SOAR Sports is an outreach ministry of Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, NC. They strive to engage the community through God-glorifying sports and recreation so others would come to know Jesus.
Jenny Young is the Interim Director at SOAR and we recently were able to chat with her about how God is using their sports ministry and the ways CSO has helped them to be more gospel-centered.
What initiatives do you offer?
SOAR offers initiatives for kids ages 3-18 including baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, and volleyball. There is also an adult basektball program for women. Seasons are about 8 weeks in length and are played during the fall, winter and spring. We also offer a summer camp program for kids that includes a variety of sports in a skills and learning environment. We had about 550 kids participating this spring, and about 35 women for basketball. We form new teams each season and they play against one another as well as against local churches in the area. Teams are comprised of a diverse group of individuals from the church, other churches, and the local community. Volunteer coaches lead one practice during the week and games are played each weekend. We incorporate CSO’s 3D devotionals into all aspects of our sports offerings.
What are you excited about in your sports ministry?
I’m excited about the progress we’re making with coaches in general and getting more coaches from the church to be a part of the ministry. We’ve gained more support from the church recently after somewhat of a disconnect in the past. It’s also been exciting to see more unchurched families participate in sports. We’ve had an increase in participants from outside the church engaging in the sports seasons and camps.
What hopes for the future do you have for your sports ministry?
That coaches will learn to look for sports, life, and truth opportunities to share with players, families, teams during practice, games, etc. A great hope is that families will move toward the church, and become part of the community. We desire to see transformation in the players’ lives, as well as families and staff. Also, that those that don’t know the Lord would come to a saving faith in Christ. We want them to get excited about the Lord and get plugged in somewhere. We hope the church will take more of a firm stance on understanding of sports outreach ministry.
What motivated you to get involved with CSO?
I originally served as an intern with CSO and greatly valued what I learned through the classroom experience and fieldwork. My sports ministry knowledge was minimal and I knew I needed someone to train and help me teach others in sports outreach. It was an easy connector for SOAR and Christ Covenant to associate with CSO.
What specific stories do you have that illustrate the changes?
Starting back in 2011 we began using the 3D devotionals to better connect sports, life, and truth in the Bible. This has really revolutionized how we share the gospel and interact with families. The coaches have been better able to understand that these are not separate goals or ideas, and it is not helpful to highlight one over the other. The devotionals have helped us go beyond using a script and we’ve really seen lives changed by the process. Coaches have changed from being nervous and unsure of sharing the gospel to confident in this appraoch. They really feel like they are making an impact rather than just coming up with a Bible lesson.
What does it mean for your sports ministry to strive to be gospel-centered?
We really seek to put our focus on Christ. We’re integrating sports and the gospel to see lives changed through that. Playing sports and doing this ministry is not for our selfish gain.
What is the best thing CSO has done for you/your ministry?
Jenny: CSO has changed my understanding of how important my heart is to the things I hear, think, and feel. Everything is an outflow from the heart and flows into ministry.
Ministry: CSO has helped us think through and look through the lens of the gospel to see opportunities to be administers of the gospel. Now we better understand the connection between the truth in God’s Word and applying that to sports. We are better equipped to point all people-staff, coaches and families to the Lord and to serve Him. CSO has helped us see how the Lord can use us in ministry to help redeem sports and understand concepts that have been shared–God cares who wins, wants us to coach, etc. It goes beyond practical skills to a deeper level to seeing our sin and the way we think or feel and behave out of that whether in ministry or personal life.
