Read, review and provide specific feedback on at least 3 of your classmates’ Sport Outreach Plan drafts from the previous week. Each post should point out
Read, review and provide specific feedback on at least 3 of your classmates' Sport Outreach Plan drafts from the previous week. Each post should point out strengths with specific suggestions for improvement. Posts should include connections to Scripture.
SMGT 504
Discussion/Peer Review Assignment Instructions
You will complete four Peer Review exercises involving colleagues’ Sport Outreach Plan drafts in this course. You will attach your previous week’s Sport Outreach Plan draft submission by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday of the Module/Week. Then you will carefully read at least three of your peers’ drafts and post three responses of at least 200 words by 11:59 p.m. (ET) by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of the assigned Module/Week.
Your response should offer suggestions for improvement, related information on the topic, questions for clarity and further insight into your colleagues’ work.
The objective of the assignment is for students to both learn from each other’s plans as well as contribute feedback that helps improve plans throughout the course.
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1 Evangelism and Discipleship Assignment Jeffrey S. Headrick School of Business, Liberty University SMGT 504: Foundations of Sport Outreach 2 Evangelism and Discipleship Assignment
Several weeks ago my Sports Outreach foundation was based on Matthew 6:33 which says “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (NIV). While sports is a great way to open the door for ministry, the main emphasis must be on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our faith in him is the whole reason we do what we do. This is the first level: Theological Truths. As Christians, we have been given a command to go and share the good news – the redemptive plan of Christ. Linville (2017) speaks of this when he states that the Apostle Paul in the New Testament wrote on how Christians are called to participate in redemptive activities by being God’s ambassadors (p. 167). While we can always make adjustments with our sports outreach program on certain issues such as which sports to play, facilities, or schedules, our doctrine must be very solid. What we teach and preach in the sports outreach must be theologically sound, the cornerstone and foundation of the program. Philosophical Principles is the second level. This should cover the when, where and with whom this sports outreach is for (Linville, p. 167). I have already covered the “with whom” in my previous Mission and Vision Assignment as I am creating a Sports Outreach for the members of the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation that is 17 miles east of Livingston, Texas. This reservation was established in 1854 and at this point in time there are about 590 members residing there (Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, 2024). One of the most important points to remember when ministering to the Native Americans is to contextualize the gospel message to their own people group. My Sports Outreach team has to use the right methods to successfully accommodate them. Missionaries to Native Americans have said the same things. One cannot come in and forget about the Native American traditions 3 and way of life if they are going to reach them for Christ. In the same way, our Sports Outreach must facilitate a program for the people that also allows them the correct methods of discovering the gospel of Jesus Christ in ways that align or coincide with their Native American ways and verbiage (Garnica, 2016, p. 24). Traditionally all sports have a particular blocked off time of the year in which their season begins and ends. Our plan is to follow those traditions. For example, my Sports Outreach will have its basketball league in January and February. Likewise, softball season will be in the months of April and May. Coordinating dates and times with other activities on the reservation is very important. Before we execute our dates, days of the week, and times, we must do our homework and make sure it doesn’t interfere with the events and protocols on the reservation. Facilities also play a major role in the Sports Outreach. They can often be a determining factor in the success of the program. Fortunately, the reservation has the facilities for both of these sports. In April 2022 they broke ground on the reservation for a 49,000 square foot Education Center that would house education facilities, a library, play areas, and a large gymnasium (Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, 2024, p. 5). There are also two churches on the reservation with facilities that we plan to use. The final level of organizing evangelism and discipleship in a Sports Outreach is the “what we do”, the Methodological Models. This level involves strategies and seeks to find relevance and effectiveness to those the Sport Outreach is designed to minister to (Linville, 2017, p. 166). I stated in an earlier paper that during basketball season we will have a time of outreach 4 after the game called Fifth Quarter. Also, during softball season the outreach afterwards will be called Extra Innings. The outreach after the game is meant to offer a celebratory but relevant approach to reaching people for Christ. We will all meet at one of the local churches or the event center on the reservation for a post-game meal and some fellowship together, focusing on building relationships. Once the meal is over there will be a time of praise and worship. I’m wanting the connections we’ll have with the two local churches to help make this part happen. Finally, there will be a guest speaker and then an invitation for salvation. All volunteers helping with these post-game outreaches will be trained in praying for people and being able to effectively lead them to a saving knowledge of Christ. This is the most important part of the entire outreach since “…Jesus Christ is the source, center, and sum total of salvation” (Willmington, 2018, p. 4). Through strategic planning and well-trained volunteers I believe we will have much success, showing the community around us what sports and a Sports Outreach can do in winning people for Christ. 5 References Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. (2024, September). In Wikipedia. pp. 1-7. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alabama- Coushatta_Tribe_of_Texas&oldid=1226633132&action=edit Garnica, R. (2016). Discussion of how to effectively communicate the gospel considering generations, cultures, and Paul’s Biblical example. Selected Honors Thesis, Southeastern University. Paper 40. https://firescholars.seu.edu/honors/40/ Linville, G. (2017). Recreation and sports ministry. An evangelistic approach. In J. Garner (Ed.), Recreation and sports ministry: Impacting the postmodern culture. (2nd ed., pp. 163-188). Liberty University Press. Willmington, H. (2018). The doctrine of salvation. The Good, Great, and Glorious File, Liberty University. 1. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/good_great_glorious/1
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1
Connection Sports: Evangelism and Discipleship
Conner J. McCullen
Liberty University
SMGT 504: Foundations of Sport Outreach
Dr. Kevin Heisey
14 SEP 2024
Authors note
I have no known conflicts of interest to disclose
Questions, comments, or concerns should be sent to Conner McCullen:
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Abstract
Connection Sports aims to create a sports program that revolves around evangelism and
discipleship. Utilizing sports is a unique way to spread the Gospel but must be done correctly.
