Using Sports As an Natural Path to Ministry
One maxim by which I live and also lead Masterwork is…’it is ALL ministry’. This is based upon several key Scriptures like Colossians 3:17 and 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1. Yes, I have strategic burdens like coaching, teaching, and ministry development. I aspire to discern and seize what is uniquely mine by God’s gifting and calling upon my life. In addition, I have ceased to find it peculiar that in the normal ebb and flow of life, opportunities might spring forth and ministry erupt. No, not peculiar at all. Rather, I expect ministry to happen.
Here’s an example of how All daily endeavors can become ministry even my daily physical exercise program. Yes, I exercise just to keep the ole’ bones from breaking and the heart ticking as long as He needs me (almost thought it would end back in 2019!). But exercise has long been a catalyst for ministry. Robust ministry. Although I’ve moved between sports…the maxim still holds
- I could fill pages of names like Jeff, Larry, Todd, Rick, Tom…in which spiritual conversations sprang out of taking strides together. Long mileage, many years.
- Running or cycling became tools for spiritual conversations. Post bible study runs or rides extended 1 to 1 or small group spiritual inquiries.
- Running or cycling became outreach connections into community group, church-sponsored local races, new circles to exert spiritual influence. My first contacts in one city where we moved was the local running club. A first partnership with that running club was a church-hosted pasta dinner, talk, and book give-away. I still have a note from an athlete who attended that dinner and later recommitted her life to Christ and then began attending that host church.
- Running and cycling allowed me to participate in local Charitable fundraisers.
- Joining local health clubs expanded my network among those I perhaps would never have met. And what might have been a normal health club visit to exercise later turned into newfound friendships who joined me for an ongoing bible study.
I truly find that It is ALL Ministry. Yes, a daily exercise program can spawn into ongoing ministry. A final example is the recent cycling event I led began with me in my local workouts. I then connected with men from a multi-state area. And soon it developed into a special spiritual retreat of bible study and testimonies and epic distance cycling together in Northern Michigan. Here’s a short video that captured it. CYCLING LINK
If you want to learn more about the outcome of that Epic Cycling event or be informed about future events, or you want to discuss how your normal routines might turn into ongoing ministry sign up for our Masterwork newsletter and then contact me. www.master-work.org/connect.
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