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EVANGELISM IS CENTRAL TO THE MISSION OF RECREATION MINISTRY

Every person has strengths, gifts, and interests.

For many, outreach and evangelism are not considered personal strengths. Unfortunately, that person's attitude then becomes, "Let someone else do it, it's not my gift." In athletics, if a player says he/she is not good at something, then that is the very skill you work to improve. That should also be our attitude towards evangelism. Why?

Evangelism is central to our task as recreation leaders. Recreation is "hands on." Becoming involved in a person's life means they give you access to a life-changing relationship. Each week as you interact with them, you get more permission to share in their lives. This is a great opportunity that few others will have. We must take advantage of it.
Christ-centered recreation leadership cannot be done at a distance. It is not just instructing people on the basics of a sport, but it is giving them life skills that enable them to apply a relationship with God to every area of their lives.

Evangelism gives us an opportunity to interact with people. It comes as a surprise to me that every softball season brings out many adults who do not know how to play the game. You would think that adults would only go out for those sports they already know how to play. Not so. As many have told me, they choose a sport for the friends they think they will make. Playing is not the main motivator, but social interaction is.

Evangelism is a primary way to love as Jesus loved, incarnationally: “the Word became flesh and visited among us."  You get the chance, as God's representative, to be among people.  You get to be a living example of His Word.  For some in the activity, this will be their first and/or only exposure to Christ and His Church for the week.  I can be an extension of Christ for them, an expression, albeit imperfect, of God's love

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