Planning and executing practices and scrimmages need to revolve around the Gospel in order to
develop disciples instead of developing “elite” athletes. Connection Sports wants to multiply its
disciples in order to reach more people in the community and beyond. Just as the Mission
statement says: We exist to make disciples through sports in our community.
Keywords: development, Gospel, discipleship, faith
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Evangelism
Connection Sports wants to prioritize the Gospel in its sports program. It is easy to let
sports media and sports behavior consume practices and games, however, Connection Sports
plans on turning these examples into lessons that highlight the Gospel. The Gospel highlights the
life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It also teaches how to help others grow in their faith
through discipleship and mentoring. The theology of evangelism should be rooted firmly in the
biblical theology of mission and shaped by the gospel it is proclaiming (Coetzee et al., 2023).
Evangelism is the first step to leading people to Christ and creating a foundation for them to go
forward in spreading the Gospel. For Connection Sports to do this, the program needs to stand
firm on its belief and stay in the light to progress participants' faith to the next level.
The three sports that Connection Sports will be offering to kick off the program are flag
football, baseball, and soccer. All have very similar outlines when it comes to practices and
games. Each week that these programs are in season, the goal of each sport will have two
practices a week, and a game on the weekend. The goal for each practice is a 2-hour time
window, and games will have 1 to 2 hours depending on the sport. It is crucial to know the
timing of practicing to create not only a structured practice but also a structured fellowship.
Fellowship is looked at as a group of people who share a common interest; sports and the
Gospel.
Within the 2-hour window, Connection Sports plans on starting each practice with prayer.
From there, the first 20 to 30 minutes of practice will be dedicated to a written plan of Bible
study. This is to help the athletes take and understand the Word to not only apply it to the
upcoming practice but to their everyday lives. The next hour will be the standard practice for
whatever sport is being conducted. The practice will be led by the coach, assistant coach, and a
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volunteer with drills dedicated to sport development. After an hour has gone by, the practice will
end with the study they started with. The last 20 to 30 min the team will discuss how the
participants applied it to their practice, what they learned from it, and how they can implement it
into their life. Lastly, every practice will close out with another prayer. The following practice in
the week will be another lesson built on the previous one. As stated before, fellowship and Bible
study will be structured with a lesson plan to keep pushing through the sport season. On game
day, before competing, Connection Sports leaders will review what studies were the week
leading up to the game, reiterate the importance of the studies, and put it all together in a prayer.
Following the game, leaders will discuss again how the participants added the lessons to their
gameplay and look to shape their hearts and minds around the Gospel instead of the sport they
played.
Discipleship
Discipleship is probably one of the most important steps to creating leaders in order to
spread the Gospel. Discipling and mentoring are very similar in regard to development. Both
focus on personal growth but with discipleship, there is more emphasis on faith driven actions
and growing to be more like Jesus. Discipleship for the kingdom of God is at the heart of the
entire discipleship process (Pardede, 2022). Discipleship highlights walking with people and
nurturing their relationship with God so that they may help others do the same. Connection
Church, where Connection Sports is based out of, really strives to create disciples through
discipleship. This is extremely important because the discipleship starts at the top with the
coaches of the sports teams. The coaches of Connection Sports teams need to be discipled in
order to disciple others. Their walk with Christ is just as important as the athletes and should not
be overlooked. Coaches carry the image of the team and program, and they need to stand firm in
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their faith to keep the integrity of the program's values. As the coaches learn and grow through
discipleship, they are able to go and disciple participants in the program.
Connection Sports long to create disciples within their program, especially when they are
at an age to influence. The goal is to offer discipleship to teenagers in the program so they are
well-equipped with the Gospel and continue to prosper in faith. In the off-season of the sport
they participate in, Connection Sports wants to get more involved with the teenagers’ life and
offer discipleship once a week with a leader that comes from the church or within the sports
program, such as the coach. This way, Connection Sports will be able to build them up for the
next sports season and give them a platform to be a leader for their peers. Since Connection
Sports’ mission statement highlights creating disciples within our community of sports, it is
important to understand that they are being equipped and ready to serve Connection Church.
