A New Way to Do Ministry

We've never traveled with a basketball team before. Ministry was new for us collectively. Even for the players, I don't think they ever traveled with a mission team before. So when we partnered up with Coach Carl and Coach Lawrence we weren't quite sure what to expect. But God called us to this mission and we were willing to learn. 

In the picture above, we played before a packed house in Oroquieta. It was seriously packed with people standing on the baseline. It was to be our fifth game with challenges introduced at each venue. At this particularly one we were cautioned not to blow out the local team or the crowd would leave early. But that wasn't to be. An older gentleman was kneeling by my chair during the entire game laughing and enjoying every minute of the play. Certainly, we won and ran away with the game early but the fans love the game of basketball. 

At this particular game we introduced the idea of throwing out tee-shirts during the quarter breaks. That was quite a hit.  We also had a "pre-game" program that seemed to be working. Considering we were always waiting for the sound system to arrive or be set up, we managed to start each night with worship. Mark would jam with the band an instrumental version of "Lord I Lift Your Name on High" or some other familiar tune. Then he'd break into worship with Nicole and other singers. Renee would occasionally dance. The Cagayan de Oro team would also do their hip-hop numbers on the basketball court - "Listen People."  Go Willy!

By this time Coach Carl would share the word before the game warm-ups began. This was effective because here was a member of the basketball team sharing from the word. The crowd paid attention. Even when Coach Carl was "standing on the word!"

A player would also share a short bit, usually thanking the city for allowing us to play and for accepting us so warmly. It was great to see the transformation in our players as the two weeks progressed. God was working on everybody's heart and bringing us all together as a team! 

One thing that really excited the crowds in Mindanao was the slam dunk. During our third game played in Cagayan, during a violent rain storm in which Daniel McLaughlin's plane was grounded, our players put on a little dunk exhibition at the end of the game. I was able to capture Mike McFadden wrapped around the rim after a powerful dunk. Oh my!  Mo had some powerful slams as well. As you can see, the young men (mostly) ate this up. 

It was a new way to communicate the gospel - the good news to an audience very attracted to the game. Many times we use the arts to "entertain" but we tend to think of them as "sanctified" and "sacred" but in reality the arts are an expression of who we are, how God has gifted us and made us. And in many ways, basketball, played well is an expression of a God-given gift. Our players were learning to worship with all of their being.