Youth Sport - Update

NEWS AND VIEWS Last Thursday (15^th) Wellsy took some Academy students to meet with some sporty young people from Asian Churches in Oxford. It was encouraging to spend the evening both playing basketball and teaching some of the Pray, Play, Say material which resulted in some more PPS-ers signing up to represent Jesus in their sport. Rome Marathon Runners – there are a group of 45 Christians in Sport people taking part in the Rome Marathon on the 18^th March. Have a look on the website in the next few weeks for a list of people running and ways in which you could sponsor them – money is being raised for a GO2H’s project and a minibus for the Academy! During the last series we have tried to help you grasp what it means to play your sport in a way that honours God. All good information but really hard to actually go and do it. We got the academy guys to write a response to the studies in view of how they would react in those situation – see the website soon for more details!!	PLAYER PROFILE Full name: Rebecca Fitch Nicknames: Bex, Bexy, Trouble!! Sport: Football Sports status: I play for my local club and have been for the last 4 years. I’m also in the school team and we got through to a national tournament the last 2 years. I’ve had trials at Watford Centre of Excellence twice for football as well. Story: I’m currently praying for my football team. I’m the only Christian in the team at the moment and would love it if more of the girls come to know Christ.
BIBLE BIT Different for Jesus! Few would disagree - It’s just not easy living as a Christian in the world of sport. How then do we stand out from the crowd when it’s far easier to fit in? Here’s where we’ve come so far… Our motivation to play – 1 Peter 2v11-12 Winning and losing – Matthew 6v19-21 Referee! – Matthew 5v43-48 Chirpy Opponents – Matthew 5v39 And here’s where we’re heading next… Caught Cheating? If we’re being honest friends then I think we have to answer YES… Every summer without fail the old tennis rackets get pulled out from under the stairs and everyone goes Murray mad with the start of another Wimbledon year. In between Sports Plus and Sports Plus there’s always time for mini Wimbledon of our own. So off we go 4 lads, 4 rackets and 2 old tennis balls, so not the best set up but the competition is fierce! Now even in this setting when there is nothing at stake but an ice cream for the winner, there is still massive pressure to call a ball out when it’s clipped the back of the line. You see whatever the level whatever the situation there is something in built in the human heart that wants to win at all costs. How then can we be different as we seek to represent Christ well in the world of sport? The key is to know your audience. You see if the only incentive to stop you cheating is the fear of getting caught, then the problem will always remain. Down the park with the boys and obviously no line judge, I could get away with it every time but that doesn’t make my action right. Matthew reminds us of the audience that really matters… Matthew 6v1: Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do you will have no reward from your Father in heaven *The question we should ask is: Will my action please God?* Not will my action be seen by others – you see the reality is that nothing escapes the watchful eye of our father in heaven. It is him we are playing for above everyone else. So this week friends, go well and go and PLAY in a way that honours God, he gave you the gifts and longs for you to use them for his glory. Be different for Jesus.
	PRAYER POINTS Being Different – Cheating can be a massive temptation for us all, especially when people aren’t looking! Pray that we would truly live for the audience of 1 we talk about so often. For your 3 friends or so in your sport who don’t yet know Jesus. For Bex – pray that she would be bold and honest, and when those opportunities arise will share Jesus with her friends.
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