Individual Preparation Sports Ministry

Here are some things you can be doing to prepare you for sports ministry:

  • Exercise regularly and maintain a lower fat diet. You will need to be in good physical health. Practice any sports you may help teach this summer.
  • Begin collecting sports and recreation information, such as games, drills and suggestions for sports activities. Talk with the director of recreation at your church or school for help. Volunteer in an after school ministry or at a mission center.
  • Have a plan for several youth/children outreach events: skits, games, devotionals, music, sports, etc. Any type of outdoor skills relating to children will be helpful:  puppets, mime, drama, games. Gather items needed or learn the skill.
  • Read a good book on Prayer Walking like: Prayer Walking: Praying on Site with Insight by Hawthorn and Kendrick or Walking the Talk by Dan Crawford and Calvin Miller.
  • Read up on the predominant religion in your area. You need to have a basic understanding of what they believe.
  • A good book that will help you understand other cultures is Foreign to Familiar by Sarah Lanier.
  • If serving overseas, develop relationships with International students on your campus.

Become a conversation partner with an International student and meet with him/her weekly. Join the International club on campus.

  • Get involved in a sports ministry in your area. Or write out 5 devotionals where you use sports to relate a spiritual truth.
  • Work on your testimony, if serving overseas, practice communicating with International students on your campus, who use English as their second language. Develop a clear presentation of the Gospel. Avoid church words and phrases. Instead, think about what an International student will understand. For instance, if you use the phrase “walking the aisle”—that means nothing in other cultures or people outside the Bible belt, except going from one part of the building to another!
  • The basis of your ministry will be building relationships through which you can share your faith. Read one of the books below to help you prepare for sharing through your relationships:

Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels

Becoming a Contagious Christian by Bill Hybels

Peppermint‐Filled Piñatas by Eric Michael Bryant

Questions to all of Your Answers by Roger Olson

Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller

More Ready Than You Realize by Brain McLaren

God’s Blogs by Lanny Donoho

Getting Your Feet Dirty: A down‐to‐earth Look at Following Jesus by Don Everts

The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel

What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey

 

  • Pray for opportunities to share your faith through friendships/relationships made this summer.
  • If you will be living with a host family for the summer, purchase a hostess gift to thank them for letting you be part of their family for the summer.

Begin collecting small gifts that you can give away. Anything with something USA or TN on it is good. Examples: key chains, bookmarks, stickers, pens, pencils and postcards.  Local businesses may donate these. Your church or BCM may want to help you collect these items. Also, take pictures of your family, friends, school, etc. to use as conversation starters.

  • Work on your scripture memorization.
  • Find ways to involve your home and local church. By asking them to:

Pray for you and the people you’ll be ministering to Help collect small gifts for you to give away like stickers, pencils, etc.

Have them collect things that could be given away as prizes to youth

Conduct a Prayer Walk at your church

  • Visit these websites to find out about your state or country and people group:

http://www.joshuaproject.net/index.php http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

http://www.infoplease.com/states.html http://www.peoplegroups.info/