The Bible reveals that leadership shapes the heart, mind, and actions of entire generations. The book of Judges reveals the complex and dynamic interrelationship between our collective human nature with leadership and God’s divine purpose. It is with this wide-angled perspective that I would like to discuss the ministry of Saturday Sports and its crucial role in the leadership of the Next-generation.

The bible records in Judges 2:6-9 that Joshua, who succeeded Moses as the leader of the nation of Israel, died and was buried in the land of his inheritance. We can see that Joshua was an influential leader because the Bible says that his people served the Lord throughout his lifetime. But then we come to the following verse:

All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.

Judges 2:10 NASB

If you will allow me some creative license, I would like to frame our discussion from this text. Saturday Sports has a crucial influence on the leadership of the next generation.

All the previous generation of Saturday Sports servants and leaders were called to care and minister to their families, and in other areas of service appointed to them by the Heavenly Father; and there arose another generation of servants, leaders and elders in the church after them who did not know the power of the Lord’s work which He had done for Fresno through Saturday Sports.

Every Neighborhood Partnership is doing some amazing Kingdom work across our great city. Work that today draws the attention of leaders and influencing communities from across the Central Valley. Whether it’s the impact we are having on literacy by third grade through Literacy Mentoring, the deepening impact we are having in local neighborhoods through Neighborhood Development, or the influence we are having on leaders, organizations, and institutions through our City-wide Equipping initiatives, it all started with Saturday Sports.

Saturday Sports is the genesis of all that is currently the work of ENP across our city. On a Saturday in September 2002, a group of church volunteers gathered at a few elementary schools to foster loving relationships with kids through sports, games, and fun. This September marked the seventeenth anniversary of the start of this simple ministry.

Saturday Sports HIStory

My prayer for the 2019-2020 school year is to document the HIStory of Saturday Sports. I would like to record the life stories of the church, community partners, servant leaders, students and families whose lives have been touched by this simple but powerful ministry.

Would you be willing to sit and share with me your story in HIStory of Saturday Sports? That the Generations to come will know the power of the Lord’s work which He has done and will continue to do in Fresno through Saturday Sports.

If you would be willing to share your story please contact me at brian@everyneighorhood.org or you can call me directly at (559) 232-672.

Blessings,
Brian

Next Time: My story in HIStory