This Series of Blogs provide vignettes of the early pioneers of The Muscular Christianity Era -  Faith-Sport Integration who laid the foundations for the Modern Day Sports Outreach Movement

GEORGE WILLIAMS - THE FOUNDER OF THE MOVEMENT
Little notice was taken when George Williams was born October 11, 1821 the youngest of 8 sons to a farming family in Somerset, England.  Williams has fared little better in the 20th century as few take notice of him now.  He lived an obscure & nondescript life through his early teen years and obscurity has returned as he has faded from recognition again.  While quite well known in England during the latter half of the 19th century - including being Knighted by Queen Victoria in 1884 on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the YMCA - Williams is not currently recognized nor does he receive his just due for his role in pioneering the methodologies which are the heart and soul of most Sports-based Para-Ministries and many Local Church Sport Ministries since then.  Moreover, his influence is wielded far beyond sports ministries and can be detected in nearly every Para-Ministry[1] that exists today.  Those who serve in ministry at the beginning of the third millennium probably didn’t recognize the name of George Williams and certainly can not articulate his contributions to ministry, but there are few people who have had more of an influence upon ministry, evangelistic efforts and society in general.  This obscure farm boy and his ministry principles need to be revisited by anyone doing Sports Ministry, or any other ministry for that matter, in the 21st century and beyond.

THE EARLY LIFE OF GEORGE WILLIAMS
It was said of George Williams that he inherited his cheery and winning manner from his mother and his indomitable will, quiet determination and unquenchable enthusiasm from his father.[2]  These were all fired by the surroundings of the rough farming life and community his family existed in.  While a product of the farm, George was not long for the farming life. He quit school at age 13 to join in the farming efforts of the family, but his older brothers were less than enthralled with his farming skills.  His fate was decided the day he overturned the hay wagon and found himself in the ditch with the hay, wagon and horse.  Shortly thereafter his father made arrangements for George to be apprenticed in the town of Bridgewater to a draper.  Being dropped off in a strange town with no family was a traumatic experience for the young teenager, but it was the necessary first step towards a personal encounter with Christ and his subsequent life’s calling which would ultimately change the face of the city of London, the entire country of England, and ultimately the world.
 
THE ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST THROUGH PEOPLE
While George encountered the general forms of religion his day had to offer, it was not until he came face to face with other apprentices, who lived lives demonstrably different from his own, that it became apparent something was missing in his own spiritual life.[3] It was not the words which were spoken to him about faith by his new acquaintances, but rather it was the words which were absent from their vocabulary that had the most impact upon this young farmer’s son. (B) 
 
Up to this point in his life George believed his casual interactions with religion were satisfactory, but now he realized how shallow his faith was compared to those around him. His language was profane compared to fellow draper apprentices and whereas his religious activities were relegated to traditional and social festivities or Holy days, he was now confronted by the faith of those whose relationship with God ran deep.  He witnessed for the first time people who lived out their faith each moment of each day.  Not only was this living example of Christianity the catalyst in the awakening of his own faith as a teenager, it was to also become the driving force in what was to become his life’s passion - the YMCA.  George Williams understood and practiced “Lifestyle or Friendship Evangelism” a century before books were written about it.  He became a pioneer for relational evangelism and this became the model for YMCA work for the next 100 years. (C) 
 
While it was the lives of other apprentices which arrested George’s mind and heart it was on a cold winter's evening at the Zion Congregational Church in 1837 that George knelt and prayed to receive Christ as his personal Savior.  Nothing is recorded or remembered about this evening other than the name of the minister, Rev. Evan James.  James was a man of no great reputation or talents other than faithfulness in carrying out his call.  This is understood in the accounting Williams’s grandson records which is a glowing account of Evan James:
 
George Williams is the brightest gem in the unfading crown
of a simple country minister of the gospel, who, in the com-
mon round of his work, without taking special thought or mak-
ing special appeal, was the means of leading him to the master.[4]
 
May there be millions more men like Evan James, and millions more of common everyday apprentices who quietly go about their lives, lovingly leading others to the Savior. (D)
 
This encounter with the risen Lord inspired George to a whole new purpose for life.  While he spent the rest of his years as a successful and prominent businessman, his passion became winning young men for Christ.  While it was through the influence of the common folk at Bridgewater that Williams became a follower of Christ, it was through the ministry of Charles Finney and Thomas Binney that a deeper spiritual formation began to grow.  It was also through Finney that Williams came to understand practical theology and evangelism. It was through Binney that he learned how to attract others through love.
 