Connection Church's mission statement reads: We exist to make disciples and multiply churches
among all nations. The strength and influence of the church is wholly dependent upon its
commitment to true discipleship; producing transformed lives and seeing those lives reproduced
in others (Onyinah, 2017). Onyinah (2017) goes on to say that discipleship is the means to
fulfilling the Great Commission. Connection Sports’ mission is purposely wrapped around
creating disciples in the sports community to teach and prepare them for a service much larger
than sports itself.
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References
Coetzee, F. R., Nel, M., & Knoetze, J. J. (2023). Evangelism as an invitation to missional
discipleship in the Kingdom of God. Verbum et Ecclesia, 44(1).
https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v44i1.2708
Onyinah, O. (2017). The meaning of discipleship. International Review of Mission, 106(2),
216–227. https://doi.org/10.1111/irom.12181
Pardede, L. (2022). The relationship between evangelism and discipleship according to Matthew
28:18-20. QALAMUNA: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial, Dan Agama, 14(1), 629–648.
https://doi.org/10.37680/qalamuna.v14i1.4639
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SPORT OUTREACH PLAN- DICIPLESHIP AND EVANGELISM
Sport Outreach Plan- Discipleship and Evangelism
Rahul Champaneri
Dr. Heisey
SMGT 504
September 12, 2024
Liberty University Online
Abstract
This paper will inform the reader about how athletes will grow as Christians and how they will grow their faith with our organization. Although a lot of Indians are not typically of the Christian Faith, we will make sure all athletes feel included.
Keywords: Christianity, Discipleship, Evangelism, Indian, Including
In our program, we want the priority to be getting closer to God and growing your faith. Doing this requires a deep understanding of the culture of Indian Americans, as well as effective ministry strategies. As a program, we will be able to integrate cultural sensitivity by using sports as leverage, as well as engaging in the surrounding community in order to achieve these goals.
The first step in promoting evangelism and discipleship within our program is to understand and respect the cultural nuances. Indian Americans are often very prideful and passionate about their culture. Knowing this beforehand as staff members, we can use their passion to their advantage by combining their heritage and one of our activities. A specific example would be to incorporate the spirit of Diwali in our program. This is a traditional Indian holiday that lasts 5 days from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashvina to the second day of the light half of the lunar month (Preston, 2024). Another way to promote and incorporate evangelism and discipleship with Indian Americans is to incorporate elements of Indian culture such as celebrating festivals, serving Indian food at the camps, and having a Bible study at the end of the day. By doing this, our program is able to create an inclusive environment where participants feel included, valued, and understood.
Sports have a unique ability to unite people together and break down barriers, most famously done by Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Using sports as a way to incorporate evangelism and discipleship can be highly effective due to the emphasis on inclusivity. In our camp specifically, our campers will engage in competition (friendly or competitive) to build relationships while growing their faith in Jesus Christ. An example as to how they will be able to grow their faith, we will encourage all campers to pray before and after the camp. We will show examples of Major League Baseball players praying before their games in order to inspire the campers and emphasize the importance of Prayer. One of the most popular Major League Baseball players in today’s generation is Ronald Acuna Jr. He is one of many MLB players to emphasize the importance of God in his life by performing the sign of the cross before stepping up to the plate. This, along with pointing to the sky after a player hits a home run, are two of the most common forms of showing evangelism in professional baseball (Hochstetler, 2009). This act is inspiring to many athletes out there, especially in baseball, as these young kids are mimicking their idols.
Community engagement is crucial for the importance of practicing any evangelism and discipleship program. Our program will aim to create a sense of community and belonging among our participants and their families. During our program, we will host social events such as family days and community service days. Community service is going to be an essential part of the developmental part of our program because it will allow our campers to see the different types of backgrounds everyone comes from. Not every person has been able to see the different cultures, upbringings, age groups, and economic backgrounds (RHC, 2024) that community service will bring.
In conclusion, promoting evangelism and discipleship in our program will require our staff to take a culturally sensitive approach to promote the word of Jesus Christ, as well as using baseball as a tool to get the kids to have fun. By understanding and respecting the Indian culture, leveraging the power of sports, creating a loving and inclusive community, our program can create an environment where participants feel valued and are open to increasing or exploring their Christian Faith.
Works Cited
Hochstetler, D. R. (2009). Striving towards maturity: on the relationship between prayer and sports. Christian Education Journal, 6(2), 325–336.
Preston, C. (2024, September 13). Diwali. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Diwali-Hindu-festival
RHC Program Introduces First-Year Students to the Importance of Community Service. (2024, September 4). US Official News, NA.
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