1 of 2
 Sports and Your ChurchWe in ministry leadership need to consider how to partner with parents to deliberately shape the character of the young athletes around us.
1 of 2
Sports receive too little attention from churches. Some use sports as outreach, such as organized leagues or Super Bowl outreach parties—although the ads and halftime wardrobe malfunctions create awkward moments. Others occasionally ask athletes to share a message. Hearing Mike Singletary talk about fatherhood made me want to do my best as a dad. But actually teaching on the overall topic—sports—rarely happens. A surprise, given the magnitude of attention sports command in today's society. In children's and youth ministry, sports often earn a reputation as the competition. Sunday soccer leagues erode attendance, right? Here's the problem: people of all ages experience character formation through competing in sports. So what kind of character do they acquire? And from whom? Yes, parents own the primary role to guide young athletes. The church can play a role too. Actually, the church should play a role. As a former children's ministry director, I speak from experience when I say that very little guidance about sports comes from the church. At best, a child might carry a couple lessons from Sunday school or youth group on to the field of competition: Be fair and take turns. Quite likely, though, the intoxication of competition and passion to be a winner will take first place—at the expense of integrity and much more. Eventually, how one plays on the field will become how one lives each day. Unless coaching of a greater kind takes place, and sports occupies second place to immovable, God-honoring character. Which brings to mind my favorite quarterback in the state of Michigan. At the 2011 Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon, the athlete selected to speak on behalf of all the conference's football players was Michigan State's Kirk Cousins. In just seven minutes, he deftly wove in humor and humility, described how responsibility comes from privilege, and displayed character that challenges other athletes to embrace a higher call. A few sound bites from his speech that nearly burst with ministry teaching potential include: "It has been a privilege to play college football. … Privilege should never lead to a sense of entitlement. … I've been taught that privilege should lead to responsibility, in fact to greater responsibility." "The Bible says in Luke 12:48: 'From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.'" "We have a responsibility to develop and use our God-given talents to their fullest potential and to do so in a way that honors God and benefits others. I don't believe it's too far-fetched to think that we as college football players could make a significant positive difference in the youth culture of America, simply by embracing the responsibilities that accompany our place of privilege." |        
       |
share this page
Average User Rating:
Jim Hylton
As a little league baseball coach (and a pastor) I agree that sports is looked at as competition by many churches when we could be partnering with the different leagues to make a positive difference.
Submit Your Rating and Review *