Well Vs. Whole
In the world of Sports, Recreation and Fitness (SR&F) Outreach Ministry, we quite obviously tend to focus primarily on the physical fitness component of both ourselves and those we serve. But as a Certified Health and Wellness Coach who specializes in Biblical Health and Wholeness, I see a bigger, more complex picture. It all started when my family had to call an ambulance for me one day while out running errands.

See, I had taken on too much. Like many of us, and many of those we serve, it was hard for me to say no. I did everything anyone asked of me… in addition to my God-given responsibilities. I didn’t want to let anyone down and wanted to look like I had it all together. After all, if I said no, they would think I couldn’t handle it, right? But where it got me was somewhere I never expected to end up. I landed in the ER.

In the process of trying to not fail others, I had failed to care for myself well. I had fallen for the enemy’s lies that whispers, Christians sacrifice. Others come first. You don’t have time to slow down. Maybe you’ve heard those same whispers? But you didn’t know it was from an enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy? He has a way of twisting truth and turning it into a lie. Sacrifice? Caring for others? Great things! And obviously a part of the foundation of our faith in action, but God cares about YOU, too. He cares about those we partner with in our ministries who are running on empty.

We all know that the greatest commandment Jesus gave us was to love our Father in heaven with everything we are. But the second has a component we often leave out. We are told to love others as we love ourselves, but often simplify restate it as: “love others”. Yet, in order to love others as we love ourselves, we must first actually love (and thus care for) ourselves! We aren’t much good to the expansion of the Kingdom, if we aren’t well enough to serve.

I like to teach that in those 2 commandments, there are actually 3. And if we put them in their proper order, it looks like this: We are to love God, love (and care for) ourselves (so that we can), love (and care for) others. God not only gave us the command to rest (Exodus 20:8-11), He also modeled it at creation (Genesis 2:2). However, I’m willing to bet most Christians don’t take it seriously. Jesus also modeled stepping away for times of prayer (Matthew 14:22-23, Mark 1:35, Luke 4:42, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12… you get the idea), encouraging others to rest (Mark 6:31), clarifying His priorities in ministry (Matthew 15:24), even catching a nap (Mark 4:38)!

I’m sure you’ve seen it. I know I’m not alone in having been there. You may have been down that road also, or know others who have. We live in a culture, even a church culture, that neglects to care for ourselves well. We want good health, but we’d prefer the quick fix offered by the world than look at true wholeness.

While I have been blessed to find the path to healing, many are left to navigate those waters alone. Medical doctors often just want to prescribe a pill to reduce symptoms in the body, psychologists often only look at worldly theories on the brain and mental health, and pastors often only offer prayer. While each of these professionals may have the patient’s best at heart, each may be missing that bigger picture.

There are 3 areas of the whole person that we must address in order to guide people toward true wholeness. God made us with 3 parts: body, mind, and spirit. We must address physical health including diet as well as exercise, we must address mental health and what the Bible says about it, and we must address spiritual health and not simply assume it’s healthy. Many of us, or those we serve, have become experts at masking the real issues. We may look fit, seem sane, and appear spiritual, but under the surface we are a mess. For most, it is a definite struggle to be real in front of others and open up about what’s going on underneath the façade.

But by creating a new culture within your church or ministry that is a safe space to talk about these things, people WILL begin to open up about what they’re facing. By hearing you discuss your own internal or unseen battles, people will be encouraged to do the same and begin to walk toward healing those areas. Remember, leaders must lead by example! You cannot expect your people to be transparent with you if you are not being transparent with them.

We must start addressing health more wholistically- the whole person: body, mind, and spirit, if we want to lead people toward true wellness…toward true wholeness. Begin the conversation with your leaders. Challenge your people to examine their own wholistic health and be willing to work through it with them. (I’ve got a fantastic new resource for this in my shop!) Checking in on their physical, mental, and spiritual health is not only a component of discipleship, but will keep your ministry strong and healthy as well. Burnout benefits no one.

The rest of this year, I’ll be periodically offering new blogs to talk about the specific areas we should be covering as we teach others (and learn for ourselves!) about wholistic health and what that might look like as a component of your ministry. In the meantime, feel free to join me over at http://fixyoureyesonhim.com  for other wholistic health tips, resources, and more!
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Amber Lauren of Fix Your Eyes on Him Biblical Health and Wholeness is the wife of a Senior Pastor of an energetic, growing local church, mother of 3 school-aged children and has a passion to empower people to become whole in Christ.

Link to free printable version for distribution (unaltered) to those in your ministry: https://fixyoureyesonhim.com/download/2657/

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/