Is Sports Outreach Working?

The Sports Outreach Movement emerged in the mid 20th Century touted as a most strategic tool for Evangelism, Discipleship and church growth. Most Sports Outreach Ministers believe it to be the most strategic tool the church can employ to accomplish the Great Commission but many church leaders are beginning to wonder whether it has delivered its promised results.

THE FACTS:
In western countries, fewer and fewer people attend church since the Sports Outreach Movement came into vogue in the mid to late 20th century:

U.K. AVERAGE WEEKLY CHURCH ATTENDANCE

• U.K.: 1968 = 1,606,000 / 2009 = 826,000 

NORTH AMERICA WEEKLY CHURCH ATTENDANCE

• USA – 43% / Canada – 20% (Down from a high of 69% in America

NEVER ATTEND CHURCH

• USA – 8% / Canada – 38%
• In most communities more kids play Soccer (just Soccer – not all sports) on a Lord’s Day morning than attend Sunday School
• Bible illiteracy increases every year
  
• Respect for Christianity is at an all-time low

IT’S WORTH ASKING…  

• Has the Sports Outreach Movement lived up to its hype?  For all the hoopla, has the Sports Outreach Movement been a significant force for evangelism?  If so, then why hasn’t the church grown these past 70 years?
  
• If Sports Outreach is so effective why does it seem to be on the decline?  A few sobering trends:
  
• Many churches are phasing out their Sports Ministries and laying off their Sports Ministers
  
• Para-Sports Ministries such as FCA, AIA and Baseball Chapel have come under huge attacks from friend and foe
• Two recently published books highly criticize Sports Outreach Ministries
  - Shirl Hoffman’s “Good Game”
  - Thomas Krattenmaker’s “Onward Christian Athletes”
• Para-Ministries report fewer churches using their resources, attending conferences, buying their products
• Many Universities are curtailing their Sports Outreach offerings

There is no hard data on the decline of Sports Outreach Movement however, these trends are verified by Sports Ministry leaders who are growing increasingly concerned.  The bad news is, these facts and trends are to a large degree true and valid.  The good news is there are insights which can help to explain some of the facts and trends.  In addition, for those willing to face facts and are open to change how they perceive and implement Sports Ministry, there are answers which can empower the Sports Outreach Movement to new levels of effectiveness and efficiency.

Over the course of the next weeks these trends will be addressed in this blog based upon an exposition and discussion of the Six Sports Outreach Continuums of Tension which are impacting the current trends in Sports Outreach Ministry. 

• Christianity - Sportianity
  
• Christmanship - Gamesmanship
  
• Para-Ministry - Local Church
  
• Mega-Event - Process-Relational
  
• Celtic - Roman Evangelism
  
• Formal Training - Informal Training