I think there’s wisdom in this blog entry from Ed Stetzer in regards to Sports Pastors/Ministers and their thoughts for their ministries and new initiatives. How often do you have a model for your ministry or initiative already planned in your head without considering the people you are trying to reach?
Even though Ed Stetzer’s blog entry was about planting a church, I think the principles can apply to sports ministry.
Here are some excerpts:
When we adopt a pre-packaged church formula, or simply steal another church’s identity, we often import the vision God has given someone else for a certain time and place and make it ours–we import a model rather than engaging in God’s mission.
When we formulate our mission and ministry strategies, it’s important we do so for our own community, not someone else’s. It’s so easy to hear an incredible speaker at a conference and say, “I’m going to be just like that pastor!” But that is not what God is calling you to be. Too often, we get so excited by someone else’s church that we get a vision for their church before we get a vision for our people.
My challenge is don’t plant or pastor a church in your head. Plant or pastor a church in your community. That’s where the Gospel transforms real people who are living real lives. Know and live in your culture, not someone else’s. Don’t just bring a model, bring the Gospel. Lead a church; don’t lead a plan.
