Sports Crusaders on mission for the Lord
By Brian Koonce
Staff Writer
July 12, 2005
HOLTS SUMMIT – If athletes give 110 percent on the playing field, shouldn’t Christian’s do the same?
That’s the philosophy of 36 student-athletes this summer
Sports Crusaders, a sports evangelism ministry will use some 160 sports clinics in cheerleading, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer, basketball across the state and beyond to teach 3,000 kids the fundamentals of team sports, as well as the fundamentals of a relationship with Christ.
Now entering its 12th year, founder and director Bobby Shows says athletics is a useful tool for evangelism.
“Sports is one of the best ways to attract the attention of kids,” he said. “If we can get the attention of kids, we can tell them about the Christ we know.”
This year 36 volunteers from 16 colleges and university’s will help lead the Christ-centered clinics across Missouri as well as in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Tennessee, Arkansas, California, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
The volunteers train as summer missionaries with the Missouri Baptist Convention each summer.
“Our kids are all fine Christian college athletes,” Shows said. “They try to make sure the campers come out better athletes, but the main purpose is still ‘half-time.’”
Half-time is the mid-session devotion that culminates each week with the plan of salvation and an invitation to receive Christ.
The theme for the week-long day camps is “Only the Strong Shall Survive,” based on Eph. 6:10.
“It doesn’t matter what game you play – basketball or the game of life – only the strong survive and in life, that means being strong in the Lord,” Shows said.