Some people do not know the Word of God, have not read the Word of God and are afraid of the Word of God. Most of you reading this article grew up hearing, memorizing, singing or reading God’s Word. Many, if not most, of the GenX population know practically nothing about it. Children are not being taught the wonderful stories and Bible verses that can impress on their hearts the love of God and the salvation brought by Jesus Christ.

Parents will seek to get their children to quality sports and recreation events. Because of this, churches must seize the opportunity to use quality recreation and sports to teach the Bible. If we believe the Word of God is alive, and if we believe it will not return void, when or where or how we teach it will not matter. What does matter is that we use people’s interest in sports and recreation to intentionally reach out to a generation that does not know God or His Word.

The dictionary defines intentionalitythis way: “from intent, which suggests greater deliberateness; a more settled determination that requires a more carefully calculated plan. Done by intention or design.” Intentionality in the recreation and sports ministry context is the purposeful inclusion of sharing the gospel during recreation and sports ministry events. Most churches have no strategy for intentional ministry to happen at recreation/sports activities. If someone comes to Christ, good. If no one comes to Christ, the ministry is often considered successful simply because the activity was held.

The days of rolling out a basketball goal and having pickup games are over.  Programming is the key, and programming is done with the intention of sharing the gospel. Successful programming does not mean having a facility to run. Recreation and sports ministry can be done effectively without a facility. Churches should no longer be satisfied with being activity driven. There is a way churches are reaching the lost and discipling believers.

They are planning their recreation/sports ministries to be intentional by:

• Reaching people by sharing the gospel at every opportunity
• Maturing believers by discipling them
• Multiplying ministering Christians by providing avenues for ministry participation

By designing deliberate but natural touch points for ministry to take place during recreation and sports ministry events, as relationships are built, churches will find that this leisure-oriented generation will respond. The use of sports and recreation activities can be an open door to reach this generation. It is a natural.

Bob Briner, in his book Roaring Lambs, puts it this way:“Instead of hanging around the fringes of our culture, we need to be right smack dab in the middle of it.” Paul says it like this: “To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. Now I do all this because of the gospel, that I may become a partner in its benefits” (1 Cor. 9:22–23).

So, the church should not be afraid to be “right smack dab in the middle” (of culture) intentionally involved with culture, to “become all things to all men” using all the tools at its disposal –  especially the tools of recreation and sports.

Recreation and Sports Events Are Gathering Places for People
People understand the nature and action of recreation events. By offering recreation and sporting events, the church has a non-threatening avenue to attract people.  Parents will bring their children to the “Fourth of July Extravaganza,” which features family-oriented activities, fun, food and perhaps fireworks. This is a natural way for the church to introduce itself to the community and impact the community for Christ.

Recreation and Sports Events Bridge Cultural and Racial Barriers, Building Fellowship
Sports is one of the most universal languages. Every country, every culture plays sports. Christians who use these tools find open doors and multiple opportunities to share the gospel with people from around the world. Many churches are hosting sports camps and clinics in their neighborhoods or taking teams on the road to play in prisons, being intentional to share the gospel as they go. Recreation events are relationship builders that personalize the church in people’s lives.

Sports and Recreation Ministry Offers Ways for Christians to Live Out Their Abilities, Interests, Talents and Spiritual Giftedness
Each Christian is gifted by the Holy Spirit for service. Each Christian also has natural abilities, talents and interests. God brings all of these together to make us who we are. As we learn about our spiritual gifts, we can learn how our personality, natural abilities, talents and interests complement one another. Through leading the team by coaching and ministering to their spiritual needs, the leader is being prepared for larger leadership responsibilities within the church.

Sports and Recreation Ministry Offers an Avenue to Gain Visibility in the Community
Through sports and recreation, churches are finding ways to make their presence in the community known. One church wanted the community to know who they were and where they were in case someone ever had a need. They decided to do a large event that involved the entire church. They involved businessmen in the community. They advertised in every media outlet. When the event took place, they had thousands of people on their church grounds Any church can use sports and recreation to gain visibility in the community.

Sports and Recreation Ministry Offers a Way to Abundant Balanced Life
People are looking for something to fill the void in their lives.  Recreation and sports ministry is often the first touch in a person’s life with the church. This ministry area offers a way to develop a relationship with people and to introduce them to the life of the church and a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and have it in abundance” (John 10:10).

Sports and Recreation Ministry Provides a Catalyst for Outreach
As a catalyst, recreation and sports activities open doors and enable a church to reach out into a community. Lives are changed, and relationships are developed with intentionality of ministry action.

Sports and Recreation Ministry Provides an Environment for Fellowship
Recreation and sports events provide informal times of interaction. This leads to a deepening of relationships between participants. As fellowship is strengthened and relationships are developed, doors open for witness and ministry.

Sports and Recreation Ministry Becomes a Tool for Teaching Leadership Skills
Helping people develop leadership skills often starts with their involvement in familiar settings: coaching a team, leading an exercise class or teaching a crafts class. With training and encouragement, leadership and ministry skills are developed that can also be used while serving in other areas of church life.

Used correctly with intentionality, recreation and sports can reach people. It can strengthen the church. Evangelism and discipleship are both possible as relationships are formed, questions are answered and the gospel is shared. God is able to use all things – even leisure and sports.

