• Discussion Forum

  Describe, in your own words, the importance of building meaningful relationships with the athletes you serve/plan to serve. How might your ministry look different without solid, meaningful relationships?

  Posted by info on 09/20/2022 at 15:46

  Johnson Onyedinma Ndubuisi replied 2 weeks, 5 days ago 22 Members · 22 Replies

  • SM102-01
• 22 Replies

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  Johnson Onyedinma Ndubuisi

  Member

  02/04/2025 at 00:48

  Building meaningful relationships with athletes is really important because it helps create trust and support. When athletes feel valued and connected, they’re more likely to talk about their struggles and experiences. This allows us to help them better in their personal and spiritual lives.

  If we don’t have solid relationships, our ministry could feel empty and not as helpful. Athletes might feel alone, and we might miss their needs. Without that connection, they might not pay attention to what we say or the support we offer. In the end, meaningful relationships turn our ministry into a journey together, making a community where athletes feel cared for and encouraged.

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  Rebeca Gore

  Member

  12/29/2024 at 18:51

  It looks like connecting with them in different ways, caring for them and inviting them into community. It can look different without solid relationships because you won’t consistently be giving them something different than what the world has to offer.

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  Jared Farlow

  Member

  11/11/2024 at 13:06

  nobody cares what you know until they know that you care. care for them, build that trust. keep that trust be being consistent.

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  Gigi Williams

  Member

  10/14/2024 at 20:14

  Building meaningful relationships with the athletes you serve is essential because it creates a foundation of trust, respect, and understanding. When athletes feel genuinely cared for and supported, they are more likely to open up, listen to guidance, and engage in their spiritual growth. These relationships allow for deeper conversations, personalized mentorship, and opportunities to model Christ-like behavior in ways that resonate with them on a personal level.

  Without solid, meaningful relationships, ministry might feel more transactional or impersonal. Athletes may be less willing to participate, share their struggles, or take spiritual matters seriously if they don’t feel a genuine connection. The ministry would lack the depth needed for long-term impact, and it would be harder to build the trust necessary to influence their lives beyond the sport. Relationships are the key to creating a safe, supportive environment where athletes can grow both spiritually and personally.

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  Michael Clowney

  Member

  06/23/2024 at 00:11

  Solid relationships are a game changer. They supercharge the minister by wrapping it with trust.

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• Discussion Forum

  Do any of the five “C’s” discussed in this lesson stand out to you as an opportunity for improvement in your ministry? What changes will you make to improve in this area of relationship-building? Be specific.

  Posted by info on 09/20/2022 at 15:46

  Gigi Williams replied 4 months, 1 week ago 12 Members · 13 Replies

  • SM102-01
• 13 Replies

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  Gigi Williams

  Member

  10/14/2024 at 20:21

  One of the five “C’s” discussed in this lesson that stands out as an opportunity for improvement in my ministry, and could be a valuable step toward stronger relationships is communication. Communication is an area for improvement, that I can focus on being more intentional with both verbal and non-verbal communication, ensuring that athletes feel heard and understood. This could mean setting aside time for more one-on-one conversations or being more proactive in asking about their lives outside of sports.

  To improve in this area, I could set a goal to regularly check in with each athlete, not just about their performance, but about their personal struggles, joys, and spiritual questions. I might schedule short coffee chats or send encouraging messages during the week to demonstrate consistent care and presence. Additionally, learning and adapting my communication style to fit the athlete’s needs (e.g., text, in-person, etc.) could enhance relationship-building.

  By being more intentional in communication, athletes are more likely to feel valued, deepening my ministry’s impact.

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  Michael Clowney

  Member

  06/23/2024 at 00:12

  Common ground. Something I work at naturally but probably didn’t realize the importance of it.

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  Rafael Infante

  Member

  03/03/2024 at 21:01

  The C that stands out to me the most is Community. I mostly leave this up to God to cultivate community with the people he calls. Creating a community is something new to me other than the notion of leading a congregation. However, again I believe that a minister should expect God to bring the people together as a community over time but their is nothing wrong in hoping and praying that a community of believers is formed.

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  David Kew

  Member

  02/14/2024 at 09:56

  Common ground is my C. I think I would study each athlete by going to their games. Next, I would try to be available to meet a need. Then, I would make myself available after both practices and games to just listen and be a listening board. Then, I would find a way to share the Gospel with them.

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  CHIA CHIN MING

  Member

  08/31/2023 at 02:20

  What stands out to me is the first “C” common
  ground. Most of the time, I tend to overlook the common ground that I can
  connect with them. I have assumed in the past that the sport that we play is
  the common ground for us. Far from it, I should be looking for what they care
  about after the game, what they are curious about, and the ways of
  communicating.

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