FCA Sports Chaplain Principles and Best Practices with Professionals

Walt Enoch – as told to Roger Lipe on November 24, 2009


Walt Enoch began serving professional athletes in 1970 when only the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs had chapel leaders. He was already serving the St. Louis Cardinals when Baseball Chapel began its ministry. Walt also served the St. Louis Football Cardinals before their move to Arizona and has served the St. Louis Rams since they arrived in town. For two years he had a ministry with the NHL’s St. Louis Blues. For many years he worked to oversee all of the baseball chapel leaders in the Cardinals minor league cities.


Walt believes that, “FCA should be the vehicle for serving the people of professional sports.” Walt describes the role of the sport chaplain in this way, “to bring Christ to the players, coaches and support staff in their life situation and to serve them however you can.”


Among Walt’s core values for serving in this role are:


• Love


• Service


• Acceptance of others (teach it to them)


• Christ-centered ministry


Walt’s points of emphasis for effectively serving professional sportspeople will be listed under the following categories:


• Relationships


• Attitude


• Presence


• Strategies, Methods and Resources


Relationships –


• In NFL Football – the chaplain serves at the pleasure of the Head Coach. That relationship is most important. Walt says, “He runs the machine. I’m just a spark plug.”


• Walt opens these relationships with a letter of welcome to the head coach, by arranging to meet with him and by offering to serve. The Head Coach then tells him what he wants the chaplain to do.


• He makes it a point to introduce and offer service to all in the organization, trainers, doctors, office personnel, etc.


• With NFL players, Walt recognizes that the pro football player comes from a college atmosphere where he is considered highly. Don’t be put off by it, but understand who they are.


• In Major League Baseball – Baseball Chapel appoints the chapel leaders and works through an application and interview process.


• The Baseball Chapel leader mostly relates to the players. Seldom do coaches, managers or support personnel participate in chapels.


• With MLB players, Walt recognizes that these players come up through the minor league system with very little money and a tough road to reach the major leagues.