C H R I S T M A S G R E E T I N G S

III John 13-14

As the year nears its close, I want to thank you for taking time to read these devotional thoughts. It is a great privilege and an honor for me to have such favor with you. I deeply appreciate it.

The Apostle John expresses well my feelings in his third letter at verses 13 and 14, “I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.”

We all have friends who have been displaced over the years. Whether childhood friends, teammates from our years in school or coworkers from adulthood, we’ve been separated by time and the circumstances of life. It’s important to maintain these relationships, even if just by email.

There is, however, no substitute for seeing each other face to face and enjoying the sweet communion of dear friends.

As valuable as writing to you is to me, speaking with you face to face is even better. I hope to do so very soon and to greet you, my friends, by name. Thanks again for all you, and all the people of sport, mean to me.

Sports Chaplaincy USA survey

These past 12 months have been phenomenal for me personally as I have witnessed the global growth of Sports Chaplaincy first hand.
· Our email network of sports chaplains and sports mentors has grown significantly and I really enjoy sending these weekly notes to hundreds around the world.
· In July, I made a trip to Jamaica and worked with dear friends in training sports chaplains for their sport communities. They now continue to do further training with the books we left in country. http://www.unitedcaribbean.com/hope.html
· In October, I was privileged to speak to and do training with the best developed network of sports chaplains on the planet – Sports Chaplaincy Australia. http://www.sportschaplaincy.com.au/
· In November I met with the International Sport Coalition’s Serving the People of Sport Coalition and we further grew our global network of sports chaplains and sports mentors. http://www.servingthepeopleofsport.net/
· I am now anticipating a trip to Singapore in January to work with our friends there to help train sports chaplains for that country, for others in Southeast Asia and for the Youth Olympics to be held there in 2010. http://www.singapore2010.sg/night/index.htm
· I’ve been in conversation with men and women in the world of academia who are seeking to add their expertise to the world of sports chaplaincy in the USA.
· I’ve been hearing from others across the USA who are feeling the same sense of God’s movement in relation to sports chaplaincy and we’re trying to hear clearly what our Lord wants for it.

All these factors lead me to ask some questions of those of you who are in the USA about helping to develop a network which would provide training, certification and ongoing resourcing and encouragement to sports chaplains around the country. The model we see in Sports Chaplaincy Australia would seem to be a great fit in the USA and this network would probably be very similar to that one.

If you’re reading this from beyond the borders of the USA, please pray for us as we seek to grow and develop Sports Chaplaincy as well as you have.

Please take a moment and reply to this questionnaire. Your insights and opinions can help us discern whether such a network is ready to develop or if it’s still a few years away. Please reply to lipe@earthlink.net. Thanks very much.

1. Would you participate in a course of training which would result in an official certification of your qualifications as a sport chaplain? Yes or No?
2. Would you lead others in your organization or within your influence to participate in such a course? Yes or No?
3. Would you be willing to pay a nominal annual fee for participation in a national network of sports chaplains? Yes or No?
4. What amount would be the most your would annually invest in such a network? $50 $100 $150 $250
5. Would you participate in annual national or regional meetings of sports chaplains for ongoing training, networking, encouragement and resources? Yes or No?
6. How great a deterrent would it be to such a network if it had any particular Sports Ministry’s name on it? (Choose one.) None A little A lot I would simply not participate
7. How important would it be to you for this network to include sports chaplains from a wide variety of different sports, different sports ministries and church affiliations? Not at all A little A lot It must be so
8. Would you like to be involved in the formation and establishment of such a network’s course of training and structure? Yes or No?
9. Would you like to serve as a member of an Advisory Board of Sport Chaplains for such a network? Yes or No?
10. Please indicate any or all of your affiliations in sports ministry from the list below.
a. Athletes in Action
b. Fellowship of Christian Athletes
c. Chaplains Roundtable (Charlotte, Indy or Lansing)
d. International Sports Coalition
e. Motor Racing Outreach
f. World Span
g. Hockey Ministries International
h. Baseball Chapel
i. Nations of Coaches
j. Champions for Christ
k. Church Staff ___________________________________ (name)
l. University or seminary ____________________________ (name)
m. Other _________________________________________ (name)

11. Comments: ______________________________________________________________________________________

Your name and contact information: ___________________________________________________________________

Thanks once again for your valuable insight as we try to discern the Lords’ will re: Sports Chaplaincy in the USA.

SPS Ministry with Coaches

Ministry Ideas –
Develop relationships with them through:
Visiting them at practices and/or in their offices.
Attend their coaching conferences and conventions and serving them while there.
Speaking with them at competitions, camps or tournaments.
Hosting or attending a coaching clinic.
Host a performance enhancement camp or clinic and invite area coaches to attend.
Purchase and give books to them re: coaching, leadership, etc.
Network sports equipment and other resources to their teams.
Hold a Coaches and Parents meeting during a sport camp to help the parents learn about the game and to become familiar with the coaching staff.
Personally mentor a coach re: a part of his or her life which the coach believes needs attention.
Be a friend, confidant and sounding board for the coach.
Host a Coach’s evening (social event with a brief talk) at a tournament.
Host a Coaches and Spouses Appreciation event to honor area coaches and their spouses.
Support the coach’s family – spouse and children.
Help develop a support team for those who also carry lots of administrative duties.
Help develop recognition for what they do as ministry and as mission within their church and local churches.

Challenges – Timing (on-season, off-season, vacations…) and resources (physical and financial).

Network Coaches –
Invite coaches from other countries to train in your city or with your team.
Send coaches to other regions of the world. They will need these qualities:
Technical ability and a holistic approach to sport and faith
Retired coaches are ideal for long-term assignments (1 month to 1 year).
Active coaches are ideal for short-term assignments (1 week to 1 month).
Get coaches together for coaching development in schools or universities.

Challenges – Timing (on-season, off-season, vacations…) and finding the right people for each situation.