[1]Consult the discussion in the introduction of this book concerning Para-church terminology.

[2]J. E. Hodder Williams, The Life of Sir George Williams (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1906) p. 10.

[3] See note A and each subsequent note indicated by a Capital letter at the end of this blog series for special points of ministry application.

 [4]Williams, p. 30.
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This blog is an excerpt from a future book "Surrounded by Witnesses" by Dr. Greg Linville.  All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:

Dr. Greg Linville at CSRM International C/O The World Outreach Center 5350 Broadmoor Circle N. w. Canton, Ohio – USA 44709 or glinville@csrm.org
 
Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports, sports theology and ethics written by Dr. Greg Linville and other local church Sports, Rec & Fitness Ministers are archived at: http://www.csrm.org/blog/

 FINISHING WELL & HELPS ALONG THE WAY
 Having become a Christian whilst being a physical education student at Loughborough University over half a century ago I can testify to the remarkable and life changing partnership between sport and the Christian faith. If ever there was a combination to shatter the sacred/secular divide so incumbent in our society and allow Sunday to merge with Monday, then this is it.
Starting the Christian life well is commendable but no guarantee for the best of finishes. Bob Buford tells us that ‘half-time is the in-between season that occurs at about age 45, plus or minus a few years. It marks the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half. That’s when the inspired words of II Timothy 4:7 kick in and give us a real focus – ‘finish the race and finish well’.
I’m planning to stay on course and run through the tape. Here are some of the motivations that will make sure we keep on track.
 
Stay close to Jesus and hang loose about everything else
As a physical educationalist in my early years I found life to be full of frenetic activity and constant movement. As I now get nearer Heaven the following phrase frequently occupies my thoughts – ‘life is an awareness of the preciousness of the immediacy of the present moment’. I think I’ve morphed into a contemplative activist and before you think that is an oxymoron then let me explain.
It is important to major on intimacy with God before entering into activity of any kind whether it be spiritual, physical or mental. The latter will only flow strongly when the former is in place. Jesus is the perfect example of this principle where we see the explosive life changing aspect of his ministry always coming on the back of intimate times alone with Father God. The life changing that went on in the town of Sychar (John 4:39) came after he had taken ‘time out’ and drawn aside from the traffic lanes of life in order to key in to God’s plans and purposes.
 
Preserve margin in your life
This area can be defined as the space between your load and your limit. How often do we push the envelope all the way and leave no space before the edge. That’s when we go into to overload mode. To preserve an uncluttered margin space in our lives will allow room for God and other folk to stroll there and encounter you at your best and spiritually in tune. Reaping to the field’s edge leaves no space for those who otherwise would have experienced blessing in your margin space. Let’s remember that ‘burnt out’ doesn’t send a calling card in advance. It likes to catch you unawares and often when you think you are flying. Adding new responsibilities on top of old ones without ever removing anything usually contributes to this as does accepting invitations on the spur of the moment without due prayer and thought. Wait and process things first. That’s what margin space is for.
 
 Keep an eye open for burning bushes 
 With our protestant work ethic and love of activity we can often miss God’s plan for our life. That’s where I find the 5 Cs so helpful when big decisions are in the wind – job, location, ministry, relationships etc. None of the five stand alone in determining the route to take but when all of them line up then you can press on with confidence:-
 

1. Commanding Scripture
   
2. Compelling Spirit
   
3. Common Sense
   
4. Counsel of the Saints
   
5. Circumstantial Signs
   

Keep a Journal and list your Dreams
To be tutored by God’s Spirit in the keeping of careful journal notes is a gift to strive for. It helps to trace God’s hand on your life and remind you of His blessings over the years. Just as the Israelites were encouraged to save ‘three quarts of manna’ (Exodus 16:33) in order to have a tangible reminder of God’s constant care, journal keeping also provides a significant remembering process. It recognises the activity and voice of God in your life and helps to train your ears to hear within the inner garden of your life. C. Austin Miles captured this thought in the words ‘He speaks and the sound of his voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing’.
 
