History of REACH: CEDE SPORTS Involvement

Written by Jenny Young

In 2013, the three Foundational Partners of REACH – CEDE, CSRM, and UW Sports Ministry – sensed God’s call to come together in collaboration to serve sports, rec, and fitness ministers in local churches and inspire, affirm, connect, and equip them to further this movement.  They knew there would be obstacles and challenges to such a venture, but believed that gathering sports, rec and fitness ministers could be used by God to bring about such an impact.  From the beginning, they felt led to begin something that was so much more than a conference but was a part of this movement - a movement where theology, philosophy and methodology would spread by the power of the Holy Spirit toward the redemption of people and sports, rec and fitness.  

First of all, REACH is not the movement.  REACH is part of a movement. This is important.  We are just a part of what God is doing.  He is the Author of this movement.  We desire to cooperate with His efforts.  

This movement is made of a certain people - Sports, Rec, & Fitness (SR&F) leaders in local churches. REACH desires to catalyze the movement of God in their becoming more gospel-centered and more reproductive of disciple-makers.  At REACH, we inspire, we affirm, we equip and we connect SR&F leaders toward this end.  The Foundational Partners set the sails and then look to the Spirit to provide the wind.

The first REACH was in 2014 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill, SC. Since then, local churches have been added to the Foundational Partners. In 2019,  Work Teams were added to the Leadership from the participants who would lead the gathering in planning and implementation to where there are now over 30 people involved in the leadership of REACH. 

At REACH, there are typically two main sessions and a wide variety of track sessions designed to affirm, inspire, and equip these leaders. There is also “Wrestling at REACH”  where a current issue in sports, rec, and fitness is brought up and “wrestled” with through panel presenters, table discussions, and audience participation.  Finally, at REACH, there are lots of activities to connect these leaders with each other.  

This is why the Foundational Partners think of REACH as more than a conference.  It is a chance to be with Jesus and to be with teammates. Teammates doing sports, rec, and fitness in local churches.  Teammates who are a part of a team, looking to Jesus and then to each other - for inspiration, affirmation, equipping and connecting - so that they may each play their part in the movement Jesus is authoring in the world today.

God continues to blow wind in the lives of men and women SR&F leaders through being part of this movement. 

REACH will be happening for the 8th year next week - March 28-29 in Houston, TX. CEDE SPORTS will be there as a Foundational Partner and Sponsor. To learn more about this year’s REACH you can go here - https://www.reachgathering.org 

What others are saying about REACH:

"The REACHgatherings are a time to connect with others around the globe who have similar passions to use the platform of sport to reach the world for Christ! It is a time to learn, a time to share resources, a time to be refreshed spiritually and emotionally. I always leave with great ideas, energized by being with old friends in ministry and excited to have a handful of new friends to add to my network of fellow sports ministers." 

Vickie Byler, REACH Participant 

“REACH is about being a part of a movement using SR&F ministry to point people on a journey with Jesus..being encouraged, equipped, inspired and locking arms with brothers and sisters in Christ who are facing the same challenges and celebrating the same joys in sports and recreation ministry." 

Chris Phillips, Past REACH Participant

Top 11 Mistakes Sports Ministers Make–Part 3

Written by Ken Cross

For 20 years plus CEDE SPORTS has been committed to come alongside local churches to catalyze a vigorous and effective pursuit of their mission to reach their communities through the tool of sports, recreation and fitness. One of the ways we accomplish this mission is mentoring sports ministers. 

In the process of mentoring, we often discuss best practices from other churches as well as the corollary mistakes that well meaning Sports Ministers make. This discussion also usually includes surveying them about their mistakes in ministry. 

The response has been tremendous; evidently this question touched a nerve. This blog is our third installment in the series Top 11 Mistakes Sports Ministers Make. (Please be sure to read the first two installments here and here.)

Mistake #4

Evaluating success in numbers or in comparison to the ministry down the street.

Mark Twain once wrote, “Comparison is the death of joy.” 

