Professional Commitment
In the introductory class for sports and recreation administration, the students in my class at Ole Miss learn about the importance of professionalism in the field.  I instruct the students to gain as much professional experience as they can during their time at the university.  I know the experiences, combined with network connections, and education will give them the best opportunity to join the profession.
            Another important aspect of this particular lecture is the value of certification.  Many employers in the secular field of sports and recreation administration desire the certification.  Many of our students go after the Certified Park and Recreation Professional sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association.  Others pursue a Certified Recreational Sports Specialist offered by the National Intramural and Recreational Sport Association. In the secular field, certification can be the difference in being hired or not. As the ministry field of sports and recreation continues to gain influence, certification will be just as important to show on one’s resume. 
            Students gain the affirmation that certification, experience, and networking are components of the path toward professionalism.  One gains the same sense of professionalism with the sports and recreation ministry certification.  The certification demonstrates one’s dedication to the profession and spells out the sacrifices taken to obtain the validation in the field. Certification requires some additional hours of reading, listening, viewing, and learning from the experts in the field.
            The last step in developing the level of desired professionalism comes in attending workshops, conferences, and seminars.  The aspect of continuing education and the learning process is key to maintaining one’s professionalism.  A value of the sports and recreation ministry certification is that to maintain certification one must complete five hours of Continuing Education Units per year.  One can complete the five-hour units in one ReachGathering conference or regional CSRM workshops. 
            Are you ready to sell out completely toward the significance of the sports and recreation ministry certification?  If so, register for certification today by clicking here.
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This blog is the 5th in a series on Sports Ministry Certification written by Professor David Waddell.   All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:

David Waddell  - <dwaddell@olemiss.edu
 
Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports, sports theology and ethics written by David Waddell and other local church Sports, Rec & Fitness Ministers are archived at: http://www.csrm.org/blog/

Enhances Professional Image
One of my pet peeves throughout my career as a sports and recreation minister was the lack of respect this ministry receives from the “rank and file” people of the church.  Other ministries such as preaching, worship, small group, men’s ministries, and women’s ministries always took priority of time, attention, and announcements. 
            At times, I felt like people viewed sports and recreation ministries as “second class” or “unnecessary” to the fulfillment of the church’s mission.  I know numerous churches do not have sports and recreation ministries, but that does not mean they are not an important ministry partner like other programs.
             In some churches, the sports and recreation minister’s office is in the recreation facility and disconnected from the other ministry offices.  This “separation” does not help the level of respect with other ministries at all.
             One of the benefits of certification in the sports and recreation ministry world is the level of expertise and knowledge one obtains as to the equal worth of ministry in a person’s life.  Knowing why we do what we do and having the certification credibility assists us in conveying the message that we are as important as other ministries in the church. 
             Certification will give the knowledge as to how the sports and recreation ministry is biblically based.  Despite there not being a reference to sports and recreation singled out in the scriptures, the texts studied in certification will give you the ability to influence those in your church as to its spiritual significance. You will obtain instructions as to how to make sports and recreation a part of missions and outreach programs as well as how to use it in your disciple-making process. 
              With an entire section of learning in philosophical principles, certification will give you the information to communicate the overall importance of the sports and recreation ministry to the church. 

Would you like to enhance your professional image and see your ministry gain the level of acceptance as other ministries?  If so, register for certification today by clicking here.
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This blog is the 4th in a series on Sports Ministry Certification written by Professor David Waddell.   All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:

David Waddell  - <dwaddell@olemiss.edu
 
Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports, sports theology and ethics written by David Waddell and other local church Sports, Rec & Fitness Ministers are archived at: http://www.csrm.org/blog/

Foundational Talking Points
The scenario I hated most in sports and recreation ministry is when someone asked what I did for a living.  I realize the response gave me a witnessing opportunity, but when I would share I was a sports and recreation minister the response was, “What is that” or “Wow, so you get paid for having fun.”  It is not much better being a college instructor in the same field.
            During my time as a local church sports and recreation pastor my own father would ask me what was going on at work and I would tell him all the plans for different sports leagues, craft classes, and fitness programs.  There would always be a silent moment on the phone before he would ask “And, they pay you for this, right?”
            Another hated scenario was when church people considered what we did in sports and recreation ministry to be of lesser value than the “real” ministries of the church.  Even as a forty-year-old minister people wondered what kind of ministry I wanted to perform when I “grew up.”  I think I dealt with that attitude more than I did the former clarification of career above.
            One of the features of becoming sports and recreation ministry certified is the broad education one receives about “all we do” in this venue.  Some of the titles even use theological “big words” in case you need to impress your pastor.  Imagine answering the “what do you do for a living” question with a fully armed biblical answer.  Can you perceive what the response might be to the “grown up” ministry dilemma being addressed by conveying important philosophical principles to the wonderer.
            When a minister arms himself or herself with a foundational response to why we do what we do, the questions and the jokes about our career path seem to diminish.  When a response has a foundationally sound philosophy, the question about our place in the ministry food chain a person gains more understanding of why we do what we do. 

