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Sports Friends seeks to empower and equip churches and church planters to use the platform of sports to impact their communities with the love of God. In the countries where we work, children, youth and young adults are everywhere – filling the sports stadiums, playing sports in the city streets and rural fields, and hanging out around the ping pong and foosball tables. They are passionate about sports! We want to tap into that passion to introduce these young people and their family members to Jesus Christ. Sport serves as a magnet, a bridge from the church to the community, a common language by which to build lasting relationships.
There is something extremely powerful about the relationship between a coach and players. The impact of a coach who shows love and attention to young people is tremendous. Sport provides a great environment for a coach to discuss with his players important character issues and life lessons about self control, respect for authority, honesty, teamwork and commitment. These discussions naturally transition to the truths of the Bible. Sports Friends teaches coaches how to be positive life influencers, to identify teachable moments, to catch the good in youth, to love and encourage, to incorporate Biblical teaching, to introduce youth to Jesus Christ, and to disciple them into greater Biblical maturity – effectively Transforming Lives and Strengthening Communities.
Sports Friends offers four levels of integrated training which focus on the development of effective sports ministry strategies. We also offer a curriculum in sports ministry, utilizing both classroom and field sessions, which can be used by seminaries and Bible schools in either a semester or week-long intensive format.
Level 1 – Vision Casting – intended for pastors and denominational leaders, the purpose of this training (which lasts from a couple of hours to a full day) is to build awareness and support for the vision of sports ministry.
Level 2 – Training the Champions – representatives from local churches, as well as church planters, gather for three days training in how to develop an effective church-centered sports ministry program.
Level 3 – Training Master Coaches – coaches with at least one year of experience in sports ministry spend five days learning to be ‘life-influencers’ as they enhance ministry, coaching and leadership skills. Our Coach's 7 curriculum focuses on seven characteristics of a Godly coach. See Photo Gallery for images from recent Coach's 7 trainings.
Level 4 – Training Denominational Leaders – national or regional sports ministry coordinators chosen by their denominations engage in five weeks of in-depth training in how to train, lead, assess and encourage sports ministers within their organization. These leaders also participate in ongoing leadership development for four years.
Through these four levels of training, as well as through ongoing consultation, encouragement and support, Sports Friends assists local Christian leaders in Africa, Asia and Latin America in the development of effective church-centered sports ministry programs. These programs can take many different forms (pick-up play, tournaments, competitive teams, league play, etc.) and can use a variety of sports, but they have a common focus: to see youth and their families grow into a closer relationship with God.
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