Discussion Thread: Sport Outreach Evangelism and Discipleship

1 Evangelism and Discipleship Assignment Jeffrey S. Headrick School of Business, Liberty University SMGT 504: Foundations of Sport Outreach 2 Evangelism and Discipleship Assignment

Several weeks ago my Sports Outreach foundation was based on Matthew 6:33 which says “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (NIV). While sports is a great way to open the door for ministry, the main emphasis must be on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our faith in him is the whole reason we do what we do. This is the first level: Theological Truths. As Christians, we have been given a command to go and share the good news – the redemptive plan of Christ. Linville (2017) speaks of this when he states that the Apostle Paul in the New Testament wrote on how Christians are called to participate in redemptive activities by being God’s ambassadors (p. 167). While we can always make adjustments with our sports outreach program on certain issues such as which sports to play, facilities, or schedules, our doctrine must be very solid. What we teach and preach in the sports outreach must be theologically sound, the cornerstone and foundation of the program. Philosophical Principles is the second level. This should cover the when, where and with whom this sports outreach is for (Linville, p. 167). I have already covered the “with whom” in my previous Mission and Vision Assignment as I am creating a Sports Outreach for the members of the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation that is 17 miles east of Livingston, Texas. This reservation was established in 1854 and at this point in time there are about 590 members residing there (Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, 2024). One of the most important points to remember when ministering to the Native Americans is to contextualize the gospel message to their own people group. My Sports Outreach team has to use the right methods to successfully accommodate them. Missionaries to Native Americans have said the same things. One cannot come in and forget about the Native American traditions 3 and way of life if they are going to reach them for Christ. In the same way, our Sports Outreach must facilitate a program for the people that also allows them the correct methods of discovering the gospel of Jesus Christ in ways that align or coincide with their Native American ways and verbiage (Garnica, 2016, p. 24). Traditionally all sports have a particular blocked off time of the year in which their season begins and ends. Our plan is to follow those traditions. For example, my Sports Outreach will have its basketball league in January and February. Likewise, softball season will be in the months of April and May. Coordinating dates and times with other activities on the reservation is very important. Before we execute our dates, days of the week, and times, we must do our homework and make sure it doesn’t interfere with the events and protocols on the reservation. Facilities also play a major role in the Sports Outreach. They can often be a determining factor in the success of the program. Fortunately, the reservation has the facilities for both of these sports. In April 2022 they broke ground on the reservation for a 49,000 square foot Education Center that would house education facilities, a library, play areas, and a large gymnasium (Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, 2024, p. 5). There are also two churches on the reservation with facilities that we plan to use. The final level of organizing evangelism and discipleship in a Sports Outreach is the “what we do”, the Methodological Models. This level involves strategies and seeks to find relevance and effectiveness to those the Sport Outreach is designed to minister to (Linville, 2017, p. 166). I stated in an earlier paper that during basketball season we will have a time of outreach 4 after the game called Fifth Quarter. Also, during softball season the outreach afterwards will be called Extra Innings. The outreach after the game is meant to offer a celebratory but relevant approach to reaching people for Christ. We will all meet at one of the local churches or the event center on the reservation for a post-game meal and some fellowship together, focusing on building relationships. Once the meal is over there will be a time of praise and worship. I’m wanting the connections we’ll have with the two local churches to help make this part happen. Finally, there will be a guest speaker and then an invitation for salvation. All volunteers helping with these post-game outreaches will be trained in praying for people and being able to effectively lead them to a saving knowledge of Christ. This is the most important part of the entire outreach since “…Jesus Christ is the source, center, and sum total of salvation” (Willmington, 2018, p. 4). Through strategic planning and well-trained volunteers I believe we will have much success, showing the community around us what sports and a Sports Outreach can do in winning people for Christ. 5 References Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. (2024, September). In Wikipedia. pp. 1-7. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alabama- Coushatta_Tribe_of_Texas&oldid=1226633132&action=edit Garnica, R. (2016). Discussion of how to effectively communicate the gospel considering generations, cultures, and Paul’s Biblical example. Selected Honors Thesis, Southeastern University. Paper 40. https://firescholars.seu.edu/honors/40/ Linville, G. (2017). Recreation and sports ministry. An evangelistic approach. In J. Garner (Ed.), Recreation and sports ministry: Impacting the postmodern culture. (2nd ed., pp. 163-188). Liberty University Press. Willmington, H. (2018). The doctrine of salvation. The Good, Great, and Glorious File, Liberty University. 1. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/good_great_glorious/1