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.
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