This weekend, we’ll conclude our third year of Upward Soccer. Previously I’ve written my review of Upward Soccer, but I wanted to add an update.
The good news, I still love Upward Soccer. Everything I praised about it befoere has gotten even better. This year we had record participation for a 3rd year in a row. New and returning families continue to spread positive word-of-mouth about the our church. We are increasingly making Upward a key strategy to reach kids in our community.
Some Challenges
I can honestly say any challenges we’ve experienced has been a result of my leadership – not the program. Our church has many strengths, but in recent years we have struggled to correct an inward focus in many of our ministries. Upward has been a big help, but no program can solve a problem that is essentially spiritual.
- The program is growing faster than our church, this puts the pressure on to find new volunteers.
- We haven’t seen an obvious surge of visitors from the un-churched families that come out for Soccer.
- We haven’t seen as many children coming to Christ as we had expected.
- The devotions are solid, but the setting does not lend itself to verbal instruction.
What Matter Most
During devotions last night with my 1st – 2nd grade team, I asked the kids what they liked most about playing Upward Soccer. I got some of the usual answers, but one little boy really spoke to what matters most.
“I like it when pray . . .”
This little boy isn’t from a religious family. Our Soccer fields may be the only “church” he has ever known. But every week, before games & during practice, we’ve led him to pray. We’ve taught him about God’s love and encouraged him to give his life to Jesus. To that lille boy, growing closer to God is what matters most.
“. . . and I like it when the ball hits my head.”
Just to asure you these are real kids, I though I should finish his quote!
Bottom line - Upward Soccer is a great tool to bring hundreds of children into your minsitries. It won’t solve all your churches problems, but it can make a difference in the lives of many children.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Tony,
It’s been a long time since I have commented here. I do a basketball night every Wednesday with my neighborhood kids. It lasts until Nov. 19. I think I understand your concern about the challenges you cite above. However, isn’t it cool that you get to interact with these kids in an environment they understand? Namely soccer, of course. Think of it as building common ground with them. This will lead to relationships with the children and their guardians as it is done consistently over the course of the program. I know it is frustrating that so many of them don’t seem to have integrated into the church yet. I experience similar concerns, although I do have about ten children that continue to come consistently, most of them younger kids.
I would like to suggest an alternative point of view to trying to get children to attend the church’s programs, if I may. At the end of your blog post you said:
“Bottom line – Upward Soccer is a great tool to bring hundreds of children into your minsitries. It won’t solve all your churches problems, but it can make a difference in the lives of many children.”
What if we changed our goal? What if our goal was to bring ourselves into the daily lives of hundreds of children and their families? What implication might this have for our churches? In my view, it changes the impetus from staffing programs to training and unleashing families to make a difference daily in their neighborhoods. I think programs such as Upward can continue to be wonderful catalysts to make this happen. The reality is that some children will never step foot in the church simply on the basis of a sports program. There is no incentive for them. They and their parents may not see the value of religious instruction. Or they are adherents to a different faith, such as Islam, as is the case in one of the families to whom I have been reaching out.
Anyway, great post. Keep wrestling with the issues. I think you are a strong leader who is grappling with culture shifts in how people view the church. So don’t be too hard on yourself. Oh, wait. Now I am talking to myself as well.
Blessings!
@ Glen: I appreciate your comments as always, definitely a lot to think about there. I will admit that we’re stuck in a very “attraction” versus “missional” paradigm.
Aren’t you writing a book on this or something?
I currently am writing a dissertation entitled, “Praxis of Nurture in Small Churches.” I am focusing on parental responsibility for child spiritual formation. I do give some limited treatment of mission latter in the book. It is possible, however, that I may write some article or book pertaining to mission in the future. It is definitely something I am passionate about. In fact I am motivated to pursue the issue of parental responsibility in my church in order to generate freedom to pursue mission in my community. Call me an stark raving idealist, but I think it makes for a win-win situation, the kind where disciple-making disciples are formed in the context of godly homes with the support of the local church, thereby better enabling us to be effective missionaries where we live.