Dec 2023
Redeeming Sports
In our roles at CEDE SPORTS, we often hear these questions: “Why should we get involved in sports ministry?”, “Aren’t sports actually hurting the kingdom of God?”, or “Shouldn’t we avoid sports?” Our short answer to those questions goes something like this: “Sports are a major idol around the world. As such, they need to be redeemed. When redeemed, they become a great bridge to connect people and a great laboratory to transform them. “
Whenever we take a good thing and make it an ultimate thing, it becomes an idol. So, it is with sports. Designed to be a good thing, sports has become an ultimate thing. Sports are not to be eliminated but removed from a place of idolatry. This is what redeeming sports is all about. When redeemed, sports become this great bridge and laboratory. Bridges are designed to connect us. As a universal language, sports form a bridge and enable us to cross many of the barriers that separate us. Sports are not only a bridge to connect, but they are also a laboratory to transform. Laboratories are safe, controlled environments to conduct experiments to learn ideas that can then be applied to daily life. As a microcosm of life, sports form such a laboratory. Famous UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, declares, “Sports don’t build character; they reveal them.” That revelation is the first step to transformation. Why use the tool of sports? Because, as a redeemed idol, they become a great tool as a bridge to connect people and a laboratory to transform them.
At CEDE, our mission is to mobilize local churches and chaplains to pick up this tool. In this newsletter, you will discover ways in which some of those churches and chaplains are picking up this tool. You will see how they use sports to start redemptive conversations where gospel truths are discussed, and, when embraced, lives are transformed.
Map of Chaplains
This map shows the location of the chaplains currently on the SCC App
Map of Churches
This map shows the location of the churches currently on the SRF App (USA only here)
Dec 2023
New Church Partnerships
- Cornerstone Christian–Brownsburg, IN
- First Baptist Jackson–Jackson, MS
- Rock Springs Baptist–Milner, GA
- Western Prong Baptist–Whiteville, NC
- Highland Park Presbyterian Church–Dallas, TX
- Cypress Baptist Church–Benton, LA
- Mount Pleasant Christian Church–Greenwood, IN
Recent Blog Posts
New Staff:
M.L. Woodruff
New Staff:
Will Cravens
New Staff:
Sandra Cravens
New Staff:
Baird Yasenchok
M.L Woodruff lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and will serve as a Church Coach and Chaplain to Coaches.
Will Cravens lives in Florida and serves as Continent Coordinator for Europe
Sandra Cravens lives in Florida and serves as Continent Coordinator for Europe
Baird Yasenchok lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and serves as and administrative assistant
Dec 2023
CHURCHES
SR&F App
The SR&F app was created to enhance the connectivity of Sports, Recreation, & Fitness ministry leaders in local churches in the US and around the world. The SR&F app community currently has over 800 members on the app!
Feel free to check it out by scanning the QR code to the right!
A Boot Camp Story of Redemption
CEDE SPORTS is privileged to partner with Connection Pointe Christian Church in Brownsburg, Indiana. Their Fitness Director, Christie Wickline, recently told us about Joshua Lewis and his incredible story of redemption. Struggling from a broken engagement and an alcohol addiction, he had truly come to the end of himself.
Searching for help, he got involved in Fitness Bootcamp where he got connected to a Care Pastor from the church. The pastor suggested several steps to help Josh with his situation including attending AA and starting counseling. Josh bravely took each of those steps and continued to listen to sermons, all to help him work through the challenges he faced. Eventually, Josh gave his life to Christ. While attending Boot Camp and taking in the encouragement and community, Josh decided he wanted to be baptized.
Although anxious about being in front of everyone, he stepped out of his comfort zone to declare his new life in Jesus on August 13th. It’s been a long journey for Josh. However, God has done a great work, placing the right people in his life to encourage him, point him to Jesus, and help him overcome battles. He continues to grow into who God has called him to be. What a testimony of God’s grace!
Dec 2023
CHAPLAINS
Chaplain Training in South America
“What does a sports chaplain do?” The answer to that question depends on which model of chaplaincy is being utilized. At CEDE SPORTS, our mission is to mobilize gospel centered sports chaplains who utilize the bridge of sports to connect relationally with athletes, coaches, and team staff in order to serve those athletes, coaches and staff and enter into redemptive conversations where the gospel can be discussed. Part of our mobilization involves training sports chaplains in these critical ideas about sports chaplaincy.
