“What got us here won’t take us where we want to go!”

Written By Bob Schindler, Chief Operating Officer of CEDE SPORTS“What got us here won’t take us where we want to go!”

The Context

I had coffee with a sports minister recently whose church recently went through a pastor transition after the previous pastor had been there for 40 years. The new pastor said in a recent message, “What got us here won’t take us where we want to go.”  This statement didn’t sit well with the sports minister. He loved the church and had been there for a long time. The comment seemed to him to disregard the past, the history that did get them to this point.  I may be reading too much into the comment by the pastor, and may be suffering from “growing old” syndrome, but I tend to agree with my friends assessment.  What do you hear in that statement? (Please respond in the comments below.)  

The Concern

I bring this up because I have noticed something lately. One of the privileges of my role at CEDE SPORTS is that I get a fairly wide perspective on the local church as I connect with churches in different parts of the country, from different denominations, of different sizes and worship styles, even different tenures of leadership. Amidst all that diversity, it seems there is a growing trend of what C.S. Lewis called “chronological snobbery” that values something merely because it is newer.  This conclusion on the comment by the pastor may be colored by my assessment. If so, I am asking God to show me my prejudice. If not, this tendency is a concern.  My concern stems from exactly what a person means when he or she says, “What got us here…”  If, by that statement they mean methods and styles may need to change, then I completely agree.  However, there are timeless truths and principles rooted in the Scriptures that always need to remain.  My concern stems from those who say or hear that statement and don’t discriminate between those timeless truths and time-sensitive methods. Without that discrimination, timeless truths can be set aside out of “chronological snobbery.”

The Question

What do you think?  “Will what got us here not take us to where we want to go?” 

A Matter of Perspective

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Written by Bob Schindler, Executive Director of CEDE Partners – an Initiative of CEDE Sports

More Congregations are Utilizing SR&F Outreach Ministry*

“Sports ministry in local churches is on the decline.”

I don’t remember when I first heard this assertion, but it has certainly been around for at least the last 10 years, since the Great Recession.  

Proponents of this perspective point to the following:

• Churches getting out of sports ministry 
• Sports ministries that serve local churches experiencing ongoing decline in the churches using their services
• Denominations reducing their efforts (or even eliminating them) to promote sports ministry
• National efforts to support the sports ministry movement closing their “doors”

While these claims have verifiable data, they represent only part of the picture. Before one can make the assertion that the number of churches doing sports ministry is on the decline there is another piece of the equation we must identify.  That is how many churches are getting into sports, rec and fitness during the same time frame considered when discussing churches getting out of it. 

Estimations

We can only be certain of this “net effect” when we know both the churches getting out and churches getting into the SRF movement.  

While I am not aware of any research to identify this plus number, there are some indicators that provide helpful insights.  According to research in 2010

• 36% of all churches have a sports and fitness initiative – either team sports, fitness activities or exercise classes 
• That number increased to 40% for evangelical churches 

If there are at least 350,000 churches in the USA with a conservative estimate of 80-100,000 of those being evangelical, this means that somewhere between 32,000 evangelical churches and 126,000  overall churches in the USA are involved in the SRF movement!!!

I recognize this is just one data point and doesn’t demonstrate any trend, but I point this out for us to get a better idea of the scale of the churches involved in the SRF movement.  When I got involved in the broader SRF movement in 2003, I heard estimates that were in the thousands. Now we have real research that tells us that number is at least in the tens of thousands and may actually get to a hundred thousand.  

The estimate – thousands to maybe ten thousand.

The actual – tens of thousands to maybe one hundred thousand.  

Encouraging Findings

I was way off in my estimation, and others were way off in theirs as well.  I am really astounded, a little humbled and also encouraged by this realization.  If this is true, this means there were lots and lots of churches in the US that are doing SRF ministry that no one really knows about.  

My own personal experience validated that reality.  I have the privilege of traveling and interacting with those in the SRF movement in a number of different regions in the US.  In those travels, I regularly run into churches who have been doing SRF ministry for some time yet have no contact with other churches, sports ministry organizations, or broader movement efforts.  

Building, Expanding

I also regularly find churches that are getting into SRF ministry, not getting out.  Churches that are building gyms/fitness facilities/fields to facilitate that ministry.  Churches that are hiring staff to develop that ministry for the first time.  

It is true that there are churches getting out of SRF ministry, but there are also churches out there that believe in the power and value of SRF ministry.  

