After coaching 7 seasons of baseball, I've come to this conclusion about myself - I'm a better leader and pastor than I am a sports coach. It's not so much the fundamentals of the game (although I have much to learn there too), but the ability to manage my competitive spirit and honor Jesus at the same time. Sounds simple, but Romans 7 rings truer than I care to admit. When I stay tuned into what God is doing around me, crazy things happen. There are a number of people walking with Jesus now because of intentional outreach through the sports teams we have been part of. However, I can also endanger ministry opportunities when walking in the flesh (I'm sure there are some stories here too). It's time for me to operate out of my strengths. Thus, the birth of the new 3:23 Baseball Club. While many churches tend to condemn families for being too involved with sports, Bonnie and I have always seen it as a harvest field for adding people to the church and the kingdom of God. I could list a number of families added to the church and/or the kingdom of God through the teams we are involved with, but that would be meddling. The potential for Christian families involved in youth sports to become more intentional and reach out to those around them is unlimited! And yes, I agree it can all get fanatical and overboard, which is all the more why we need to be missionaries to the youth sports world where countless relationships, hours, and dollars are spent every year.
So what is 3:23? A new 11 & under baseball team with a vision and purpose based on Col 3:23.
3:23 Baseball
It’s our desire to assemble a group of kids that love the game of baseball, have the potential to play at a competitive level, and would enjoy the experience of being on a unique select baseball team. What makes 3:23 unique are the following priorities in order:
1. Character Formation
We care more about shaping a kid’s values and pointing him to Christ than we do about winning baseball tournaments. We accomplish this by:
o “First Thing First” values impartation at practices/games (see attached sample)
o Every kid receives a 3:23 Bible with their name & number engraved
o Community service as a team 4-6 times per season
2. Player/Skill Development
We are committed to helping every player develop at 2 or 3 positions best suited for them on this team. We accomplish this by:
o Contracting with local professional baseball instructors for pitching/catching, hitting, fielding lessons throughout the season
3. Team/Family Dynamics
Relationships are the driving force behind the time, energy and resources given to this team. We accomplish this by:
o Doing life together beyond the ball field
o Creating a family friendly environment for players/siblings
o Providing a team conduct code we all agree to as players/parents
4. Competitive Progression
If we honor and keep the first three values, we are confident the wins will fall into place.
We are not better than anyone else in any way - just a new team with a specific vision. As we share the vision with area high school and college coaches, there is intrigue and incredible support. Others are stepping up big financially because people respond to vision. It's a honor and privilege to build something bigger than ourselves. While there is still much work to be done, it's exciting to think about the impact we can have on kids' lives. We look forward to joining a strong field of existing teams and friends to enjoy God and the game of baseball. Ironically, what started as a single team has birthed a much bigger vision for 3:23 Ministries, Inc., a new non-profit ministry designed to support and impact competitive youth sports in the Midland/Odessa communities. More about this in the next post! Thank you Lord for bringing us and the Robertsons together for such a time as this!
