Friday night when he got a visit from a student who was having a major disagreement with his parents.
“I was able to talk to him about what the Bible says about honoring his parents,” Scota says.
A few months earlier, a parent of one of the Scota Karate students came to his home, informing Scota that the son had left home after a dispute.
“When I'm able to help a student or a parent like that, it reminds me that if I keep the faith and read the word, what I'm doing can make a difference to someone when they're at a low point. That's God's way of lifting me back up.”
Scota, 55, is an active member at Taylors First Baptist Church, where he was baptized 15 years ago at age 40.
“The Bible gives you great advice on raising kids. I wish I had this kind of advice when I was raising my kids,” says Scota.
“The world is continually telling these kids, ‘Acquire material things and you'll be happy.' The world tells them everything except, ‘Listen to your parents and be in the Word of God,' ” Scota says.
“I'm not preaching in every class, but I've got to tell them the things in life that will make you strong,” Scota says. “That's the reason three crowns are part of my business logo — spiritual growth is an important part of the process.
“Coaching young people is a responsibility. It's not about kicking and punching — it's about teaching life skills and Godly skills.”
Scota leads a team of seven Scota Karate Academy instructors, which includes his wife, Lisa. He usually has about 180 active students.
“This is where God has me, a place where I can serve Him.”
Originally Posted by Syn7
Reply With Quote
) the even on to the listing of his mighty men. Ehud the left handed assasin, some dude I can remember the name to that fought an Egyptian that had a spear took his spear from him and killed him with it. I could go on and on. My point is, thank you for pointing that out. 
) or the back side of their right hand either way they would be causing insult to themselves. 