Furthermore, if we think about 

• The growing interest in fitness and the growing involvement in fitness ministry by churches over the last 10-15 years 
• The developing work by churches among immigrants and refugees through sports, rec, and fitness
• The missional efforts of churches to send coaches, parents and players into community sports leagues

It is even possible to imagine a net positive effect on the number of churches involved in SRF ministry.  

While there is a need for more specific research on this net effect, with all that I have outlined in in mind, I would ask you to expand your perspective and consider a very different possibility for, a very different picture of, the status of SRF ministry in the USA.  I would ask you to look for signs of these encouraging trends.  They are all around us.  Look around for those churches who are starting SRF ministry or already doing it and who are not connected with other churches or any of the national SRF efforts.  Find them and help them get connected.  

Lastly, tell others what you find.  This different picture gives those of us invested in the SRF movement reasons for real encouragement and hope for the future.  

This is the perspective I have adopted and hope you will too. SRF ministry in local churches is on the rise!!!

 *I have shared these ideas on several occasions.  At Dr. Greg Linville’s request, I wrote this article for his book The Saving of Sports Ministry – The Soteriology of Sports Outreach available here.

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Is Competition Good or Bad for Us?

The Big Question

At Cede Sports, we talk a lot about the brokenness of sports. As you read what we say, you might get the message that we thinkcompetition is bad. We don't.However some do. Here is an example from a blog previously posted by Joshua Becker entitled "How Competition Made Me Less Successful":

“I have, unfortunately, viewed most of my life through the lens of competition. I could blame it on…but most likely, competition is just the default position of my heart....and to be fair, it’s not all bad. Viewing life as competition has motivated me to work harder at school, work, and personal growth. It has prompted discipline and perseverance….Viewing life only as competition has terrible drawbacks. It pursues success for only the self. It breeds jealousy and envy. It withholds encouragement. It mistreats others on its way to the finish line. A world divided into winners and losers is one that misses the opportunity to show grace....Our world needs people who compete less and encourage more.”

A Different Way to Look at This

While I agree with much of his sentiment, I find exception to his use of words. For instance, I would change his statements to the following:

“I have, unfortunately, viewed most of my life through the lens of fallen competition. I could blame it on…But most likely, competition is just the default position of my heart.”

“Viewing life only as fallen competition has terrible drawbacks. It pursues success for only the self. It breeds jealousy and envy. It withholds encouragement. It mistreats others on its way to the finish line. A world divided into winners and losers is one that misses the opportunity to show grace.”

These I agree with. Fallen competition - that strives against others to more fully establish my glory - IS TRULY the default of everyone's heart. The drawbacks ARE EXACTLY as he says.

• In fallen competition, the pursuit of success is only for self.
• Fallen competition does breed jealousy and envy.
• Fallen competition does mistreat others on its way to the finish line.
• Fallen competition does assume that success in another’s life equals one less opportunity for success in mine.

Our Solution

But the answer isn’t getting rid of competition and replacing it with encouragement. The answer is to redeem the competition, to take it back to the way God intended.If we see the solution to this problem as merely a switch from competition to encouragement, we oversimplify this redemption. In the process, we could also miss the beauty and depth to this redemption. Competition came before the fall not after. Original and, therefore, redeemed competition is about striving together to more fully express in others and us the image of God within us.Certainly, redeemed competition includes encouragement, but it involves so much more. This same writer describes this redeemed competition as follows:

"It becomes about the challenge, the experience, the unity of a common goal, and the opportunity to help someone else cross the finish line with you….As a result, the entire route is filled with encouragement from bystanders and competitors completely committed to running well and helping other racers finish strong."

The Application

Do you hear what he is saying? This competition is not just about encouragement.  It is also about "the challenge...the common goal...running well." All this striving not for our glory but to spur others to more fully express their God given glory. This heart of competition is lost if all I do is switch “compete to encourage” as the author does.

 "Our world needs people who compete less and encourage more."

At Cede Sports, we would say "our world needs people who compete in a fallen way less and compete in a redeemed way more."This is not just semantics. The beauty of the heart of competition, this striving together, is at stake. If all I do is focus on encouragement, this heart could just so easily be lost as it has so tragically been marred in fallen competition.Competition doesn’t need to be eliminated. It needs to be redeemed. 

Three Key Components for Coach Development

We talk with sports ministers about developing coaches about as often as Stephen Curry looks good shooting a jump shot! 

Why?

