To the observer, Charles Usher looks like a self-assured, successful business owner. Underneath the polished exterior of the vice president of House of Usher, a sales and promotions materials company, beats a heart that burns with a surprising cause.

Usher’s passion is for urban kids who need a mentor, a friend, and even a benefactor. His program, Inner-city Kids to College, is funding four students at MNU this academic year, and it has a strong connection to a sport that is gaining popularity in the U.S.

Two years ago Usher, a long-time rugby player and enthusiast, was asked by fellow rugby players Richard Hartke and James Shetlar of The Kansas City Rugby Football Club to help coach a rugby club for youth. Their Central Youth Rugby Club draws students mostly from Central, Westport and VanHorn High Schools, University Academy Charter School, and DeLaSalle Education Center, all in Kansas City, Mo. Usher’s first job was to drive the team to a game in Lawrence, Kan. Being with the teens for the first time was eye-opener, according to Usher.

“Are you the new honky they got to help us?” he was asked by one student. “I guess so,” Usher replied. And thus began a relationship that has blossomed into a scholarship program.

“Rugby is a great fraternity,” Usher said. “You can go to any rugby club in the world and say, ‘I play rugby in Olathe, Kan.,’ and immediately you are welcome. It’s a sport that teaches character, discipline and a code of conduct. It teaches team work and how to win and lose with grace.”

Usher thinks these qualities make rugby a great activity for young people. “Not only does it keep them busy and hopefully out of dangerous activity,” he said, “it also teaches life skills that will help them in any situation.”

As Usher works with his players, he identifies students that want to achieve more than their economic situation allows. Through being a friend and mentor and by partnering with the kids’ parents, he identifies youth with potential for a college education.

“As I got to know the kids better, I got to see their homes and

learn more about their situations,” Usher said. “As a Christian I thought, how can this be? Here are kids that live in homes without carpet and air conditioning and with inadequate heat. Many live in buildings with absentee landlords and often they are raised by single mothers working nights to pay the rent. Then, just a few blocks from here, we have the Country Club Plaza.

“My first thought was to help them find jobs,” he said, “but I knew that was only a temporary solution to their financial problems. I realized that they needed to develop skills they could only get in college. A young person needs to be able to go to an employer and say, ‘Here’s what I can do for you.’ A degree -- training like they’re getting at MidAmerica -- will help them do that.”

Rugby is the catalyst that brought Usher, “his kids” and MidAmerica together. The youth can go to any college they like, but Usher has a special affinity for MidAmerica.

“My son went to SNU (Southern Nazarene University),” Usher related. “He had a good experience there, and we expected the same from MidAmerica. The spiritual guidance in the education at MidAmerica is important to me for these kids. I wanted the students in a caring, safe atmosphere where they were close enough to go home when they wanted, but with a safe haven on campus if they needed it,” he said.

The students Usher works with praise his efforts.

“We think he’s a good guy,” said Dwayne Love. “Since we’ve been out here the Lord is coming into our lives more and more.”

“I’m not sure if I’d come in touch with the Lord if I hadn’t come here,” added Andre Allen. “I would have gone to college anyway, but probably not here. I think he (Usher) is an angel.”

“I for sure would have drifted away from God,” Love continued. “I want to say thank you. I’m grateful for everything Mr. Usher has done.”

Usher continues to work with Kansas City area high schools to generate interest in rugby as an outlet for youth. Dr. Pat Henley of University Academy has assisted Usher’s endeavor by making her school the first in Kansas City to have rugby as an official intramural sport.

“We’ve worked with Mr. Usher all year in getting this started,” Henley said. “We have several students who are interested. He’s a big supporter of the students and the community. We’re convinced that having this organized sport will be good for them.”

Usher solicits donations for his scholarship fund from friends, business associates and fellow church members at Christ Community Evangelical Free Church. He and his wife, Sharon, fund the remainder. The goal is to eventually create an endowment that will fund the program perpetually.

Currently six young people are in the program. Michael Cummings is on a full rugby scholarship at the University of New Mexico. Donielle Robinson is a student at and plays football for Langston University in Oklahoma. Andre Allen is in his third semester at MNU. Dwayne Love, ShaVon McCowan and Ashanti Roper are all freshmen at MNU.

Donations can be made to MidAmerica Nazarene University, and designated to the Inner-city Kids to College fund. Usher’s email address is Houseofusher@msn.com.