In the process of redesigning our website, I was recently asked by the team we are using, “What is the heart of what you do?”
I often get asked this question – by Sports Ministers, by Pastors, by friends, by new acquaintances. It is a common question.
In every case, I try to communicate the essence of what we do with local churches. Sometimes my answer is a few words. Sometimes a few sentences. Sometimes a paragraph. Sometimes much more.
We ask ourselves this question to make sure we are staying clear in our perspective and focused in our activity. Recently, at our weekly staff meeting, we brought this up – again. Here are some of our answers:
- To help churches become more effective redemptive instruments through the realm of sports
- To partner with local churches to help them do effective gospel centered sports ministry – using sports as a bridge and a laboratory
- To help churches, through sports, to connect them with their community and positively impact their members in the mission God has called them to fulfill
- To help churches connect with their community and develop winsome, relational leaders through sports (especially men!!!)
See some patterns? We are focused on helping churches. We do this through sports.
- To help churches utilize sports to connect to their community for evangelism – Sports as a Bridge
- To help churches utilize sports to transform their members for discipleship – Sports as a Laboratory
This is the heart of what we do – we want to see more local churches who are effectively fulfilling the Great Commission of making disciples of all nations.
We don’t play sports. We equip local churches to utilize sports. Sports aren’t the end. They are merely the means.
One other picture helps to show what we do. CSO lives out this heart, this desire, by providing churches with the kind of things that all athletes need:
Coaching – We mentor local church sports ministers (both staff and volunteers) toward greater gospel centricity. This involves individual meetings, web-based classes through our Leadership Center, and regular webinars.
Teammates – We connect local church sports ministers with other like-minded sports ministers in local churches. The CSO Network currently has 150 churches from 30 states and 14 denominations. We utilize both face-to-face and virtual meetings for that ongoing connecting.
Equipment – We provide resources to help those sports ministers live out this gospel centered vision. These resources include a regular blog and videos and written materials in the CSO Store. These resources are geared for leadership team development, coaches training and development, and integrating sports and Christianity.
This is what we do toward the end of leading a global movement of gospel centered sports ministries in local churches.
We love what we do. We are passionate about what we do. We are very grateful to all of you who support these efforts through your prayers, friendship and financial gifts. We know we couldn’t do this without you.