Would you like to learn how to respond to “What do you do” or “Why do you do that” questions?  Register for certification today by clicking here.
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This blog is the 3rd in a series on Sports Ministry Certification written by Professor David Waddell.   All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:

David Waddell  - <dwaddell@olemiss.edu
 
Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports, sports theology and ethics written by David Waddell and other local church Sports, Rec & Fitness Ministers are archived at: http://www.csrm.org/blog/

Staying Up To Date
John Wooden once said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that really counts.”  This statement is a great description of the need for certification.  A good number of sports and recreation ministry leaders have been through an academic program with the rigor of learning the philosophical and practical part of sports and recreation leadership.  Others have the school of experience working in their favor.  Both “educations” are a beginning of the process and not an end in themselves.
            My calling into this ministry area came early enough that I was able to get an undergraduate degree in recreation administration and a concentration in my master’s degree to include church recreation.  Through the years in a variety of conferences, workshops, webinars, books, and articles I have learned so much more to assist me in this work.  If I were to operate the sports and recreation ministry in the same manner as I did at my seminary graduation, I would soon become obsolete and ineffective as a ministry leader.  While our message remains the same, the methods and processes of delivering ministry programs to our church and community have changed.  Certification and the Continuing Education Unit system keeps leaders learning new methods to meet the needs of the people under their watch and demonstrates a desire to learn, grow, and improve.  You will gain new skills and knowledge, confirm proficiency, and increase your competency.
            The Sports and Recreation Ministry Certification provides a reminder of the “3-Tier Paradigm” of theological, philosophical, and methodological avenues that is helpful in providing the purpose and mission of the ministry.  One of the benefits of certification is the meaningful continuing education units one can receive to maintain certification.  By attending workshops and conferences such as REACHgathering, regional CSRM workshops, attending CSRM/CSO webinars, and other assorted learning experiences one gains the CEUs necessary to keep “learning after they know it all.”    
            Do you want to know something new?  Register for certification today by clicking here.
This blog is the 2nd in a series on Sports Ministry Certification written by Professor David Waddell.   All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:

David Waddell  - <dwaddell@olemiss.edu
 
Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports, sports theology and ethics written by David Waddell and other local church Sports, Rec & Fitness Ministers are archived at: http://www.csrm.org/blog/

CSRM Certification - A Professional Necessity For Sport, Rec & Fitness Ministers
 
Fancy Letters After Your Name
When “MD” follows a name there is an instant level of respect given to the person.  The letters represent that this person is a Medical Doctor.  They have worked many years at a high level to obtain such a reward as those letters represent.  One of the highlights of higher education and certification is the number of letters one gets to post after their name on signatures, letterhead, and important documents.  A “PhD” or “EdD” means this person spent extra time, money, and trouble to gain a level of education not afforded to everyone.  Like an earned degree, one places certification letters following their name in order to demonstrate the credibility and quality the certification upholds. 
            I was delighted when I completed the certification for myself because it removed some suspicion about my degrees.  The letters for degrees and certification come in their importance.  For example, a PhD would be listed first, then other degrees followed by certifications.  My degrees include a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Religious Education.  The master degree, listed first, makes my signature appear like this:
 
David Waddell MORE BS. 
 
            Those that know me well might agree with the appropriateness of my signature.  It is easy to see why the addition of a Sports Ministry Certification for a Sport and Recreation Minister can be helpful for me.  Joking aside, the letters or initials behind the name lets others know you have earned the right to be in the position of sports and recreation ministry.  Certification provides the fulfillment of standards, learning of techniques, and fundamentals of programming established.  It is more than just a bragging fact, the certification should tell your church and your pastor that you are “called out” to sports and recreation ministry in a similar fashion to the apostles being “called out” to their service.
            Those letters become more than “decoration.”  The certification letters that follow your name signify a commitment to the sports and recreation ministry field.  They demonstrate a leader that is not resting on his or her laurels.  They exhibit the felt need to gain the credibility in the field that comes with the completion of the certification process. 
            Would you like some letters?  Register for certification today by clicking here.
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This blog is the 1ST in a series on Sports Ministry Certification written by Professor David Waddell.   All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:

David Waddell  - <dwaddell@olemiss.edu
 
Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports, sports theology and ethics written by David Waddell and other local church Sports, Rec & Fitness Ministers are archived at: http://www.csrm.org/blog/