Is Sports Ministry Effective: Local Church & Para-Ministry

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.