Rodger Oswald- Founder of Church Sports International
After 15 years as a high school English teacher and coach (B.A. and M.A. from California State University at San Jose), Rodger left the field of education to enter the ministry. In 1980, he was called by the elders of Los Gatos Christian Church to develop a sports ministry that would impact the youth of the church and the community. During a five-year period as the Sports Minister, the program expanded to include soccer, basketball and baseball leagues for youth (ages 5-12), as well as basketball, volleyball and softball leagues for adults. In addition, outreach/evangelistic teams in multiple sports were developed to minister in community leagues, juvenile detention centers, jails and prisons, and many all-church activities were added (including a 10K race, aerobics, hiking and wilderness activities). Eventually, the church began to send missionary athletic teams (basketball and soccer) overseas to Hong Kong, the Philippines and India.
It was during this time of ministry that Rodger became involved in the formation and leadership of the International Sports Coalition. Additionally, he has had the opportunity to be in several countries helping people understand how sports and recreation can be used to preach the gospel and build up people in their faith. In addition to the ISC, Rodger had the privilege of helping start Sports Outreach America and, subsequently helped to start and serve as a founding Board member for Church Sports and Recreation Ministers (CSRM). In 1984, LGCC asked Rodger if he would be willing to complete some Bible education in order to take on new responsibilities in the church. In 1985, Rodger completed the graduate diploma program at Multnomah Bible College and Seminary in Portland, Oregon. After completing the program, Rodger was one of two pastors sent out by LGCC to plant a "sister" church in South San Jose. For two years, Rodger served as the Christian Education, Missions and Sports Pastor (as well as administrative assistant and preaching partner) at South Valley Christian Church; during this time the church grew from 400 to 1200 members. In 1987, The Master's College and Grace Community Church asked Rodger if he would come and write a curriculum for an undergraduate degree in Sports Ministry and establish a Sports Ministry department at the college, and then, to bridge that curriculum and the students into the local church (at GCC) as an evangelistic outreach. Having completed the curriculum and establishing the sports ministry department at the college and the church, Rodger accepted a call to return to Los Gatos Christian Church to become the Pastor of Evangelism and Discipleship.
After serving LGCC for two years, Rodger initiated and became the Executive Director for Church Sports International - a ministry designed to serve the local church, mission agencies and sports para-church ministries as they would seek to use sports and recreation as a church planting or church growth tool. CSI ended in 2013 and Rodger now serves as an independent missionary.
Rodger has been married to Merrily for 56 years and they have two daughters and five grandchildren. When not occupied by family or ministry, Rodger enjoys “hitting the links.”
After 15 years as a high school English teacher and coach (B.A. and M.A. from California State University at San Jose), Rodger left the field of education to enter the ministry. In 1980, he was called by the elders of Los Gatos Christian Church to develop a sports ministry that would impact the youth of the church and the community. During a five-year period as the Sports Minister, the program expanded to include soccer, basketball and baseball leagues for youth (ages 5-12), as well as basketball, volleyball and softball leagues for adults. In addition, outreach/evangelistic teams in multiple sports were developed to minister in community leagues, juvenile detention centers, jails and prisons, and many all-church activities were added (including a 10K race, aerobics, hiking and wilderness activities). Eventually, the church began to send missionary athletic teams (basketball and soccer) overseas to Hong Kong, the Philippines and India.
It was during this time of ministry that Rodger became involved in the formation and leadership of the International Sports Coalition. Additionally, he has had the opportunity to be in several countries helping people understand how sports and recreation can be used to preach the gospel and build up people in their faith. In addition to the ISC, Rodger had the privilege of helping start Sports Outreach America and, subsequently helped to start and serve as a founding Board member for Church Sports and Recreation Ministers (CSRM). In 1984, LGCC asked Rodger if he would be willing to complete some Bible education in order to take on new responsibilities in the church. In 1985, Rodger completed the graduate diploma program at Multnomah Bible College and Seminary in Portland, Oregon. After completing the program, Rodger was one of two pastors sent out by LGCC to plant a "sister" church in South San Jose. For two years, Rodger served as the Christian Education, Missions and Sports Pastor (as well as administrative assistant and preaching partner) at South Valley Christian Church; during this time the church grew from 400 to 1200 members. In 1987, The Master's College and Grace Community Church asked Rodger if he would come and write a curriculum for an undergraduate degree in Sports Ministry and establish a Sports Ministry department at the college, and then, to bridge that curriculum and the students into the local church (at GCC) as an evangelistic outreach. Having completed the curriculum and establishing the sports ministry department at the college and the church, Rodger accepted a call to return to Los Gatos Christian Church to become the Pastor of Evangelism and Discipleship.
After serving LGCC for two years, Rodger initiated and became the Executive Director for Church Sports International - a ministry designed to serve the local church, mission agencies and sports para-church ministries as they would seek to use sports and recreation as a church planting or church growth tool. CSI ended in 2013 and Rodger now serves as an independent missionary.
Rodger has been married to Merrily for 56 years and they have two daughters and five grandchildren. When not occupied by family or ministry, Rodger enjoys “hitting the links.”
Bryan Mason- After 30 years of teaching, Bryan joined the staff of Christians in Sport UK where he developed the role of National Coordinator for Church Sports Ministry. Following a decade with CIS he became CSRM’s first European Director. Later he founded the ministry of Higher Sports (Rugby, Soccer & Games) , a teaching & kit resource for churches around the world. This has now come under the wing of Scripture Union Sports for whom Bryan acts as a consultant.
His third book ‘Maintaining Pace’ will be published by Overwhelming Victory Press early in 2020 and follows his previous books, ‘Into the Stadium’ and ‘Beyond the Gold’.
