While most people view sports only as a competitive luxury industry, it is actually a valuable tool for economic development and humanitarian action. It can catalyze human cooperation, peace-building processes, and individual resilience. South Africa, in particular, has a vastly diverse population that is capable of waiving historical divisions to support a favorite sports club or athlete. Due to its potential for entertainment, team-building, and moral development, sports have been recognized as a useful instrument to attract youth and lay the grounds for future gospel engagement. Based on Greenleaf’s cycle of world missions, a Sports Ministry Plan involving youth outreach programs has been developed for South Africa.
Robert Greenleaf’s world mission cycle highlights four critical stages of making disciples of Jesus: pre-evangelism, evangelism, church planting, and leadership development (Greenleaf, 2012). Firstly, pre-evangelism consists of nudging skeptics to curiosity by showing kindness in the name of God through humanitarian aid and youth development programs. Based on this philosophy, the Sports Ministry in South Africa will begin its mission through a sports-based youth development program. While Christianity dominates in the region, it is still primarily a secular state, and thus it is necessary to pave the way with indirect pre-evangelism. Furthermore, participation in sports teams striving towards one goal will encourage “nation-building, social cohesion and social transformation at multiple levels” in post-Apartheid South Africa (Burnett, 2021, p. 345). Through sports, South African children will overcome their cultural differences, work together, and realize that they are all united under Christ.
The target group for this program is young people in middle and high school. This age is particularly important to ministers because youths are still developing their worldviews and searching for trustworthy authority figures outside their immediate family. Parents will be incentivized to have their children participate in this after-school program for psychosocial development and to keep them busy after school. Sports teams will be created for the most popular sports in South Africa: football, rugby, and cricket. They will be based on gender and appropriate age group to ensure all sectors of the youth population are equally represented and encouraged to apply. Practice will occur twice a week with a professional sports minister acting as a coach that will encourage teamwork and cooperation in a Christianly manner.
Furthermore, weekly conferences for team members will be held at the ministry focusing on important subject matters for the youth, such as mental health, relationships, and future job prospects. Professionals and current college students will be invited to give testimonies about how they dealt with these issues and the important role of the Christian community in their lives. The presentations will last for approximately thirty minutes, and then children will have the opportunity to ask questions and mingle between themselves. They will be taught to fulfill their true potential according to the gospel and internalize that the ministry is a community hub that is always there to offer its support and guidance in troubled times.
Once a level of trust has been established between families and the ministry, the stage of evangelism and church planting can begin. An after-school care program will be opened to all youths in middle and high school. Free school pick-up, lunch, and games during breaks will be offered to all participants for a nominal fee to encourage parents. Different courses such as tutoring, art, or music will be offered, and Christian decrees will be included in each curriculum. Students will be encouraged to create art that expresses Christ’s love for humanity and other biblical themes. As per Greenleaf’s recommendations, a mandatory weekly Bible club will also be opened with “step-by-step discipleship” in the form of songs, prayer, and Bible memorization (Greenleaf, 2012, p. 54). Twice a year, concerts, plays, and art shows open to the general public will be organized so parents of current or prospective participants will recognize the value of the ministry’s after-school program. The after-school program will alleviate the burden of care for parents and provide children with an opportunity to learn and play in a welcoming community centered on Christian values.
An important part of Greenleaf’s mission cycle is leadership development. Jesus himself intentionally developed his disciples by dedicating extra time for individual sessions, special field trips, and eventually sending them out to preach the gospel independently (Greenleaf, 2012). Therefore, a Christian Leadership Program will be instituted at the South African ministry once the number of after-school care participants reaches a certain threshold. Every year, five exceptionally gifted and motivated students from each age group will be selected to shadow a particular minister and undergo special learning sessions about the gospel. These students will enjoy certain privileges, organize events, and direct Bible clubs for younger students. These positions will be presented as prestigious, valuable opportunities to improve leadership skills and give back to the community.
In conclusion, the ministry plan for South African youth in middle and high school is based on Greenleaf’s model of world missions. Firstly, establish football, cricket, and rugby teams with an evangelical coach that will unite the children in a Christian manner. Sports is uniquely suited to South Africa because racially diverse individuals learn to work together towards a common goal. Simultaneously, organize weekly conferences on subjects pertaining to teenage health with testimonies from professional and college students to foster a sense of community. Once the ministry gains credibility and trust, start an after-school care program with various courses centered on Christian decrees and a mandatory Bible club. Then, cultivate leadership skills by elevating exceptionally talented students and giving them the prestigious opportunity to receive specialized ministry training.
References
Burnett, C. (2021). Framing a 21st century case for the social value of sport in South Africa. Sport in Society, 24(3), 340-355.
Greenleaf, R. (2012). Why cross-cultural leadership? In J. E. Plueddemann (Ed), Leading across cultures: Effective ministry and mission in the global church (pp. 46-60). InterVarsity Press.