In Psalm 145, the psalmist declares the unfathomable depth of the greatness of God – “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” He goes on to say that this lack of a complete grasp of God’s greatness doesn’t stop people from talking about it. “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.” This talking about it then stirs those who hear (in this case the psalmist) to join in this commendation of God. “They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.”
I know I don’t have a complete picture of all that God did in and through this past Monday and Tuesday’s Network Gathering, but I saw a glimpse of that greatness and want to pass it along.
Here is at least a few of what I saw from before and during the event:
- We planned for this “Gathering” for at least 3 years, now seeing it become a reality. Not all ideas actually happen. (“Apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5)
- Courtney Schnee led an unprecedented (for us) prayer emphasis for the “Gathering” including two Concerts of Prayer via Facebook.
- When the staff at the meeting center where we were holding the Gathering didn’t show up on Tuesday morning as prearranged, I didn’t panic but had a sense God would provide. (“Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7) We eventually got in about 45 minutes late and only had to make some minor adjustments. This is transformation for me!
- While four people had last minute situations that kept them from their intended involvement – sicknesses and job conflict – we had 17 sports ministry leaders from 11 churches attend on Tuesday.
When we asked at the end of the day Tuesday, “How did God use your involvement in the Gathering, the answers included:
- “As we concluded in prayer, all of the day’s events and the prayer leading up to this day just kept flashing into my mind. As those did, I just couldn’t help but smile as I thought of God’s pleasure in the day,”
- “I need to tell stories – every conversation is an opportunity to cast vision.”
- “I realize as a sports minister I am called to be a reconciler. This doesn’t mean only harvesting the fruit but also being proactive to cultivate the ground and sow seed.”
- “The time helped to reinforce God’s work of drawing me away from what “I believe” to what the Bible says and then to believe God will equip me to follow and fulfill what he says.”
- “While I see that gospel-centered sports ministry is hard and I have been feeling tired, this time has been a ‘forced planning and different routine’ time that has encouraged and refreshed me.”
- “Lord, make me a gospel-centered person!”
In Tim Briggs’ discussion topic – “How to be a gospel-centered ministry” – one of the participants wrote the following poem in the reflective/discussion/planning time following his presentation –
Gospel’s Story
The gospel is Christ
Behind and before
The story of love
The love of the Lord
Alpha and Omega
Beginning through the end
Perfection at creation
By The Fall, we suspend
For it’s through The Fall
We see Christ’s love
His sufferings—his sacrifice
For the sake of a soul
Restoration of lives
For the ugliness of sin
That we may be redeemed
And may somehow still win
To win at love
Christ’s power and peace
Grace, as a gift…
For you, for me–for the lives we keep
Through the sports we lead
And the relations we grow
Christ is the center…
He is the answer to the flow
For it is His story to tell
His story of grace
His story of love
To redeem this world…
and the human race.
Inspired at “The Gathering” Sara W. Martin, ROAR Sports, October 19th, 2010
She read this poem to us and I was moved! Tim and I both found great encouragement from Sara’s efforts – such a work of God to put into these words the vision we cast.
This is some of what I saw. Plus lots of fun, beginning new and deepening existing relationships, great times unpacking the lessons from five different “Experiential Learning” exercises/games, and a sense all day that God was really in it.
So today, like the psalmist, I am celebrating God’s “abundant goodness” and “joyfully singing” of his righteousness. Will you join me?