Chuck Swindoll said, “When the Lord makes it clear you’re to follow Him in this new direction, focus fully on Him and refuse to be distracted by comparisons with others.” 

Ken Cross says, “Either comparison will puff up or tear you down, but it will never bring contentment.”

Mistake #3

Not developing infrastructure prior to pursuing growth, especially how you pursue the development of coaches and volunteers.

We tend to be so eager to start a league we neglect the hard work of strategic preparation. This could have been the #1 mistake, we see it so often.  

My Mom worked many years in a large bank. She would always advocate for the tellers to have adequate training and even a stipend for their clothes because they are the face of the bank!

Those that God brings into your sphere of influence deserve to hear and see the gospel lived out using the tool of sports. Who is the face of the sports ministry? It is too late to develop them after the games begin. If this has happened to you, what will you do for the next season?

Mistake #2

Winning begins to eclipse everything. Sport becomes too big and ministry too small.

This mistake is especially true when your coaches are not developed by the Sports Minister. They simply play sports as they always have, WIN. They are not applying the gospel to what they are doing. 

Mistake #1
Those in the sports ministry leadership do not know why you have a sports ministry. Neglecting clear communication of this mission/vision to the coaches, players and the church.

Have you seriously asked yourself the questions concerning your mission and how you are going to move toward it? Have you written it down in a clear way and communicated it with others in a way that they know what that mission is? If you are unsure, ask your most faithful volunteer to tell you that they have heard and see if it matches the vision God has given you. 

Like the ESPN Top Ten Plays of the Day, you might not agree with the order in which these have been laid out. Curiously, I am interested in what you think the top three mistakes would be for you. Have we missed some? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Top 11 Mistakes Sports Ministers Make–Part 2

Written by Ken Cross

For 20 years plus CEDE SPORTS has been committed to come alongside local churches to catalyze a vigorous and effective pursuit of their mission to reach their communities through the tool of sports, recreation and fitness. One of the ways we accomplish this mission is mentoring sports ministers. 

In the process of mentoring, we often discuss best practices from other churches as well as the corollary mistakes that well meaning Sports Ministers make. This discussion also usually includes surveying them about their mistakes in ministry. 

The response has been tremendous; evidently this question touched a nerve. This blog is our second installment in the series Top 11 Mistakes Sports Ministers Make (Please be sure to read the first installment by clicking here).

Mistake #8

Forget about creating a leadership team, it is far too difficult. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.

No doubt you have heard the saying, “If you want to go fast – go alone, if you want to go far – go with others”. That applies to the Sports Ministry, too. Have you thought of what will happen when you are no longer on the scene and you have not equipped anyone to carry on with this vital ministry? 

Mistake #7

Being so busy that you are not utilizing the relationships that are built naturally through sports for true discipleship off the field/court.

I read a book once by Bill Hull about the discipleship making pastor. He bluntly says if the church is not making disciples, the leadership of the church is in sin! The sin is not obeying the Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20).

Mistake #6

Not communicating to the larger church body and staff how God is using the ministry and being surprised when they do not value it!

As a former large church pastor, former staff member, church planter, youth pastor, deacon and janitor – I got the most praise for being a church janitor because people noticed the clean floors, toilets etc. The story of sports ministry (usually the best evangelistic tool in the church if done well) must be told, especially to the entire staff. The Senior Pastor needs the stories of what God does to highlight God’s work! The Children’s Minister needs to know and notice that many unbelieving children are on the campus of the church other days besides Sunday. The value of relational ministry and the discipleship that happens must be communicated over and over. This requires that more than just you are noticing what God is doing!

Mistake #5

Using the same volunteers each season and burning them out. Then guilting/manipulating them into keep going, until they are bitter and angry and have to quit or leave the church to get a rest.  

This one needs no comments except AMEN and from some of us we need to respond with “Oh Me!”

Can you guess the top four mistakes? Keep a look out for the last blog in this series.

Top 11 Mistakes Sports Ministers Make–Part 1

Written by Ken Cross

For 20 plus years CEDE SPORTS has been committed to coming alongside local churches to catalyze a vigorous and effective pursuit of their mission to use the tool of sports to reach their communities. One of the ways we accomplish this is by mentoring sports ministers. 

