Sport Minister's Certification #1 - What's In It For Me?

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/