Dreams, which are often a clue to what is going on in our inner life, can also be recorded and reflected upon. We serve a big God who enjoys fulfilling big dreams. In this area there is no limit so record your aspirations together with God’s answers.
 
Finally, cultivating journal skills over the year shows us where we have come from, where we are and where we may be heading.
 
Find a Mentor
To seek guidance from those who have travelled further along life’s path than you is really a ‘no brainer’. Give him/her total permission to ask any question and fully check you out. Such openness and accountability provides a relationship between two people for the purpose of spiritual growth. To journey together in the same direction is a shared privilege and enables someone to ‘watch your back’ and with whom you can be transparent. It becomes a key factor in helping you ‘to finish the race and finish well’.

Bryan Mason - Former CSRM European Director
January 2017

MODELS FOR LOCAL CHURCH SPORTS, RECREATION AND FITNESS MINISTRY GLEANED FROM THOMAS ARNOLD
 
 

1. EVERY ONE NEEDS A MENTOR

Even the boy who has a great father or the girl who is blessed with wonderful mother, can at times benefit from the guidance and direction of other adults.  Thomas Arnold was a fore runner of the modern day coach.  Coaches can have tremendous impacts upon those whom they coach.  However, this influence will not occur unless coaches are intentional about what values they want to instill in those they coach.  What can be learned from the example of Thomas Arnold is coaches, ESPECIALLY IN LOCAL CHURCH LEAGUE COACHES, must establish principles for their lives such as, faith in God; commitment to their marriage and family; personal ethics of honesty and integrity; and must embody virtues such as courage, love and strength.  In addition coaches must intentionally teach these concepts and values to their players.  They must look for those “teachable moments” when an athletic situation lends itself to mentoring a young person or teaching a life lesson to a player.
 
Thomas Arnold understood the great opportunity and the weighty responsibility of being entrusted with the lives of young men.  Any pastor, Sunday School teacher, Sport Minister or coach has this same opportunity and responsibility and should do the hard work of planning how to best be used of God in the lives entrusted to them.  Who has God given you to mentor?  What plans do you need to make in order to best guide and direct those whom you have an influence over?  What areas of your life need to change in order for you to be a better role model? 
 
2. TEACHABLE MOMENTS IN ATHLETICS
Athletics are not intrinsically or inherently good.  Thus, the Arnoldian philosophy of a young man becoming virtuous simply by competing is logically fallacious.  Conversely, athletics also are not intrinsically or inherently evil, as some have come to postulate.  Athletics are neither moral nor immoral, but rather are amoral.  The morality of athletics comes from the people who are involved in the athletics.  Therefore, athletics and competition can be used for moral or immoral purposes and they can be participated in a moral or immoral manner.[1]  Arnold was correct in his belief that participation in athletics provided ample opportunities for teaching character and faith, but Sports Ministers, coaches and others must go beyond Arnold’s approach and be intentional in their use of sports and other activities to develop character in young people by looking for teachable moments in the course of competition and availing themselves of the opportunity to explain the lessons to their athletes as well as how to apply it to their lives.  They can not assume character will automatically be developed because of a mere participation in athletics.

3. INFLUENCE MOMENTS IN LOCAL CHURCH SPORTS OUTREACH
Professor Steve Quatro has rightly written that for Local Church Sports Outreach, maximizing the opportunities that Sports, Recreation and Fitness activities provide is the key to successful evangelisitc-disciplemaking.  Arnold became a significant mentor to the young men attending his school....likewise, Sports Ministry directors can share this vision with their youth and adult coaches.  These men and women can have a life-chaning "influence" on all they coach.  The sport or activity provides the "moment," but it remains the coach's responsibility to provide the "influence."
 
FOR FURTHER STUDY
 
The Arnolds and their influence on English education, by Joshua Fitch; 1897.   Charles Scribner’s Sons, Norwood Press, Norwood Massachusetts.
 
