|
SERVING IN MOTION:
 Basketball Ministry Changes Lives
Denise Boiko , Staff Writer
Remember when a child's first exposure to church meant sitting silently on a hard pew for an hour? Thanks to Calvary's Sports Ministries, many children now get their first taste of church during an action-packed basketball game. Best of all, during this year’s winter program, 70 children made decisions to follow Jesus!
“It's definitely worth the busy schedule,” said Michael Allen, Sports Ministries Director. “My passion is to utilize the gifts God has given me to make a difference in these kids.”
Michael and his volunteer coaches did just that for the 790 basketball players who participated this year. Each week, they challenged kids Scripture memory verses and told them about Jesus. Children who decided to accept Jesus received a Bible with a devotion plan along with information about Calvary and its active children's ministries.
“It's amazing to take a simple tool like basketball, and sports in general, to introduce people to the gospel,” said Michael. About 70% of the players are from outside of Calvary; most do not attend or have ever been to a church service. All families understand that their children will learn about Christianity.
Children’s lives are being changed in other Calvary children’s programs. Recently, 8 children in AWANA Clubs and 15 in Kids Club elementary school outreach decided to follow Jesus. In each case, the children heard about Jesus and then spoke individually with their leaders. Kids Club draws about 75 children each week from diverse backgrounds – most have never been to church.
More about Calvary Sports Ministries >
|
