Sharing the Gospel through Sports
“Sports is such an open door,” said Andy Beal, Minister, Sports Outreach. “It’s a universal language that has allowed our Recreation Ministry to reach out with the Gospel and plant seeds with a lot of people. It’s not just about X’s and O’s; it’s about reaching out to the city.”
The Recreation Ministry’s past efforts have been more inward, but via the adoption of the “Bellevue Loves Memphis” emphasis, the Ministry has recently placed a stronger focus on outreach by opening its facilities to the community and inviting them to hear the name of Jesus.
From March through August, Bellevue has hosted several tournaments and events for teams and groups throughout the Mid-South, including the Memphis Tigers Baseball Association Banquet, Memphis Special Olympics Basketball Tournament, Memphis City Middle School Baseball/Softball Championship, Game Day Baseball Tournament, Joy Jam Invitational Baseball Tournament, Men’s Invitational Softball Tournament, Cordova SYA Organization Banquet, Cheerleading Clinic, AAU Basketball Tournament, St. Jude Adult Hispanic Soccer Tournament, and a High School Girls’ Soccer Tournament.
One of Bellevue’s gateways into the area sports community is that there is no charge to use the facilities with which the church has been blessed. The only requirement is that the Gospel be shared before each game and at each event. As a result, more than 150 teams have participated in the tournaments, thousands of people have been in attendance, every single person has received the Good News of Jesus Christ, and many have made professions of faith.
The Ministry’s outreach efforts will remain a high priority in the coming months as Bellevue hosts events such as the Family Support Services dinner (October 23), the Camp Challenge for Special Needs Adults (October 7-10), and the Cordova SYA Football Banquet (December 3).
“With the combined vision of Bellevue Loves Memphis and our new mission statement of ‘Love God, Love People, Share Jesus, Make Disciples,’ the Recreation Ministry at Bellevue has been seeking exactly how we can be involved in accomplishing the vision that God has given our church and leadership,” says Andy. “We feel that these new programs and initiatives do just that by reaching out to our community with the love of Jesus Christ through sports and recreation.”
But the Recreation Ministry cannot do it alone. As it continues to extend its reach—both within and without—the need for volunteers increases, especially in regard to front desk workers, coaches, and assistants. Bellevue’s adult and youth sports leagues consist of approximately 30% non-members, so there is an especially vital need for godly coaches. “We are looking for people who are willing to love the kids, love the families, share the Gospel, and do devotionals,” said Andy.
If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities, call the Recreation Ministry office at (901) 347-5285.