The Christian Life - Volume #1, by Thomas Arnold; mid 1800's.  N. Tibbals & Sons, New York.
 
The Arnolds, by Meriol Trevor; 1973.  Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York.  ISBN: 684-13262-1

[1]The author discusses this topic at length in his book Christmanship: the Theology of Competition.



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This blog is an excerpt from a future book "Surrounded by Witnesses" by Dr. Greg Linville.  All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:

Dr. Greg Linville at CSRM International C/O The World Outreach Center 5350 Broadmoor Circle N. w. Canton, Ohio – USA 44709 or glinville@csrm.org
 
Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports, sports theology and ethics written by Dr. Greg Linville and other local church Sports, Rec & Fitness Ministers are archived at: http://www.csrm.org/blog/

This Series of Blogs provide vignettes of the early pioneers of The Muscular Christianity Era -  Faith-Sport Integration who laid the foundations for the Modern Day Sports Outreach Movement

THE ARNOLDIAN LEGACY
The reason Thomas Arnold is being featured in this book about and for Sports Ministers is not because Arnold was a Sports Minister in the modern day sense, but because he was one of the pioneers of using Sports to accomplish spiritual ends and purposes.  In addition, his philosophies and views of integrating faith into daily life have created a powerful legacy. 
 
Arnold held to the belief an active life taught lessons about faith and God.  Moreover, he believed specific activities - such as athletics - were exceptionally good at teaching these lessons.  In particular, he believed athletics could instill morals, values and virtue.  His methodologies were almost a carbon copy of the classical Greek Academy and its ideal of teaching virtue through athletic training.  Yet his theories have proved to be only partially correct.  While it is true athletics and activities can teach lessons about life, faith & God, it must be understood these lessons do not automatically follow.  A young man will not necessarily become virtuous just by competing in athletics.  What has proved true is there are lessons to be learned from sport, but unless a teacher, coach or mentor willingly interprets the lessons and intentionally passes on these insights to students willing to be molded, no such thing as character will develop.  If teachers and students do not willingly participate in the process, sport will only reveal character, not create it. 

It was from this environment that one of Arnold’s best known students, Thomas Hughes, caught the vision.  Hughes communicated Arnold’s vision of manly virtue (which evolved into what became known as “Muscular Christianity”) through his novels about a fictional character by the name of Tom Brown.  These novels clearly portray the Arnoldian philosophies as represented by the active, athletic and muscular young man Tom Brown who attains virtue through his athletic endeavors.  These philosophies impacted both the religious and the secular worlds of the day.  Possibly the most well known example of the influence of the Arnold/Hughes inspired Muscular Christianity upon the secular world, was the impact it had upon a young Frenchman.  Baron Pierre DeCoubertin first began to contemplate the renewal of the Ancient Olympics through his readings of the Tom Brown novels.  Furthermore he molded the Modern Olympics around a secularized version of Arnold’s principles.
 
Regardless of who it impacted, the importance of Arnoldian philosophies upon the mid 19th century can not be under estimated and although Arnold’s basic belief has been found to be a bit simplistic and shallow, his contribution of setting the muscular Christian motif in motion has been of incalculable importance to both the sacred and the secular world.  The great ideals of DeCoubertin such as world peace have not occurred and yet no one can deny that the Olympics have had a positive effect in helping to build bridges between individuals from around the world. Even more significant has been the profound effect the philosophies of Thomas Arnold had upon that afore mentioned movement - Muscular Christianity.  That influence will be observed in almost every one of the examples discussed in this book.  Whether through the YMCA of the 19th century or the Sports Ministry movement of the late 20th century, literally millions of men, and more recently countless women, have been blessed through Arnold’s legacy.