SCC App
The SCC app was created to enhance connectivity among Sports Chaplains around the world. The SCC app community currently has 5 different language translations and over 800 members.
Feel free to check it out by scanning the QR code to your right!
One such training was held via Zoom this spring/summer with a team of CEDE SPORTS Teachers from Chile, Paraguay and Argentina. This year’s course had 12 students from 5 countries - Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Venezuela. For four months, every 15 days the CEDE SPORTS Teaching Team met to go through the five modules listed below.
The Teaching Team held a final session to discuss and develop a Ministry Plan, outlining the ways the participants will apply in the next several months what they had learned in the Chaplaincy Training.
In addition to providing this training, we hope to form a network of Sports Chaplains in Latin America that can together respond to the various needs in Sports Ministry. That goal is already underway as we remember our calling to make disciples in all spheres of influence in society!
MODULE 1 - SPORTS IN THE SOCIAL CONTEXT
MODULE 2 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY OF SPORTS/ BIBLICAL AND
THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION IN SPORTS
MODULE 3 - TEACHING AND LEARNING
MODULE 4 - ETHICS IN SPORTS
MODULE 5 - SPORTS CHAPLAINCY
Dec 2023
JGR
Opportunities and Relationships
Todd Bowland grew up as the son of a racer. He knew at a young age that he wanted to grow up and get into racing. too. After college in 2004, Todd joined Joe Gibbs Racing. He started out as an Engineer and worked there until 2021.
Over the course of his 17 years there, he did not regularly attend the JGR Bible Study until 2019. He did not grow up in a Christian home and though he attended church with his wife, he did not call himself a Christian.
Toward the end of his time at JGR, God started to get his attention. Around 2017, Todd and Bob Dyar began meeting together regularly. Bob listened to Todd’s hesitations, investigated the Bible with him, and helped Todd walk through questions he had about Christianity.
Todd continued to grow in understanding of the gospel and he knew he needed to make a decision. After Bob shared about his own faith though trials, Todd knew He wanted to commit his life to Christ. He shared in an interview with Bob Dyar that he “invited the Holy Spirit to work in Him.”
Though he hoped for this transformational commitment to be a big and dramatic event, he learned that sanctification is a long and great work that happens over the course of our lives. Today and beyond his time at JGR, Todd continues to grow in awareness and conviction of his sin and clings to a deeper gospel hope for all of work, life, and faith.
Todd’s story reminds us of the way sports can be this universal language and this valuable bridge. His story is also a hopeful testimony of God’s continued pursuit of His people. The work of ministry can feel long and hard, but God brings fruit to our faithful efforts. God continues to present opportunities and establish relationships at JGR. We pray we would be faithful to our ministry and that God would continue to change hearts and minds through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Dec 2023
SNAPSHOTS
Futbol is a great opportunity to share the gospel with the next generation. Pictured is a youth league in South America.
A CEDE SPORTS coached church, First Baptist Church in Jackson, MS has a Boxing Room used for “Rock Steady Boxing.” This room specifically ministers to those living with Parkinson Disease. A man recently came to Christ through this ministry. What an encouragement to see Sports Ministries target specific groups to minister to!
An answered prayer at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL to see Jesus’ power to save and change the life of one of the guys attending their open gym. Olive Baptist Church is a CEDE SPORTS coached church. We are so thankful to partner with this ministry and witness God’s saving work!
Emanuel had many personal struggles, before he started training in taekwondo. Through the ministry of taekwondo in Paraguay led by CEDE SPORTS staff, Emanuel is now a changed young man and full of the joy of the Lord!
Thank you for your prayers and support!
CEDE SPORTS was born out of a desire to mobilize churches and chaplains into sports ministry built upon relational outreach. Sports are a bridge that can bring connection and a laboratory that can bring transformation. Our hope will always be to see God continue to use CEDE SPORTS to mobilize gospel centered sports chaplains and local church sports, rec, and fitness leaders to make disciples and redeem the culture of sports.
Thank you for thoughtfully and prayerfully supporting our ministry. Your support allows us to impact the people of sport through churches and chaplaincy. To further support, you can find the donation page on our website by clicking here.
Please reply with any encouragements or share with a friend who might be interested in hearing more about our ministry. We are deeply grateful for your support and we look forward to what God will accomplish in the coming months!
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