Married to Judith for over half a century they have three married sons and eight grandchildren
His third book ‘Maintaining Pace’ will be published by Overwhelming Victory Press early in 2020 and follows his previous books, ‘Into the Stadium’ and ‘Beyond the Gold’.
Married to Judith for over half a century they have three married sons and eight grandchildren
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Rob Burns
Founder and International Director- Missional Link Wales Rob Burns started his work life as a youth Soccer player with Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club in England. He then completed a BA in Sports Studies at Staffordshire University. After this he lectured for two years at Stafford Further Education College and played high level semi pro Soccer. |
He moved to the USA in his mid twenties and played Soccer briefly for Houston Dynamos before founding and directing Youth Sports International (1989-1996), a Houston Soccer ministry that taught several hundred children and teenagers per week. Over a thousand became followers of Jesus.
On moving to the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex in 1996 to undertake a Masters of Divinity at South Western Seminary, he worked at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, setting up Highlander FC (1996-2000) another Soccer ministry which also taught several hundred children and teenagers per week. Several hundred became followers of Jesus. Jim Riley was Highland Park’s Sports Minister at the time and decscribed Rob as one of the most Spirit led evangelists that he had known.
During this time, Rob was actively involved with Wedgwood Baptist, Fort Worth, becoming an ordained Baptist Minister in 1999.
In 2000, Rob, his wife Jenny and their three boys came to Wales as missionaries where they have worked for the last 17 years For 10 years he was an International Mission Board missionary, focused on evangelism and developing disciples and leaders in Wales. During this time. Rob wrote a fully accredited, graduate Certificate in Christian Studies and Sports Ministry (St John’s Theological College, Nottingham). This was the first in the UK. He also partnered with ForMission College (York St John University) to develop and lead an MA in Missional Leadership. Rob was the Wales Campus Leader and a regular tutor on this program.
For 8 years, Rob was on the leadership team, with responsibility for mission, at Glenwood Church in Cardiff and was Executive Director of VOCATE, a vocational development centre which initiated a range of apprentice and internship programs for 18-25’s, a consultancy program for 50 plus’s and a mentoring and volunteer programme for all ages. VOCATE was also a licensed Agored (Open College Network) Accreditation Centre.
During this time, Rob started and jointly developed a mission focussed 12 week leadership academy for 18-25’s (in collaboration with Message Wales) and a 1 year intern training programme for 18-25’s.
Over the last 17 years, over 200 people have been trained deeply through these reflective practice programmes. There have been interns and students from three continents but there has been a special involvement from the USA every year.
In addition, over the last 6 years, Rob has been working very closely with Evangelical Alliance, Wales where he is a team member, to develop long term county wide relationships between Welsh and USA churches. Usually involving one large USA church and multiple Welsh churches in a county, Missional Links Wales looks to place 1 week mission experiences, interns, missionaries, consultants and proven experts from the USA into Welsh counties, in order to catalyse partnership and missional impact.
As a perpetual learner, Rob has continued to study, gaining a post gradudate certificate in Coaching for Leadership and an additional MA in Missional Leadership (finishing July 2018).
In other contexts in Wales and the USA, Rob consults with ministry leaders and local churches, acting as an encourager, trainer, leadership coach, strategist and missional consultant.
On moving to the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex in 1996 to undertake a Masters of Divinity at South Western Seminary, he worked at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, setting up Highlander FC (1996-2000) another Soccer ministry which also taught several hundred children and teenagers per week. Several hundred became followers of Jesus. Jim Riley was Highland Park’s Sports Minister at the time and decscribed Rob as one of the most Spirit led evangelists that he had known.
During this time, Rob was actively involved with Wedgwood Baptist, Fort Worth, becoming an ordained Baptist Minister in 1999.
In 2000, Rob, his wife Jenny and their three boys came to Wales as missionaries where they have worked for the last 17 years For 10 years he was an International Mission Board missionary, focused on evangelism and developing disciples and leaders in Wales. During this time. Rob wrote a fully accredited, graduate Certificate in Christian Studies and Sports Ministry (St John’s Theological College, Nottingham). This was the first in the UK. He also partnered with ForMission College (York St John University) to develop and lead an MA in Missional Leadership. Rob was the Wales Campus Leader and a regular tutor on this program.
For 8 years, Rob was on the leadership team, with responsibility for mission, at Glenwood Church in Cardiff and was Executive Director of VOCATE, a vocational development centre which initiated a range of apprentice and internship programs for 18-25’s, a consultancy program for 50 plus’s and a mentoring and volunteer programme for all ages. VOCATE was also a licensed Agored (Open College Network) Accreditation Centre.
During this time, Rob started and jointly developed a mission focussed 12 week leadership academy for 18-25’s (in collaboration with Message Wales) and a 1 year intern training programme for 18-25’s.
Over the last 17 years, over 200 people have been trained deeply through these reflective practice programmes. There have been interns and students from three continents but there has been a special involvement from the USA every year.
In addition, over the last 6 years, Rob has been working very closely with Evangelical Alliance, Wales where he is a team member, to develop long term county wide relationships between Welsh and USA churches. Usually involving one large USA church and multiple Welsh churches in a county, Missional Links Wales looks to place 1 week mission experiences, interns, missionaries, consultants and proven experts from the USA into Welsh counties, in order to catalyse partnership and missional impact.
As a perpetual learner, Rob has continued to study, gaining a post gradudate certificate in Coaching for Leadership and an additional MA in Missional Leadership (finishing July 2018).
In other contexts in Wales and the USA, Rob consults with ministry leaders and local churches, acting as an encourager, trainer, leadership coach, strategist and missional consultant.