__________________________________
This blog is an excerpt from a future book "Surrounded by Witnesses" by Dr. Greg Linville.  All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:

Dr. Greg Linville at CSRM International C/O The World Outreach Center 5350 Broadmoor Circle N. w. Canton, Ohio – USA 44709 or glinville@csrm.org
 
Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports, sports theology and ethics written by Dr. Greg Linville and other local church Sports, Rec & Fitness Ministers are archived at: http://www.csrm.org/blog/

This Series of Blogs provide vignettes of the early pioneers of The Muscular Christianity Era -  Faith-Sport Integration who laid the foundations for the Modern Day Sports Outreach Movement

THOMAS ARNOLD – USING SPORT TO DEVELOP CHARACTER
If Thomas Arnold is known by anyone in the 21st century it would more likely be someone in the field of education, rather than a Sports Minister.  This is because Thomas and his son were pioneers in the educational systems and philosophies of the day.  Yet Arnold played a foundational role for modern day Sports Ministers.  Arnold’s educational innovations were widely acclaimed by the19th century British society and yet his philosophy of education is completely antithetical to, and would be quite despised by many modern day educators in America.  Arnold believed headmasters were called of God to create a school with a Christian tone.  To Arnold, a school was first and foremost a place for character formation and only secondarily a place for learning and study.  He certainly wanted to impart a quality education but he believed developing character in his students was even more important.  To this end he sought ordination so as to be able to administer the sacraments to his students and responsibly teach them moral law and theology.  He did in fact receive his ordination from the Bishop of London, Dr. Howley, who affirmed spiritual mentorship to be a crucial role of a headmaster.  Arnold later also received his Doctorate of Divinity.

EARLY LIFE
Born in 1795 Arnold had only a brief time with his own father, who died when Thomas was only six.  This early loss may have been a driving force which made Arnold more keenly aware of the need young boys have for a male role model, mentor and father.  Although denied a relationship with his father, Arnold was still the recipient of an education at the finest schools available and began his own teaching career at the age of 25.
 
FAMILY LIFE
Thomas married his wife Mary who bore him seven children of whom six lived into adulthood.  As if to make up for his own loss of a father, Thomas had excellent relationships with his children and it was said that they all adored him.  Some of his grandchildren are well known today as authors and thinkers that include Julian and Aldous Huxley.
  
HIS CAREER
Arnold began his teaching career at Laleham school.  He taught there for 10 years and it was while at Laleham that he began to develop his educational principles.  The three that he instituted were:
 
1. Religious and moral instruction come first
2. Gentlemanly conduct is taught second
3. Intellectual ability is developed third
 
After his tenure at Laleham he was selected from some 50 candidates for the more prestigious headmaster position at Rugby school.  Rugby was not a school that taught the sport of Rugby, but rather was a first class educational institution in which the sport of Rugby was created.  The sport assumed the name of the school.  Arnold inherited approximately 100 students, but quickly increased that number to over 300 by his sheer energy and progressive and innovative educational methods.  It was at Rugby that Arnold’s religious and educational principles really solidified.  He methodically went about creating a Christian tone for his academic community, but not by the standard approaches of increasing the amount of religious services.  Rather he believed that the headmaster was to emulate what the Christian life was all about and that the boys needed to learn how to make their faith relevant to and integrated in every aspect of their lives. 
 
THE CHRISTIAN TONE AT RUGBY
Arnold became not only the headmaster but also the chaplain of the school.  Thus, he taught the intellectual aspects required for graduation in the classroom, but he also preached to the students on a regular basis in the chapel.  His sermons always dealt with temptations typically facing boys and how they were to be handled.  These messages emphasized practical issues and solutions to every day problems.  He wrote one entire book which was devoted exclusively to these sermons to his students. 
 
Beyond the required chapels, Arnold insisted prayer to be included in the daily life of a student.  He believed this to be especially true for the upper classmen who Arnold knew could better appreciate its importance.  Continual prayer and other regular spiritual regimens stemmed from Arnold’s belief that one could not separate the sacred from the everyday, moment by moment life. He believed and taught the sacred was always present.
__________________________
This blog is an excerpt from a future book: "Surrounded by Witnesses"  by Dr. Greg Linville   All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:

Dr. Greg Linville at CSRM International C/O The World Outreach Center 5350 Broadmoor Circle N. w. Canton, Ohio – USA 44709 or glinville@csrm.org
 
Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports, sports theology and ethics written by Dr. Greg Linville and other local church Sports, Rec & Fitness Ministers are archived at: http://www.csrm.org/blog/