Coaches, This coming week, you have the incredible opportunity to be part of eternity. During your practice devotional time, you will be sharing the Gospel message with your players. This is the MOST important message you will share with them this season and your preparation for this time is critical. I am going to ask you to actively participate not only in sharing this message with your team but to also be part of the follow up process as we minister to our kids and their families this season. Enclosed you will find instructions and curriculum on what I am expecting you to do this next week and challenge you to not take this responsibility lightly. I know that everyone is busy and that you are being asked to do many things already, but this responsibility is the only reason that LP Sports exists to share the love of Christ with our kids and their families. I am challenging you to make certain you are completely prepared for this time with your team by reviewing the enclosed material, watching the short video of Pastor Steve available on our website, and praying for your kids as they prepare to hear the message. My expectations are that: You share the Gospel message with your team as indicated in the enclosed materials. You talk with your players and their parents regarding any decision that any player makes. You provide us with an email with the name of any child who may have a) prayed to receive Christ, b) has more questions about salvation or baptism, or c) would like to be baptized. Please send this email to us asap at sports@lakeointe.org so we can begin the follow up process for these kids. If you have players that have questions, we will have our LP Sports Leadership Team available at all practices for you to send a child to for additional counseling. Our Leadership Team will also be available, if needed, to take your practice for a few minutes while you answer any questions with the child as their coach. I realize that some of your teams may not be ready to fully understand the Gospel message and that s ok. I still expect you to share the message with them. I also realize that some of your players maybe all of them have already accepted Christ and been baptized. That s ok too. In that case, use this as a teaching time and teach them how to use the materials provided to share the Gospel with others. Yes, I am asking a lot more of you this season in this area but I am also committing to provide better follow-up for our players and to provide better curriculum and support for you as well. I know that some of you may feel uncomfortable or not equipped to effectively share the Gospel in a group setting. If so, please let me know and I will have someone at your practice to assist you. As I said at coaches training, our purpose is to share the love of Christ with our kids and their families. This week is where much of it starts. Many of your kids will not hear this message anywhere else and we MUST take advantage of every chance we have to share the Message. We have a great opportunity as well as a great responsibility to our kids to clearly proclaim the message of Christ. What an exciting time next week will be for everyone in LP Sports. In Him, Brad
Coaches Instructions: By using this evangelism tool, you will speak with the players on your team(s) about trusting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Prior to speaking with your team, please view the video found at lpsports.com (Links/Coaches Corner/Session 4video) so you are fully prepared to share this amazing story. In this video, Pastor Steve explains how to walk a child through the illustrations found in this document. Although the video is directed towards parents who would be sharing this information with their own children, Steve s explanation is applicable to you as well. You have been provided the enclosed document for you to use as you share the story with your team. Carefully walk through each of the numbered panels in order, giving each child plenty of time to ask questions. Use the template on panel 6 to draw the bridge illustration yourself as you explain it to your team. If a child is ready to receive Christ as his or her Lord and Savior, he or she should be able to draw the illustration and explain each step to you. This may be done following your presentation or at a later time, whichever is appropriate for the child. It is important to remember that this is a decision made with both the head and the heart the child should not only have a full intellectual understanding of salvation, but also the emotional awareness necessary to make this life-changing decision. Every child grows in his or her understanding of salvation at a different pace and it is important to not rush a child into a decision until he or she is spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally ready for this responsibility. After you have shared the Gospel presentation with your team, invite all of the players to join you silently in the sinner s prayer, located on panel 7. Tell them that if anyone wants to ask Jesus to be Lord of their life to repeat the words you say silently to Him. After the prayer, tell your players that if anyone prayed the prayer with you that you want to speak with them individually before they leave practice that night. Also, share with your team about the next step after receiving Christ being baptism. Several of your players may have already received Christ but have not yet been baptized. If this is the case, please email their name to us with that information at sports@lakepointe.org. You may also ask who has already been baptized or if they are still thinking about the decision. Make it a point to talk with each of your players before they leave and make sure you know what decision, if any, they made during your devotional time. Some may approach you and say that they prayed the prayer. Spend a few minutes talking with them about that and also share that information with their parent before they leave the practice field. If a child indicated that he or she prayed to receive Christ or is interested in baptism, please make sure you send us an email with their name and the decision they made and please also share that information with the parent before they leave practice. It is very important that we receive this information as soon as possible so we can begin the follow up process with your player and his or her family. Should you, the player, or his or her parents have any questions, please direct them to our office. They can reach Brad at 469-698-2291 or sports@lakepointe.org.
OK, I read all this but now what do I do? PRAY o For your kids who have not heard the Gospel message before. o For your kids who have heard the message but not yet responded to it. o For your kids who have responded to the message that they may continue to grow in their faith. o For you to be completely prepared spiritually, emotionally, and physically for this special time. o That your words will be clear to your players. o That God will work in His mighty way during this special devotional time. BEFORE PRACTICE o View the video of Pastor Steve BEFORE going to practice. o Become familiar with the materials provided for you and memorize Romans 6:23 so you can effectively teach the verse and the lesson. AT PRACTICE o Share the Gospel presentation using Romans 6:23 and the handout you received in your packet. o At the close of your time, lead all players in the sinner s prayer. o After the prayer, ask those who prayed that prayer or who have questions about the prayer to let you know before they leave. It s ok for them to tell you right then, but some may prefer to share this decision with you individually. o Share about baptism being the next step after salvation. o Ask if there are those who have asked Jesus to be Lord and Savior but not been baptized. If so, please be sure to let us know who is interested in taking that next step. BEFORE YOU LEAVE o If any child indicated an interest in salvation or baptism, please send us an email with their name and that decision. o Tell the parent BEFORE they leave that night that you and the child have talked about their interest/decision. o Send us an email BEFORE you leave the field.