SPORTS CHAPLAINCY
We’ve been here before haven’t we?
By "we", I mean "humanity"! Political and economic events, contagion and
plagues have affected the human race and by association have affected sports at
cataclysmal levels - Covid-19, WW2 and WW1, the Spanish Flu, Constantine’s
decree and more. Imagine being an athlete who competed and lived from the four
major Greek Games, (the most well-known being the Olympics with a tradition of
over one thousand years). Imagine that long tradition, livelihood and identity
ripped away because of the decree of Caesar! We have been here before.
Sports Chaplaincy can be best
described as "pastoral and spiritual care to sports people". At a time when
emotional, mental and spiritual well-being of athletes is at an extreme low,
sports chaplaincy has been having the greatest significance and demand. Similar
to Jesus’ approach during the time He walked on earth, we care for the felt
needs first and deeper spiritual needs second. We use the expression care
in order to share. Our vision is to see a Christian sports chaplain serving
wherever sports is played.
During the recent Tokyo Olympics, a
number of our chaplains from around the world have been working closely with
athletes, through one on one and small group devotional and personal meetings prior
to and after the Olympics. During the Olympics, times of prayer, biblical input
and simply being a listening ear was extra important for the well-being of
athletes; athletes who were under pressure to compete in unique and
extreme circumstances, such as the fear of getting sick and also being isolated.
Ross and Roula’s personal ministry during this time was in serving some
athletes and coaches and especially in training and supporting sports chaplains
who were doing the same during these unique times. Thank you for your prayers
that continue to carry us.
Ross and Roula Georgiou
Campus Crusade for Christ, Germany
For additional reading: College athletes see overlap between faith, sport - Elon News Network https://www.elonnewsnetwork.com
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PRAYER & PRAISE - November 17-23, 2021
11/17 Paul & Karan
DaviS
TEAM,
France
Praise
the Lord the new coaching/mentoring ministry they planned to launch in 2020 is
beginning to take off. These coaching/mentoring
opportunities, coupled with their involvement in various local ministries
(Gospel choir, English conversation class, small group Bible studies, etc.)
have propelled them closer to what they had hoped to see before Covid-19.
11/18
RICK & MARY LYNN ATHERTON
Campus
Crusade for Christ, South Africa
Pray
as Rick and Mary Lynn fly into Atlanta today to begin their furlough in the US through
March 1. They will then drive down to Laura's home in Tampa to take care of
grandkids while school is out before Thanksgiving. Pray they will make wonderful
memories together.
11/19
Stephen
Mcconnel
Wycliffe Bible Translators, USA
Please pray that Bloom 5.0 will be released soon,
and that Bloom 5.1 will be ready for beta testing.
11/20
Gary &
Esther Smith
Ethnos360, Papua New Guinea
Pray
for Gary in his leadership responsibilities: teaching modules on language and
culture, and another on Teamwork, along
with field leadership meetings. Pray for Esther as home school coordinator. Pray
for the new E2 families to get well equipped to plant churches around PNG.
Wycliffe Bible Translators, Papua New Guinea
Pray for her international travel details
for her return to Papua New Guinea in December! She is very grateful for the
prayers and help she has received to meet her Wycliffe ministry budget.
11/22
DALE & CAROLE Hoskins
Wycliffe
Bible Translators, USA/Africa
Dale
shared that he is enjoying getting to know the eight new CiTs
(consultants-in-training) that he will be mentoring over the next three years,
as they go through their CiT process. Please pray for Dale in Kenya working
with the people group until he returns November 23. (Carole joined Dale for the
first couple of weeks, which was a blessing.) Please pray especially as they
deal with the heat in the upper 90’s most of the time, as Kenya’s summer months
are approaching.
11/23
Brandy Ingle
Wycliffe
Bible Translators, USA
Praise God that He
has sent new and returning missionaries to Papua New Guinea
at the time He ordained to fill needs this year. He is always
faithful. Pray that Brandy can sell her house in PNG soon, so she can begin her
new assignment with Wycliffe. There is a family interested in it. She must also
meet the $1,100/month gap in her ministry budget before she can begin her new
work.
“Therefore, my
beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, knowing that your toil is not in
vain in the Lord.” I Corinthians 15:58 (NASB)
Please note the monthly Prayer & Praise Calendar is also available on fba.org/globalmissions
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Thank you for your faithful prayers for our Faith Promise
Missionaries each week. If you're interested in knowing more about
one of the missionaries you have prayed for, we have a program called MAP
(Missionary Adoption Program) where we match church members with a missionary
serving in an area of the world, or in a field of ministry, that is of
particular interest to you for the purpose of praying for and encouraging that
missionary. Interested? Find out more at https://www.fba.org/global-missions/missionary-adoption-program
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