monday ruminations

this is the question that many asked me.
and it is a question that i find hard to answer especially to my friends who yet know my God.

my official designation is sports ministry training team under Truth Ministries training team that is part of the board of youth ministry under TRAC (trinity annual conference) the conference of all the english speaking methodist churches in singapore.

what do i actually do?
everyday when i go to office, what do i do, what occupies my time?
when i am out running program, what I actually do.

in short (at least for me...) ;
sports ministry is a means of teaching values and building up character through sports. it is also a means for us to teach others about the christian faith and help those of the faith through sports.

so what does it actually mean in terms of work?

actually this is what i have been trying to define.
and it has been real hard! the meshing of work and passion, the entanglement of friendship and ministry; what am i doing that is work or just my emotional respond to this 'friend'?
the constant struggle is whether I am being honest with what i am doing is work or passion.

i preached not just on sports and christian faith, but also on good values that all should have and how one can do it with sports.
i teach biblical values and truths with sporting illustrations to promote and encourage one to live a life that is righteous and God centered.
i coach athletes to be the best that they can be, and to have goals and reach these goals that they never even dream of.
and in the process show them how a christian athlete can live and how one be more christ like even in the world of sports whether you are a professional or novice.

how i do it...
i coach athletes in the sports of triathlon, they learnt and grow as an athlete but more than that, they mature as men and women who have christian values and compete with those values whether they are a believer or not.
i am the strength and conditioning coach for a sport team in a sport that I have little knowledge of. it is an entry point for chaplaincy/pastoral care with the athletes.
i preached to churches but how sports is worship unto God, and athletes too can present their sporting life as living sacrifice to God.
i help christians who are athletes in their journey of faith, to center their life to God.

undergirding these plans is the vision of the christian coaches in this world will see themselves more than just helping their athletes to be a better but also sharing of their lives that will help others to know God and live for God.

at least at this moment.. these are my understanding of my job and calling...