In the process of mentoring, we often discuss best practices from other churches as well as the corollary mistakes that well meaning sports ministers make. This discussion also usually includes surveying them about their mistakes in ministry. 

The response has been tremendous; evidently this question touched a nerve.  In the following blogs, we will outline the “Top Ten Mistakes” we have found, arranged in ascending order from 11 to 1.

Mistake #11: Avoiding conflicts and difficult people, because deep down you think they might disappear if you ignore them, rather than apply the Gospel to the situation and lovingly confront, giving the individual an opportunity to repent and grow. This mistake includes with it the fear of looking into the mirror and confronting what might be something that you need to repent and grow from as well!

Mistake #10: Not enough prayer before rolling out the program, during the leagues, or after. Can we all agree with this one? How easy it is to simply do what we think is best, and not ask God or seek His favor.

Mistake #9: Ministries getting too comfortable with regular attendees and not aggressively seeking to reach the unreached. “We have our number, the church should be happy … but are we keeping the vision for the ministry in front of us?”   We did not start this sports ministry to reach a limited number of lost people. (Also see mistake #10 again!)

The next Blog will cover Mistakes #8 – #5. Hope this has been helpful!

What Beliefs Lie at the Core of Your Ministry?

Guest Post by Cindy Bledsoe

Whether we readily acknowledge it or not, we all have certain beliefs that are at the core of our ministry, and what is more, they actively shape the way we do ministry. When was the last time you examined what you believe about the gospel, people, your ministry, your staff, yourself, etc.? Many people would probably respond that they don’t have the time to really consider the question. They are just too busy getting things done. My encouragement is to not get caught up in the urgent at the cost of the important.

Here are some questions I would encourage you to wrestle with:

What do I believe in terms of the gospel?

Would you describe the gospel as: beneficial, good, essential, transformative, guiding, absolute truth, etc.

How do I view people?

Would you describe people in general as: successful, struggling, lonely, strong, weak, capable, needing help, self sufficient, etc.

What is the main objective of our ministry?

Provide a fun place to play sport, a place to learn the dynamics and skills of sports, to grow individual players, to serve the family, to provide a wide variety of programs, to transform lives, to reach out to the community, etc.

What do I believe about myself and my role in the ministry?

Do you see yourself as a leader, helper, teacher, facilitator, pastor, etc.? What role do you see yourself fulfilling?

What beliefs do I have regarding my staff?

Do you believe your staff is talented, competent, well equipped, called by God to your ministry, etc.?

Take the time to think through these questions and pose them to your staff. The resulting dialogue will give you a clear picture of the beliefs that lie at the core of your ministry.

Three Key Components for Coach Development

By: Bob Schindler

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

Power Up-The Sports Ministry Podcast Interview with Bob Schindler: Moving Forward in Sports Ministry

Bob Schindler, COO of CEDE SPORTS,  joins Bill Houston and Tracy Hanson, on Power Up–The Sports Ministry Podcast to talk about moving forward in sports ministry.

“Bob Schindler has been involved in helping many move forward in sports ministry as COO of CEDE Sports. His passion is coming alongside and encouraging those who are serving athletes, coaches and others in the ever-growing, ever-changing world of sports. He also has a desire to help those who serve others in the Name of Christ through sports in the local church.”

Check out this encouraging podcast today by clicking here.

Competing for Christ Podcast Interview with Bob Dyar: Equipping the Church, Chaplains, and Athletes

Bob Dyar, CEO and Founder of CEDE SPORTS,  joins Ken Burke on the Competing for Christ
Podcast today to talk about, “Equipping the Church, Chaplains, and Athletes.”

“What is the role of local believers of a church in the sports context, if any? Is that different than the role of a sports chaplain? This topic isn't touched on enough: appropriately equipping the local church and chaplains on sports teams, and what athletes can learn from each of these things. Dyar also discusses the vision/background of CEDE Sports as an international sports ministry organization that "seeks to impact people of sport through churches and chaplaincy".

