"Thumbnail Sketch" of Sports Chaplaincy (Character Coaching)

While in St. Petersburg, Russia recently, serving with FCA Eurasia teammates, I was asked to prepare a brief “thumbnail sketch” of what Sports Chaplains (Character Coaches) do and how they serve. I scratched out a simple five point outline for sharing with those entirely unacquainted with this form of ministry. That outline is below. I like it and I hope you do also.

1. Sports Chaplains (Character Coaches) are ambassadors for Christ Jesus and His Church in the sporting community.
2. Sports Chaplains (Character Coaches) love extravagantly. We love God. We love the people of sport, at their best and at their worst.
3. Sports Chaplains (Character Coaches) serve selflessly. We serve God. We serve the people of sport, at their best and at their worst.
4. Sports Chaplains (Character Coaches) are invited guests of the sports clubs, the teams, the federations, coaches, competitors, and support staffs they serve.
5. A Sports Chaplain’s (Character Coach’s) service is built upon these three pillars:
1. Relationships
2. Attitudes
3. Presence
4. It helps to think about these three in this sequence: Be seen, Be known, and Be heard.
5. Relationships, Attitudes, and Presence all inform and empower this process.

There it is. Simple, but descriptive of the essence of our ministry in sport.