Youth Sport - Update

NEWS AND VIEWS

Dean Close School Mission: The Youth Team and half of the Academy embarked on Dean Close School in Cheltenham this week for a school mission. They were invited into RS lessons, PE lessons as well as delivering a series of evening talks, assemblies and finished off with a Sports Quiz and Dinner. For many of the Academy students this was a first taste of frontline mission as they were thrown into the deep end to live amongst school pupils and give a reason for the faith that they have. It was a real joy to see the Academy embrace and relish the challenge, speaking freely to pupils about the effect that Jesus has had on their lives and admirably answer tough questions in ‘Grill a Christian’ sessions. These times are precious – not only because the life transforming gospel went out in force at Dean Close School but it proved to be a magnificent training ground for the Academy guys.

Sports Plus Conference: Make sure you don’t miss out on the Easter Conference – 4 days of teaching, sport, small group discussions and loads of time to chill out with like minded young people, and course space for revision. Application forms are downloadable on the website (here).

Sports Plus: The summer Sports Plus camps are filling up. See below for latest availability. Details of the One Day Sports Plus camps are also now online so if you live near Belfast, Perthshire, Oxfordshire or Lincoln make sure you check it out. (click here)

Scotland: Spaces for all age groups

N Ireland: Plenty of space for boys, a few girls places left

Wales 1: A few spaces left in all age groups

Wales 2: A few spaces left in all age groups

England: Full

PLAYER PROFILE

Introducing the Academy 08...

Full Name: Ben Pearson
Nickname: Pears, GAG (in a bag), Gagster, Frosty
Home town: The Tropical Haven that is Portsmouth
Top Sport: Hockey, Football, but I play most things
Why the Academy?: The Academy for me seemed a great way to spend 6 months. I love sport, Jesus and Sports Plus camps so it was a clear choice! I’m not going to university so wanted to do something purposeful and meaningful to set me up and prepare me for everything the University of Life will throw at me, hopefully with some top class banter along the way!!

Want to appear in the Player Profiles? Send yours to: (sarah@christiansinsport.org.uk)

BIBLE BIT

Series: Do everything with all your heart

Colossians 3v23 says "whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the lord, not for men."

Session 1 – Can a Christian be competitive?

I wonder if it happens to you – a friend after watching you play a bit of sport ‘I thought you were a Christian – a bit competitive aren’t you?' What should a Christian’s answer be to this question?

I think it should be something like this -

Read Matthew 6v19-21

Follow me on this one….

Jesus is teaching his disciples to be future focused. ‘Do not store up treasures here on earth where moth and rust destroy’… He is really saying that in the end any importance that you place on earthly material will be useless, because in the end it will be destroyed.

Sums up what we are looking at now.

What is the urgency Jesus is pressing towards? – Making sure that you store up treasure that will last for ever!

Makes pretty good sense eh! Does that mean that we should not try and work hard at any exam? Does that mean that it is no benefit to stay fit and play sport because they won’t last for eternity?

Here the answer is a definite ‘no!’ – All good things have come from God! Don’t think that money is wrong, or that clothes are wrong to have or that your talent in sport is wrong. These are all good things. What Jesus is saying is that if you put your hope in them, if these areas rule your life and your thoughts then you are building up treasure on earth.

It is not that the good things on earth should be seen as bad – it is our view of them and what value we put on them that makes them our treasure or not.

God made you with an ability to play sport, and when you do play sport you can decide whether to try and play to the best of your ability or simply have a laugh with a group of mates down the park. It is not the activity itself that really matters it is your mindset towards it.

If you try and play really competitively - great! What really matters is that your treasure lies with God. That when you try and play your best game of hockey, trying with every ounce of energy, making the runs forward, putting in the tackles, tracking your runner back – you know that in everything you do, you are trying to represent Jesus and bring glory to God.

The moment I begin to play and become focused on my ability to make it big, or the moment I want to win for my glory and for others praise, it is then I am trying to store up for myself treasures on earth.

This is so important to grasp. Don’t think that your sport is not important. It is of the utmost importance as you try and glorify God in the way that you play and represent Him to friends that don’t know Jesus

Can a Christian be competitive? Yes absolutely, certainly ‘yes’ – but remember your focus and your attitude! Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

DIARY

23 Feb Bath PPS group
25 Feb Perth PPS group
26 Feb Cambridge PPS group
27 Feb Edinburgh PPS group
28 Feb Leeds PPS Group
2 Mar Birmingham PPS group
2 Mar Letchworth PPS group
4 Mar Aberdeen PPS group
8 Mar London PPS group
9 Mar Cardiff PPS Group

For more dates click here

PRAYER POINTS

Give thanks for the Dean Close mission. Pray for the Christian students and teachers as they continue to live out their faith in the school, and follow up conversations that were had over the week.

Pray for Ben - that he would come to know God better over his time on the Academy, and he that would make difference for Jesus in his church and school placements.

Pray for the Youth Team as they prepare for the Sports Plus conference and camps.

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