Few churches have enough sports-minded people to use sport to engage with their community. Yet sport offers such a great way to reach out beyond the walls of the church.
The answer is for churches to work together to create a Community Sports Team to serve them all. Though there is nothing to stop an individual church setting up their own team.
The idea is rather like that of Street Pastors, which takes special people from each church in an area to make up a team. That is how a Community Sports Team works – building the sporty and outreach minded people from different churches into a focused team to stage events and activities on behalf of them all.
How does a Community Sports Team work?
The role of the Community Sports Team is to help each church use sport to develop friendships and to build relationships with those around them.
It does so by –
• Sharing the load so it is not just one or two who carry all the work
• Drawing in a range of skills – from sports specialists to general helpers
It can also open a door to Christian service for some who thought they had nothing to offer. As one person said, ‘I never thought I could serve effectively in my church until I came across sports ministry. Now I can blend my passion for God and love of sport to reach others’.
What kind of activities could be done?
Almost all of the sport ministry ideas put forward in the context of More Than Gold can be developed by a Community Sports Team including –
• Clinics and camps
• Sports quiz
• Holiday clubs
• Sports tournaments
• Sports in school
• Sports academy
• The Games - for schools
What help is available?
The Community Sports Team model has been developed by World Sport Ministries and is already working in several areas of the UK. Hover over the title for direct link.
They can provide a detailed manual on how to start and run a Community Sports Team together with details of existing programmes and training. To request it you can also email info@morethangold.org.uk
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