IS SPORTS OUTREACH EFFECTIVE?
Let me be clear… much of what will be discussed in this blog will not be popular.  It may in fact, threaten the beliefs of many in the Sports Outreach World.  It is not intended to be intentionally offensive or hurtful.  It is however, intended to begin a conversation based upon the hard questions asked within.  All truth seekers are invited to continue.  This is the seventh in a series of blogs addressing the question: Is Sports Outreach Effective?  The conversation continues with this blog on the third Continuum: Para-Sport Outreach Ministry – Local Church Sports Outreach Ministry…

A FEW MORE STATISTICS

• There are tens of thousands of churches below 100 members and they are filled with an aging population
• Half of all churches last year did not add one new member through conversion growth

Source:  D. Goodmanson 

REVIEW
The first two Continuums in this series on the effectiveness of Sports Outreach have exposed the “Achilles heel” of the major model of Sports Outreach.  I have termed the major model: “Platform Evangelism.” “Platform Evangelism” is a methodology which seeks to provide a “platform” for “Christian” athletes & coaches to share their faith.  This methodology is flawed on two counts.  First, Christian athletes are seldom prepared to speak theologically and thus their “proclamations” are at best, unwise, and at worst, misleading or even heretical.  Second, all too often the personal lives of the “proclaiming” athletes don’t match their “proclamations.”  The motives of most athletes aren’t wrong, the problem is the model.  There is a better model found through the Sports Outreach Continuums

SPORTS OUTREACH CONTINUUM OF TENSION #3: LOCAL CHURCH SPORTS OUTREACH
PARA-SPORTS MINISTRY
Let me cut to the chase.  In its current form, the prevailing model utilized by Sports Outreach oriented Para-Ministries is flawed!  At the very least, it doesn’t live up to its promise.  The typical end goal of such Para-ministries is to reach elite athletes and coaches for Christ, and then use the testimonies of converted athletes to bring others to Christ.  This is a most noble goal.  In fact there is no more important goal a person or organization could invest their efforts in than to attempt to bring the world into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Yet, the goal is not being accomplished to the degree once hoped or promised by this Methodological Model.  The motivation of these ministries is right but the Philosophical Principles these Methodological Models are based on is problematic and are becoming less and less effective.  It is hoped this series of blogs will strengthen the motivation, but will encourage a re-envisioning of the philosophy and methodologies.

Please hear my heart.  I am not “against” my brothers and sisters who work in the various Sports Ministries.  We are allies.  We are “first cousins” in our mission.  Furthermore, I am employed by a Para-Ministry!  I’m not against any person or any ministry but I am asking the Sports Ministry Family to reconsider the philosophies and methodologies of our Movement.  To that end the next few blogs will further explore this most important Sports Outreach Continuum: Local Church Sports Outreach – Para-Ministry Sports Outreach.

Last week’s blog described the first of six Sports Ministry Continuums: Christianity-Sportianity.  It describes the tension experienced by sportspeople when their faith and sport conflict.  There are four classical responses to this dilemma: Capitulation; Accommodation; Redemption; Rejection.

Capitulation describes athletes at one extreme end of the Sportianity side of the Continuum.  These coaches and athletes willingly “capitulate” their faith to fully pursue their athletic goals.

Accommodation describes athletes who are also on the Sportianity side of the Continuum but are not so extremely committed to athletic endeavors.  These athletes are unwilling to totally capitulate their faith but are often willing to make concessions to their sport, even if these concessions negatively impact their spiritual growth and well-being.  Examples include: choosing sports endeavors over attending a church service or Bible study.  It also occurs when athletes choose an action which cannot be defended Biblically but does help win a competition. “Accommodation” athletes struggle with choosing between what helps them succeed in sport and what helps them hold on to and grow in their faith.

Rejection describes the choice of former athletes to no longer participate in sport.  It is the extreme opposite of the Capitulation end of the Continuum.  These athletes choose faith over sport.  They have come to believe sport is always or often evil, and has an overall detrimental impact on their faith.  Thus they opt out of sport so as to remain committed to their spiritual growth.

Redemption describes the goal of athletes who are in the middle of the Continuum but decidedly on the Christianity side, opposite Accommodation.  Faith is their highest priority but they choose to stay involved in sport, seeking to be a redeeming force in and through their athletics.  They may reject certain actions and activities often required in sport, but they continue to play their sport. They believe: a) God can be worshipped through their athletic endeavors; b) sport provides an opportunity to reach teammates and others for Christ; and c) they have a responsibility to be a positive force for changing how sports are played and how competition is engaged in.  They have a twofold goal.  First, they seek to redeem the individuals in sport by inviting them to experience a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and second, they want to play their part in redeeming the culture of sport.

Relevance of the Christianity-Sportianity Sports Outreach Tension Continuum
Providing platforms for Christian athletes and coaches to share their faith and teach others about Jesus Christ has been the primary and most prevalent model for Sports Outreach.  Local churches heavily invested in this methodology are greatly hindered when Christian athletes prove to be less than stellar Disciples of Christ.  Athletes who verbally proclaim Christ, but are not well grounded in the Bible not only make poor theologians but worse, embarrass the local church when their unbiblical and hypocritical lives become front page news.  It all ends up hurting local church evangelistic endeavors.

Is there a better Methodological Model? Subsequent blogs on the Six Sports Outreach Continuums of Tension will continue the discussion.