Maybe that is because the success of sports ministries that have leagues rests on the shoulders of those coaches. They are the “players” in the game of “sports ministry.”  (We don’t consider this vital ministry in any way a game, but, to understand the role of coaches, we use this metaphor.)  Since most sports ministers don’t have the luxury of only having “first-round draft picks” on their team, they know they need to develop these coaches.

This is the other reason so much discussion goes on here.  They are looking for help.  Most of the sports ministers we talk with are frustrated with their efforts to develop coaches.  They don’t think what they are doing is that effective or wrestle with the lack of participation from their coaches.

Step By Step

One of the ways we help alleviate that frustration is to get sports ministers to think about three key components when it comes to developing coaches.  They are:

–       Vision

–       Curriculum

–       Structure

Vision is what you want those coaches to become.  You could encapsulate that vision by asking the question – “What would an ideal coach know, be able to do, and be?” Or “What is the knowledge, skill and character of the ideal coach?”

Curriculum is the content God uses to move your coaches toward this vision.  This material comes in a variety of formats and is what your coaches need to grow from where they are now into these ideal coaches.

Structure is the delivery mechanism for your coaches to interact with this curriculum.  It should include various activities along the thought that you

 Teach to Knowledge           Train to Skill                Mentor to Character

God has used us to help sports ministries develop this vision, curriculum and structure and change the atmosphere of coach development from frustration to fulfillment.

If that is something we can help you with, contact us at info@cedesports.org

Written by Bob Schindler

Back To The Basics

A while ago I was in Dallas meeting with leaders from local churches to discuss the foundation for Sports Ministry in the Local Church.  We talked about the why, the what, and the how of Sports Ministry which I still find so relevant to share with you today.  Our primary leader was Pastor Sameh Maurice from Kasr El Dobara Church in Cairo Egypt, someone I deeply respect and enjoy being around whose church is doing a fantastic work in the Middle East.

God's Character is the Foundation

In answering the why, we began by looking at God’s character.  We were reminded that since God is the author of all things and all things are to reflect his glory, his character is a critical starting place for every discussion of the whys of anything, including Sports Ministry.

As we talked about our God being loving, relational, and incarnational, I was deeply impressed with the incredible grace of our marvelous God so beautifully seen in Christ.  He came to be with us – our Immanuel – who would “never leave or forsake us.”   He also came to be one of us – this “Word became flesh” – and “sympathizes with our weaknesses” as one who has been “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

With us.  One of us.

I thought about the passion Cede Sports has to see Sports Ministries glorify God.  I was deeply impressed that in order to see this passion realized, I sensed God’s urging on the need to herald this incredible incarnation and call Sports Ministries to take up this same incarnational mindset and approach.

I thought about reminding Sports Ministries to take the initiative to be with the people outside the kingdom and not just wait for them to come to them.  I thought about the value of playing with and not against those outsiders if we are going to one of them.

These are two ways to be with them, one of them and reflect the Son’s incarnation.  There are many more.  If you think of any, let me know!  Better yet, write a blog for us about it.

After all, we all need to regularly get BACK TO THE BASICS!

The Biggest Loser & Spiritual Development

Written by Bob Schindler 

What I like about the show, The Biggest Loser, is watching people achieve what they have never achieved before but have longed for some time to accomplish.  It just stirs my heart as I watch their struggle and joy.

I think there is something to learn from the show about developing people.  To unpack those insights, let me ask “What makes these people able to do on the show what they couldn’t do on their own?”

Remember, there is nothing magical about the equation for losing weight:

Decrease caloric intake + increase caloric output = weight loss

I would guess that each person on the show understood this equation for the most part.  They may not have understood the caloric content of what they were eating but they at least understood the principle.

If that is so, “Why did they achieve during the show what they couldn’t do on their own?”  Or another way of asking the question – “What did the show provide for them that they couldn’t get themselves?”

Basic Premise

While there may be many more than the list below, I point to following concepts as keys to the participants successful weight loss:

 –      Clear formula for weight loss: outlined above and discussed/reinforced often/meals

– Community of development: they were on teams working together on that formula.  

– Qualified Coaches : participants were given individual as well as group attention that extended beyond but impacted their approach to weight loss.

–  Accountability to the team: individual progress impacted the whole team.

–  Focused atmosphere: they were removed from the everyday distractions and together for a specific purpose.

Having listed them, it is the combination of these elements that is the key not just the individual components.  In fact, some of the participants may have even experimented with some of these ideas individually without the corresponding success they found on The Biggest Loser.

Relevance To You

With those thoughts in mind, think about your own efforts or your efforts to help others grow spiritually.  Like many who want to lose weight, I often find people who -

–  want to grow spiritually but who have never really experienced what they long for.

