This year being Leap Year, we had “one more day” to have influence, yet every one of us has influence each day. And here is the thing about the impact we have on others:
It is a positive impact, or
It is a negative impact.
You never meet someone, or listen to someone speak, or observe someone’s actions and have no opinion at all. We all recognize a positive or negative impact, every time. That is a powerful statement if you think about it. Everything you do today, everything you say today, every expression you make, even every thought you have, generates a positive or negative feeling.
Watch this short video about college athletes answering a reporter’s question about their national championship: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bdkJpP18gcQ
The video is titled: “Girl’s answers SHOCKS ESPN reporter.” When you watched this video, you had either a positive response to it, or a not so positive response to it. In a sports ministry position, it hurts to see the title say the reporter was “shocked”, because the implication is that believing in God, and recognizing that God gives us all we have, is a shocking statement. But it is true, look at some of these statistics below about sports & religion:
- Over 95% of Americans are influenced by sports
- 60 million kids 18 and under are involved in sports
- 85% of Christians come to Christ before age 18
- 70% will drop out of sports by the age of 13
- ONLY 4% (68 million) of people 25 years & younger align themselves with the gospel or a Christan worldview.
- Almost 70% of male and female athletes do not live with both parents so the influence and impact of a Godly coach can be transformational in the life of a young person.
Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”
Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a faithful partner of The Bolick Foundation.