It takes a lot of force for the team of professional strong men known as the Stand Strength Team to tear through a phone book, bend metal and shatter concrete.
However, the team of six men are more than their muscles.
The Detroit-based group partners with schools and youth groups to motivate and empower students to stand up to bullies.
For the first time ever, the Stand Strength Team will visit Berrien and Cass county schools through the week of March 27.
Niles Pastor Jeff Whittaker, of the Michiana Christian Embassy, first encountered the group during a veteran’s conference last summer. He was wowed not only by their strength, but also by their stories.
Each of the members shared with the audience how they overcame some of the challenges in their past. For some of the members it was coping with disabilities, while others from the group-battled abuse when they were children or bullying.
“They all come from various backgrounds, some of them grew up with learning disabilities or abuse,” Whittaker said. “They are not just professional athletes.”
The team is comprised of mixed martial arts specialist in addition to strong men. Sharing these stories with youth, helps for students to relate to the men and learn how to have strength through their struggles.
“You don’t have to let them [bullies] control your destiny,” Whittaker said.
When he presented the idea to the schools, there was a lot of enthusiasm for bringing the group on board.
It does not hurt that they get to watch the strong men perform an array of seemingly impossible feats, such as bending metal, bench pressing audience members and breaking solid objects into pieces.
“It is an attention getter,” Whittaker said.
The Stand Strength Team has been touring for 26 years, sharing their message with thousands of people.
For schools across the country, there could not be a better time to address the issue of bullying, the team said.
According to statistics on the Stand Strength Team’s website, 5.7 million students in the U.S are involved in school bullying, while 75 percent of school violence has been linked to bullying.
For Whittaker, the strongest aspect of the group’s message is empowering students to have a different perspective.
“You don’t have to let some control your destiny,” Whittaker said. “You can be strong and you can take a stand.”
Donor contributions from several churches and organizations helped to make the Stand Strength Team’s visit free to all the schools, Whittaker said.
For more information visit standstrengthteam.org.

Schedule of events:

Monday, March 27
9:30 a.m. Ross Beatty Junior/ Senior High School
1 p.m. Sam Adams Elementary

Tuesday, March 28
9:15 a.m. Howard Ellis
1:10 p.m. Buchanan High School

Wednesday, March 29
8:45 a.m. Berrien Springs high and middle school
2:15 p.m. Ballard Elementary

Thursday, March 30
8:30 a.m. Buchanan Middle School
10:15 a.m. Moccasin Elementary
1:30 p.m. Ring Lardner
7 p.m. Southwestern Michigan College

Friday, March 31
8 a.m. Brandywine Middle School
9:50 a.m. Niles High School
7 p.m. Michiana Christian Embassy

Saturday, April 1
7 p.m. Michiana Christian Embassy

Sunday, April 2
7 p.m. Michiana Christian Embassy