Report from College Basketball (USA)

 Last week I received the report of a remarkable movement in a men’s college basketball program served by one of my Nations of Coaches colleagues. I asked him to send me more details and he sent me several paragraphs. I’d like to share them with you. We don’t often receive reports like this one. Please give it a read and be encouraged. I have omitted the names of the character coach and the university so as to not overexpose them.

Serving as a character coach for a Division 1 Men’s Basketball program brings me some of the greatest joys of my ministry career and it also brings some of the greatest moments of trust in the Lord. I count it an honor each day to be able to serve the ........... Men’s team and so grateful for the vision Nations of Coaches has to place men and women in these roles.

God has been at work in our program over the past 4 years and this investment has started to pay off in deep spiritual ways. We hosted the men’s and women’s team to dinner and a Christmas message where we showed the Peanuts Christmas segment where Linus drops his “security” blanket and declares in Luke 2…FEAR NOT. This was a voluntary event and God was good to us as all of the players from both teams came with the exception of one. (I think the total was 29 players plus most of the coaches and their families). I thought this might be the mountaintop of our year only to once again, see God work.

I lead a weekly Bible study/chapel time for our players, coaches and staff and it was been well attended this entire year. I was teaching in a series called “Character Traits of a Godly Man” and we had finished four of the five teachings and God laid on my heart that I should delay the fifth message and simply share with the guys the salvation message and frame it around the idea that you can’t “become” what you do not know. I also shared with them that Liverpool (English Premier League soccer team) has a famous saying that when you are fan you NEVER WALK ALONE”. While this is a great way to describe the Liverpool soccer experience, only Jesus can make that promise and deliver on it.

 

At the conclusion of our study in a conference room in Worcester, MA God moved in great ways and seven of our players made a decision to follow Christ and make Him the Lord of their lives. It was powerful. It was one of the great moments of my entire ministry career and in a humble way these seven young men crossed the line of faith. The important work of follow up and discipleship now begins and I have not lost the BIG smile on my face to see God work in such powerful ways. These moments are precious and you could sense that God was working in that room in ways that only God could orchestrate and your investment into Nations of Coaches give those of us with teams this incredible opportunity to point players, coaches and staff to Jesus.

 

Character Coach Profiles

Last week I visited a couple of veteran Nations of Coaches Character Coaches at their universities. I observed these men and their ministries for just a little while, but I was able to get a glimpse of why each of them is so effective in serving their coaches, players, and support staffs. A brief profile of each one is below. I will not list names or universities so that we don’t create a culture of celebrity or encourage foolish comparisons.

Character Coach A – he has been serving at this university for nine years, now with his second coaching staff. The transition from one staff to the next was neither automatic nor easy. It did not, however, take long for the head coach to see the character coach’s gifts and skills. As I talked with the character coach, knowing the nature of the head coach, I saw why he was quickly found to be of great value. The character coach is a tremendous complement to the head coach. The head coach is very driven and intense, but his character coach is incredibly relational and projects no agenda at all. The players love him, therefore the coaches love him. It’s a perfect fit.

Character Coach B – he has also been serving at his university for nine years, all with the same staff. I watched a team meeting with video review, and a practice on one afternoon. Both were very good and during the practice I was able to chat with the character coach. I asked him, “What is the most important key to your service as a character coach?” He said, “Building relationships.” That’s it. Simple. He said further, “Don’t pretend, be genuine, cultivate vulnerability.” The next day I watched shootaround, more video review, a scouting report review, a character moment, and the pregame meal. During a conversation over the pregame meal, I heard the character coach say, “I affirm people. I affirm who they are, what they do well, how they’re gifted, who God has made them to be. I affirm them.”

Bottom line – It’s all about relationships. Both of these veteran character coaches are committed to building relationships and that’s why they are very good in their roles. One is serving well because he is very different from the head coach. The other is serving well because he is perfectly aligned with the head coach’s stated values and goals. Both are excellent because building genuine, vulnerable relationships is at the center of how they serve. Let’s follow their examples and be great at building relationships. Let’s affirm people. Let’s not pretend. Let’s be genuine. Let’s watch the Lord do His great work in all those we serve.