Blog

I'm Jim, and it's my great honour and privilege to serve you through FCA 360 Sports Australia. Our heart as a ministry in sport is to help people like yourself to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ and His church, and to connect with other Christians who are interested in sports. We cater for people at all levels and involvement in sport. What is sport to you? You may be a novice in one sport, and a pro in another. It may be that you are an athlete, or a coach, a parent / carer, mentor, or supporter. Lowrie McCown and Valarie Gin (2003) explain it with the following six categories. Which one/s are you?: SPECTATOR: You are among the millions who watch sport. You may be a casual observer or a passionate follower. I-was-there (!!) the day my beloved Wests Tigers won the 2005 NRL competition, which led to tears and days of celebration – what a distant memory that is now, but we live in hope! NOVICE: Perhaps you are a novice, trying out a new sport? Your skill level is very low, like when learning to drive. Competition isn’t the most important, but the pursuit of a new activity is. Those air swings at golf are all a part of the attraction! LEISURE: As a participant, you are looking for some fitness, fun and friendship. If you are a beginner, you are building your foundation, perhaps becoming more skilful over time. Some 30-year veterans continue to drag their bodies out with other weekend warriors. Winning and losing may be of interest, but won’t make or break you and are soon forgotten. McCown and Gin explain that these three areas don’t involve ‘playing for sheep stations‘. Sport is entertainment and recreational. One’s identity is formed outside of sport. However, the next level of involvement is a significant shift, where Sport is Life: it is about achievement, and identity is shaped and sustained through continued success. I add that these are generalisations, and do not reflect those who have been able to effectively integrate their Christian faith into their world of sport. That’s where we come in – helping you to learn how to honour your athletic ambition while knowing that the real game is glorifying God. In relative terms of importance, the Apostle Paul wrote: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 McCown and Gin call that next level the player, elite and high-profile participants. How does identity and sport work for them? PLAYER: You could be like me, a ‘player’ who takes sport seriously and plays to win, but sport was never going to be my day job, despite some fleeting moments of brilliance and childhood hopes to the contrary! You train hard, make sacrifices, what I call ’serious mediocrity’. ELITE: A small percentage compete at a high-level in amateur or professional sport, heading towards the goal of your respective sporting pathway. A performance pathway such as a state or national competitor or representative, or an Olympian or pro circuit player. HIGH PROFILE: Very few become household names, national icons or even heroes to a generation. Athletes like Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Nathan Cleary, and his special friend, Mary Fowler. Their every error and expression are scrutinised. They live life under the spotlight as public property, devoted to and despised in equal measure. It is an ‘unreal’ life.’ No matter where you are at, we at FCA hope to be an encouragement and support to you in coming to know Christ and grow in Him, while you engage in your world of sport. We want to help you build your identity based on the everlasting relationship with Christ, while still being engaged with your sport at whatever level you are at. “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2  Playing for more, Jim Dayhew Executive Director Reference: McCown., L, and Gin, V., Focus on Sport in Ministry. 360 Sports: Marrietta, Georgia.