Discussion Thread: Sport Outreach Evangelism and Discipleship

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SPORT OUTREACH PLAN- DICIPLESHIP AND EVANGELISM

Sport Outreach Plan- Discipleship and Evangelism

Rahul Champaneri

Dr. Heisey

SMGT 504

September 12, 2024

Liberty University Online

Abstract

This paper will inform the reader about how athletes will grow as Christians and how they will grow their faith with our organization. Although a lot of Indians are not typically of the Christian Faith, we will make sure all athletes feel included.

Keywords: Christianity, Discipleship, Evangelism, Indian, Including

In our program, we want the priority to be getting closer to God and growing your faith. Doing this requires a deep understanding of the culture of Indian Americans, as well as effective ministry strategies. As a program, we will be able to integrate cultural sensitivity by using sports as leverage, as well as engaging in the surrounding community in order to achieve these goals.

The first step in promoting evangelism and discipleship within our program is to understand and respect the cultural nuances. Indian Americans are often very prideful and passionate about their culture. Knowing this beforehand as staff members, we can use their passion to their advantage by combining their heritage and one of our activities. A specific example would be to incorporate the spirit of Diwali in our program. This is a traditional Indian holiday that lasts 5 days from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashvina to the second day of the light half of the lunar month (Preston, 2024). Another way to promote and incorporate evangelism and discipleship with Indian Americans is to incorporate elements of Indian culture such as celebrating festivals, serving Indian food at the camps, and having a Bible study at the end of the day. By doing this, our program is able to create an inclusive environment where participants feel included, valued, and understood.

Sports have a unique ability to unite people together and break down barriers, most famously done by Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Using sports as a way to incorporate evangelism and discipleship can be highly effective due to the emphasis on inclusivity. In our camp specifically, our campers will engage in competition (friendly or competitive) to build relationships while growing their faith in Jesus Christ. An example as to how they will be able to grow their faith, we will encourage all campers to pray before and after the camp. We will show examples of Major League Baseball players praying before their games in order to inspire the campers and emphasize the importance of Prayer. One of the most popular Major League Baseball players in today’s generation is Ronald Acuna Jr. He is one of many MLB players to emphasize the importance of God in his life by performing the sign of the cross before stepping up to the plate. This, along with pointing to the sky after a player hits a home run, are two of the most common forms of showing evangelism in professional baseball (Hochstetler, 2009). This act is inspiring to many athletes out there, especially in baseball, as these young kids are mimicking their idols.

Community engagement is crucial for the importance of practicing any evangelism and discipleship program. Our program will aim to create a sense of community and belonging among our participants and their families. During our program, we will host social events such as family days and community service days. Community service is going to be an essential part of the developmental part of our program because it will allow our campers to see the different types of backgrounds everyone comes from. Not every person has been able to see the different cultures, upbringings, age groups, and economic backgrounds (RHC, 2024) that community service will bring.

In conclusion, promoting evangelism and discipleship in our program will require our staff to take a culturally sensitive approach to promote the word of Jesus Christ, as well as using baseball as a tool to get the kids to have fun. By understanding and respecting the Indian culture, leveraging the power of sports, creating a loving and inclusive community, our program can create an environment where participants feel valued and are open to increasing or exploring their Christian Faith.

Works Cited

Hochstetler, D. R. (2009). Striving towards maturity: on the relationship between prayer and sports.  Christian Education Journal,  6(2), 325–336.

Preston, C. (2024, September 13).  Diwali. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Diwali-Hindu-festival

RHC Program Introduces First-Year Students to the Importance of Community Service. (2024, September 4). US Official News, NA.