Check out this encouraging podcast today by clicking here.

An Example of Effective Leadership

The season had just concluded.  I was evaluating the adult basketball league with the EC Sports Leadership Team from East Cooper Baptist Church in Charleston, SC. EC Sports began in the spring of 2005 with an adult men’s basketball league as their first initiative.  In this season there were many things to rejoice in:

• This past season 120 men participated (capacity for them).  More than half of the players were non-Christians, many of whom were invited by other non-Christians who had previously played.

• About 20 different participants told their stories in pre-game talks – all about 3 minutes, all well received.

• Logistics went better than ever as people stepped up to take on various responsibilities.

“Coaches made good decisions during this season. They did a really good job, especially the new coaches!” said one of the Leadership Team.

This statement struck me, having heard so many stories of exactly the opposite as I talk with Sports Ministry Leaders.  I asked why this season was different.

It took a few more questions to unpack it all but this is what they told me:

• “We tried to step up our efforts with coaches. We had two coaches meetings so they could pick the one they could attend.”

• “We cast the vision of the league and told them the expectations we had of them as coaches.” (at the coaches meetings)

• “We met with one coach who didn’t do a good job last year and told him so. We actually didn’t invite two coaches to come back.”

• “We took recruiting new coaches more seriously. We looked at their spiritual maturity as well as other factors.”

• “We teamed new coaches with another coach if we thought it was needed.”

• “We went to coaches, especially the new ones, during the season and asked how it was going and gave them additional input.”

My response – “You exercised good leadership and these guys responded!!!!”

Honestly, they seemed a little surprised by my comment. I am not sure but it seemed like they hadn’t connected their efforts to the fact that their coaches did much better this season.

“Don’t miss or downplay this connection. There is a tie between the fact that your coaches did better and the efforts you made. You guys took a step of faith and God affirmed that step,” I went on to say.

“Thanks, that is encouraging to hear” they all said with what I heard as a humble joy.

This experience reminded me of a few things.

• First, I saw what good leadership looks like – careful recruiting, courageous vision casting, cold expectation setting, and concerned shepherding of those we lead.

• Second, I saw the need we all have to connect what we do with the progress of the ministry.  We all want our efforts to “move the ball down the field”, but we often lack the perspective that we are really making a difference.  When we get that perspective, it empowers us.

I close with a couple of questions: (You may want to elicit the input of others around you.)

• How are you doing at expressing effective leadership these days – check yourself against these components of careful recruiting, courageous vision casting, bold expectation setting, and concern coming alongside?

• What is the progress God is bringing about through your efforts?

As you work through these questions, I hope that God gives you a clearer picture of the progress being made and of the connection between your leadership and that progress, encouraging you in the process.

How to Use Sports for Discipleship

Thanks to Adam Legg for this incredibly helpful but simple formula:

The twelve weren’t his Disciples when Jesus called them. They were just twelve normal dudes. They BECAME his Disciples.

How did they become his Disciples? Let me suggest this incredibly simple definition of Discipleship:

PRESENCE + TRUTH + TIME = DISCIPLESHIP

Let’s look at each of these ideas:

PRESENCE

Jesus called the twelve to be with Him. Not only that, He was committed to bringing Himself to them. He was WITH them. They did life together. They were present with each other. They didn’t see each other once a week and expect that would be enough, they journeyed through life TOGETHER.

TRUTH

Jesus was honest with them about what he knew to be true about God, Himself, and the twelve. He challenged them on core beliefs that they held and He didn’t allow them to stay in their mess, instead he always pointed to a better and higher way.

TIME

Jesus spent about three years with the twelve. Not once a week for three years, but most likely He was with them almost every day. That’s around 1,000 days in His presence and listening to His truth. We cannot underestimate the impact of longevity and time in building disciples.”

Isn’t it interesting that evangelism requires the same three things?  So, how are you training your coaches/volunteers to be present, share truth, and spend time?

If you’re interested in a resource that will help you train your coaches in this, please check out the video on Outreach Dynamics.