By: Christianprincess

Christianprincess — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 16:38:16 +0000

I don’t believe that sports are the enemy, but I do believe the schedules put on students by extracurricular activities can make reaching students very difficult. Many of my students don’t come from Christian homes. Their parents allow them to go to church because they want to, but it isn’t necessarily a priority. As great as it would be to see these activities as an opportunity for my students to share the Gospel, giving them a grasp of the Gospel and Christian discipleship is already difficult in that one of the few places they actually see them played out is church and in their church leaders. I try to support my students verbally and physically in the different things they are interested in, but I see how for many of them missing youth group and sometimes regular church is not helping them in the process of spiritual development. I agree that there are definitely lessons of character development and commitment that are developed through many of these activities. Unfortunately for many students and families, for whom church was never a place of priority or requirement, those lessons, in my experience, don’t necessarily translate into their relationship with Christ and participation in a community of faith.

I am praying that God will give each of us direction as to how to navigate this area of leadership with our students and their families. I believe that our students should be well-rounded and so finding answers to this dilemma important to our part of their well-being.

Thank you for loving students, families, and communities.

By: Becky Lang

Becky Lang — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 16:04:39 +0000

I think if we work in a situation where butts in the seats is our only measure, we trap ourselves into thinking sports and other non-church actor ivied are the enemy. If on the other hand we encourage ourselves and our students to see the the “Go” of the great commission we will make peace with the Sportsplex.
My church is a multi-site so I am on a team that writes our talks and we lay it on about “bringing your friends to group”. In reality when I speak and what I model is, take the moments you have on the sports field or court, that once a week home school meeting, scouts, or play practice. My volunteers and I attend events and take other students with us.
This has has given us the opportunities you list above and more. I have been asked to pray for people on th spot, my husband has done weddings, and we have once in a while gained new students attending youth group or church. Most important though, students/youth and parents alike have learned that there are people who care enough to come looking for them.
Hmmm, we talk about finding Jesus but the bible says He found us.

(I still hate Tuesday night sports practices because I miss my youth, I just don’t think they or their folks are going to hell anymore!)

Comments on: Are Sports The Enemy Of Youth Group?

By: Christianprincess

By: Becky Lang