–  are trying to help them grow spiritually, like sports ministers and their coaches and players, but who have little or frustrating impact from their efforts.

 One solution to this frustration may be to take a lesson from The Biggest Loser and try to build this same kind of development atmosphere

1)    the community of development

2)    accountability to the team for progress

3)    focused environment

4)    qualified coaches

working within God’s formula for development.

Our Commitment

At Cede Sports, we work to help local churches construct such an environment.  We create tools to support that environment, including the following video. Join our church directory at no cost where you will have access to many free resources to help equip and train you in furthering your Sports Ministry for the Gospel. Preview these by watching this video explaining our devotional resources and then use this link to join our directory to access all our free resources!

The results – God is using such environments to help sports ministers, coaches, and players achieve what they have always longed to achieve but have never quite got there.  Here is one sports minister’s recent experience:

“We have a renewed excitement and energy. We have a renewed passion for pursuing something that’s so much bigger than just sports. We’ve re-designed our programs with the idea of integrating sports and ministry in mind rather than trying to inject ministry into sport which is what we were guilty of doing before. As a result, participants are enjoying a better experience, families are being served better, and volunteers are serving with a higher calling in mind which gives them a lot of significance.”

If we can help you and your church, please contact us.  We exist to serve the local church.

Responding to Brokenness

The Reality

Get involved with people very much and you find all kinds of problems. Failing health, marital infidelity, rebellious children, embezzling employees, fractured friendships – the list seems endless.  The influence of sin is all around us. 

Our Response

People respond differently to this reality.  Some deny.  Some avoid.  My response is often to get discouraged and overwhelmed.  It seems the more I listen, the more I just see the greatness of sin.  Left alone, this perspective moves me to despair, tempting me to withdraw.

Jesus had a different response.  Matthew records one example of this response in chapter 9 starting in verse 35.  Jesus’ response, first of all, was to stay very engaged with people.  He was traveling from town to town, and Matthew tells us that, in his travels, he was teaching, preaching and healing.

Matthew doesn’t leave us there.  He tells us the origin of Jesus’ engagement.  In verse 36, we learn “when he (Jesus) saw the crowds”, he saw them as “harassed and helpless”.  Jesus’ engagement began with a perspective on the reality of the power of sin.  It didn’t stop there.  He also saw the reason for this reality.  They were “like sheep without a shepherd”. They were on their own and, on their own, they were “helpless” to deal with that which was harassing them.

Divine Provision

Jesus reaction to the fullness of this reality was compassion.  He was moved by their plight and gave them what they needed – himself, the Good Shepherd.

I gain something significant from Jesus’ reaction.  What people need in dealing with the impact of sin – you, me, people in sports ministry, or people outside the kingdom – is the engagement of this Shepherd.  The greater the impact of sin, the greater the need for a Great Shepherd.  The incredible truth is that Our Shepherd is far greater than the greatest sin, its power and impact. 

This perspective gives me encouragement as I think about the impact of sin.  It also gives me hope as I seek to deal with the impact of sin around me.  I hope it will uplift you also.

Written by Bob Schindler

Do You Get Points For Hitting The Wrong Target?

I once read a book by Bill Hull and he said something like this, “If the church does not make disciples then the leadership is in sin.” This shocked me. After my first 18 months as a solo pastor my honest evaluation was that I had put out a number of fires, preached and taught faithfully, but purposeful discipleship of others was almost nil. If it was happening, it was not planned or expected.

“It is possible to pastor a church, even have a wonderful Sunday morning worship experience; engage the community in deeds of mercy; have a Nickelodeon type children’s ministry with live music and puppets; and still not be creating intentional paths for people “to hear the call of Jesus, respond to that call by repenting, believing his good news and following him in all that entails”¹

Why write this to an audience of Sports Ministers? It is a call to honestly evaluate your ministry. Are you neglecting the call of the great commission to make disciples? Are you discipling/developing your staff, interns, leadership team and your coaches?If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time and if you aim at the wrong thing and hit it – what good is that?If you have large numbers in your leagues and ministry, that’s great! But if that only means you have a lot of numbers and are so busy doing administration to make all of it happen then you might be aiming at the wrong thing and hitting it!Cede Partners comes along side sports ministries and ministers to mentor not only by helping with best practices and resources, but to apply the gospel to you and your ministry. You need someone who will lovingly ask hard questions and help you to truly engage your calling. Check out our website.

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¹S. Smallman, The Walk pg. 26