John Garner is Recreation and Sports Ministry Specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources. Some of this article has been excerpted from “Recreation and Sports Ministry Impacting Postmodern Culture,” permission granted, Copyright John Garner, Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Sidebar
Product Roundup

Sports Imports
Sports Imports is the exclusive distributor of Senoh volleyball, badminton and tennis net systems, as well as Sports Attack volleyball machines. A recognized authority in national, international and Olympic competitions, Senoh equipment is among the most durable and reliable volleyball equipment on the market. In fact, Senoh net systems are used by 90% of Division I volleyball programs and are the only net systems endorsed by the FIVB and the AVCA.  Sports Imports, now in its 29th year, has installed more than 17,000 Senoh systems in gyms and arenas across the country. Sports Imports’ consultants focus their attention on the needs of individual programs and are able to assist with facility planning, court layout and design and product selection.
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Schutt Sports Slam Series C2000
The Schutt Sports Slam Series C2000 is a great hoop for churches and multi-purpose facilities. Featuring a fully-collapsible frame, the C2000 can be stored under the bleachers or in virtually any storage room when not in use. Its 48-inch x 32-inch or 54-inch x 36-inch acrylic backboard is reinforced with braces to give true ball rebound characteristics. The C2000 uses a competition-style breakaway goal and includes mast safety padding, available in four colors. Easily adjustable at heights of 6-feet 6-inches to 10 feet, the Schutt Sports C2000 works well for camps, practices and play for all ages. 
www.schuttsports.com

Basketball-Goals.com
Basketball-Goals.com offers most everything for a church’s gym or outdoor recreation center. The Swiss Flex all-weather, multi-game courts allow users to combine tennis, basketball, volleyball, badminton and rollerblading, all on one court. To complement the Swiss Flex tile, Basketball-Goals.com carries fencing, lighting, rebounder, multi-sport game nets, basketball goals, canopy seating and more. The company also makes indoor AERO Flex multi-purpose performance gymnasium sports flooring, as well as scoreboards, tip-n-roll bleachers, safety wall mats, wall-mount basketball systems and more. 
www.Basketball-Goals.com

Future Pro Playground Basketball
Future Pro offers a broad selection of complete playground basketball systems on gooseneck or adjustable height poles. These packages include the pole, backboard and goal in one order.  Pole size options include 3 ½ inch, 4 ½- inch and 5 9/16-inch.  Backboards are fan shaped or rectangular in aluminum, steel, polyethylene or clear polycarbonate. The PR52 (shown) has a rust-free aluminum goal mounted to a heavy-duty 4 ½ inch, gooseneck pole. This backboard has a lifetime limited warranty, and the pole has a 25-year limited warranty. The heavy-duty, double-rim goal on the PR52 has an unconditional lifetime replacement warranty. Optional pole safety padding also is shown.
www.futureproinc.com

American Athletic Slide System
American Athletic’s recreational Slide System is built with value, ease-of-use and functionality in mind. The multi-sport Slide System, compatible with most floor plates, is easy to transport and set up and adjusts to any height for volleyball, badminton and tennis. It also easily converts to a two-court system. Adjustable uprights are constructed of lightweight, extruded aluminum with reinforced core for added strength, and the unique powder coat paint system resists chipping and fading. The worm gear winch eliminates dangerous backlash. 
www.americanathletic.com

Schelde Volleyball Net Systems  
Quick set-up, easy adjustment, rugged construction and innovative engineering are the hallmarks of Schelde volleyball net systems. Schelde volleyball net systems feature high-tensile-strength Tecton duraluminum posts, knotless pre-tensioned nets, and four-point net attachment for consistent net tension and easy set-up by one person in only five minutes. Its Collegiate 3000 System allows you to accommodate a variety of net heights and net sports (volleyball, tennis, badminton) with a few easy adjustments.  This system is designed to be used with Schelde’s Universal Floor Sleeve System with heavy-duty brass floor plates. This unique floor plate sits flush to the placing surface, with no exposed screws, for added safety. 
www.scheldesports.com

Jaypro’s Little Champ Adjustable Backboard Adapter
Jaypro’s Little Champ Adjustable Backboard Adapter adjusts to five different heights, allowing users to convert regulation courts to meet youth league requirements. Backboard and frame provide youth goal heights of 7 feet to 9 feet, and bring the goal 2 feet closer to the foul line. Unique “ladder-like” five-point positioning bar fits on any existing goal and is designed specifically for easy height change. Installation is simple, with no modification to the existing goal structure, and can easily be accomplished by one person. The system includes new, full-sized graphite backboards with aluminum backframes and official-size goals with nylon nets. 
www.jaypro.com

Storm by First Team Sports
First Team introduces the Storm, an affordable, competition-style, portable basketball goal. Featuring a spring-assist lifting mechanism, rim height can be adjusted quickly and easily. Several backboard options are available, including a competition size 3 ½-foot x 6-foot tempered glass (shown in photo). The Storm is very rigid and extremely durable. It has 5-feet 6-inches of runout room (distance from front of backboard to front of base) and will not tip over when players are hanging on the breakaway rim. The unit’s compact stowing position allows it to be moved into a storage area under any set of standard-height double-wide doors.
www.firstteaminc.com