Update: Women's Soccer: Sports Ministry Trip to Ethiopia
Check Out the Video: Click
Here
TRIP UPDATES
Bahamas 2006
(Track and Field)
Nicaragua 2005 (volleyball)
Czech Republic 2005 (men's and women's
basketball, men's soccer)
Czech Republic 2004 (women's
basketball)
What is Sports
Ministry?
Sports Ministry is
using athletics and recreation to be a witness for Jesus Christ.
We are called by God to cultivate the gifts, abilities, and
talents that He bestows (Ephesians 4:16). The court, the field,
the track becomes an "altar" for the athlete to offer his or her
talent as an expression of worship. Just as a musician has the
capacity to offer each note heavenward in worship of God, the
athlete, likewise, offers each maneuver and technical skill
heavenward as their "note" of praise and thanksgiving.
Sports Ministry at
Houghton
The high visibility
of athletics within most cultures provides a unique avenue of
ministry and witness for the Christian athlete. At Houghton
College, we intentionally encourage our athletes to be effective
witnesses to:
-
those we play beside
(the development of "team" and mutual edification),
-
those we play in
front of (spectators, officials), and
-
those we play against
(our opponents).
Though imperfect
vessels, we nonetheless desire to offer our athletic talents for
the service of God's Kingdom and to the glory of His name.
Houghton teams and athletes are dedicated to the development and
strengthening of athletic ministries. Partnerships are becoming
established between the athletic department and Global Partners
of The Wesleyan Church, parachurch sports ministries, and local
churches. It is our desire to use sports as a culturally
relevant tool for evangelism/discipleship and as a means of
expressing our heartfelt worship.
At Home and Around
the World
An athletic
department objective is to provide at least one international
sports ministry opportunity during a student-athlete's tenure at
Houghton. Competing against high-level athletes, working
alongside full-time missionaries, building relationships with
people from another culture are all components of the
international sports ministry trips.
Locally,
student-athletes are clinic and camp instructors for children
and teens. A newly emerging sports ministry club will provide
students additional opportunities. Houghton athletics are meant
to be enjoyed to the fullest, building lasting relationships,
and recognizing our talents as God-given and fitting for His
plans and purposes.
Where Have
Houghton Teams Been?
Houghton teams have
traveled to play and share Christ's love around the world.
|
Men's Basketball
Czech Republic (2000,
2001, 2005, 2006)
Guatemala (2003)
Women's Basketball
Czech Republic
(1998-2006)
Cross Country & Track
Bahamas (2006)
United States service
trips
(Spring Break 2001,
2002)
Men's Soccer
Czech Republic (2005)
Northern Ireland (2002)
Women's Soccer
Australia (1998)
Ethiopia (2001, 2005-2006)
Volleyball
Nicaragua (2005)
Honduras (2000)
High School Boys'
Basketball
(led by Houghton
coaches)
Russia (2002)
High School Girls'
Basketball
(led by Houghton
coaches)
Russia (2003)
Father-Son
Basketball
Russia (2004)
|
"Sports
ministry is the integration of my faith in Jesus Christ
within the context of sport. As a Coach, I desire to
instill to my student-athletes the concept of skill
development and the harmony of team-play as an expression
of individual and corporate worship. Sport also provides
a natural means to promote the building of relationships
which in turn can be used for evangelism, discipleship and
lifelong fellowship. Houghton has a unique vision and
opportunity to play a key role in redeeming sports as an
effective ministry tool and using it as an agent of change
for the sake of the Kingdom of God."
-- David
Lewis
head
women's soccer coach
|
In recent years,
Houghton coaches and athletes have traveled on short-term sports
ministry trips as individuals and with organizations such as
Athletes in Action, Missionary Athletes International, and Push
the Rock to Jordan, Russia, South Africa, Japan, Germany, Haiti,
Puerto Rico, Mexico, Sweden, Austria, England, France, the
Philippines, and China.
Champions of Character
A natural outflow of Houghton's efforts in sports ministry has
been the NAIA's Champions of Character Initiative, a program
that aims to
create
an environment in which every NAIA student-athlete, coach,
official and spectator is committed to the true spirit of
competition through respect, integrity, responsibility,
servant leadership, and sportsmanship.
In each of the
program's first three years, Houghton has been recognized as a
Champions of Character Institution,
for promoting
or implementing activities related to the five core character
values of the initiative.
Read more about the
Champions of Character program
Related Links
January 22, 2007
Track Team
Short-term ministry in
Eleuthera, Bahamas
February 20, 2006
Track Team Meets
Needs of Children in Bahamas
April 5, 2005
Lewis
Receives Region Coach of Character Award
February 25, 2005
Houghton,
NAIA Tackle Character Issues in Sport
January 11, 2005
Athletic
Department Announces Online Newsletter
October 26, 2004
Houghton
Named an Institution of Character
May 14, 2004
Former
NFL Quarterback Encourages Youth to Make a Difference
April 26, 2004
Group
of Fathers and Sons Participate in Trip to Russia
April 13, 2004
Missions-Minded Student-Athletes Sweep College-Wide
Essay-Contest
March 23, 2004
Athletes Get Down and Dirty to Serve
March 23, 2004
Athletes Use Soccer to Reach out to Area Children
November 4, 2003
Basketball Programs Host Coaches Clinic
July 24, 2003
First-ever Basketball Team Camp a Success
July 11, 2003
Basketball Camp Participation on the Rise
May 28, 2003
Using Basketball to Build Relationships in Russia
December 2, 2002
Lord to Head WWM Sports Ministry Program
September 26, 2002
Men's Soccer Player Featured on ESPN Website
August 26, 2002
Men's Soccer Team Training in Ireland
May 1, 2002
Basketball is More Than a Game for Local High Schoolers
"Sports
ministry is a concept which enables us as athletes and
teams to use our respective sport as a platform for
representing Christ. Sports provides a means of connection
and identification with opponents and local and
global community in which we have an opportunity to
share Christ through our words and actions."
-- Matt
Webb
head men's
soccer coach
|