As we evaluated 2012, we all agreed, “2012 was the best year for CSO in our experience!” Our network churches grew 40% with significant qualitative growth in gospel-centricity as well. Our website grew in popularity from 5,000 hits in 2009 to 50,000 in 2012. The countries visiting our website grew from 37 in 2009 to 160 in 2012. It was a banner year.
2013 brought even more significant growth.
– The churches in the CSO Network increased 130% – from 36 to 87 churches coming from 20 states and 13 denominations. There are over 50,000 participants and 5000 volunteer coaches in these ministries.
The following map gives a picture of the locations of the CSO Network Churches
– Numbers only give part of the picture. We also saw significant growth qualitatively according to the following graphic for Gospel Centered Sports Ministries. We also saw significant growth qualitatively toward gospel centricity in many of our network churches.
We regularly hear stories such as the following of the ways God is at work deepening the centrality of the gospel:
“Through several conversations with CSO, I’ve grown in leadership development and our ministry now has measurable goals that we are striving to reach through God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit. To Him be the glory!…The greatest benefit for me has been my one-on-one conversations with CSO. They keep the word, “Why” at the forefront of my mind. Why does this ministry exist? To spread the gospel and make disciples of Jesus. Otherwise we’re just your average gym.”
– Wes Bryant of Greenwood Christian Church in Greenwood, IN– We developed Gospel-Centered Coaches Training Curriculum that is being used by many of our Network churches to deepen their gospel-centricity. It includes
- The Ultimate Question – Why are you coaching? (Click here to see a one minute trailer)
- Outreach Dynamics – How do I use sports as a bridge?
- For the Love of the Game – How do I redeem sports? (Click here to see a one minute trailer)
– We added new staff that helped fill the gap left by Tim Brigg’s departure. Maia Siber has provided excellent help with the website. Scott Tyson and Jeff Fox have aptly worked on recruiting new Network Churches and enhancing our Network offerings. Eric Henderson has stepped in on a contract basis for video production – to taste the job he has done, just click on one of the trailers for the new coaching curriculum given above! The team is growing and I am so grateful for their efforts.
– We also continue to see God work internationally. Between 2005 and 2009, we traveled to four countries in Africa, India, Vietnam and China, training church leaders in sports ministry. With the financial challenges of 2009, we decided to hold off on travel and instead made our training resources available free to any international sports ministers. In 2009, countries accessed our website. In 2013, the number jumped to 170. Now we don’t know how fully what that access means how the resources are actually being used. However, on a regular basis, we get a report that just fuels our passion to press on in gospel-centered sports ministry.
In November, I met Avoy (pictured here with me). Avoy lives in Bangladesh. We are both involved in the International Sports Coalition, which brought Avoy to Orlando in November. After one of the meetings, Avoy approached me and introduced himself. We had never met before. He told me his name, where he lived, and then said, “Bob, we are using your Foundations Material – How to Start a Sports Ministry in six cities in Bangladesh. Thank you so much for this wonderful resource. Can you provide some more?”
As I have reflected on this growth, it amazes me how God chooses to use CSO. Some times we hear about it like this conversation with Avoy. Other times we never know. God is so good to let us in on what he is doing. I am so grateful for his grace in the face of my toughest year – 2013.
To find out more about the CSO Network, click here.
