How We Do Things…More or Less!
“I strive to maintain a ministry of personal presence. Making myself accessible to student-athletes; embedding myself into team workouts and competition; supporting and serving the official coaching staff. Letting these student-athletes – sons and daughters – know they are not alone!”
– Dr. McNeal
Who Do We Serve and Why?
WHO? Student-Athletes
Student-Athletes: College or university student-athletes make up some of the largest affinity groups on their campuses. They come from all walks of life with each bringing their own set of assumptions, expectations, and stresses. Each student-athlete is someone’s son, daughter, brother, or sister. In short, a student-athlete is a part of a larger whole, placed into college or university care for a season.
pc: T. Talley
“Sports people live in a world that is anxiety and performance driven. Performance is what defines them, and their self-esteem is obtained through their success or failure. Winning is what matters and is often the only focus and goal. Their worth is oftentimes based on their achievements and the more they succeed / achieve the more worthy they are in their own eyes and in the eyes of outsiders, fans, family, team members, other sports people and the media.”
– Profile of a Sports Person. Global Sports Chaplaincy.
WHY?
Each student-athlete is created in the image of God thus ministry worthy. Each student-athlete is worth the investment of time, attention and deep sports mentoring necessary TO EXPERIENCE God in a personal way as an ongoing life-changing response to the gospel of Jesus Christ; others (students, faculty, coaches, community) as fellow image bearers of God worthy of reciprocal love and blessing; and self as being in Christ, seeking to understand and cultivate one’s heart, soul, mind and strength.
WHO? Affinity Coaches, Staff, Athletic Trainers
Affinity Coach, Staff and Athletic Trainers: Each student-athlete falls under the watchful care of his or her Affinity Coach (head coach) and support staff including assistant coaches, graduate assistants and athletic trainers. Affinity Coaches and support staff are critical in undergirding the whole person development model of ministry and, with help from a WPDSports mentor or associate, define student-athlete ministry interest and leadership.
WHY?
Each Affinity Coach, support staff and athletic trainer are created in the image of God thus ministry worthy. Each Affinity Coach and support staff are worth the investment of time, attention and deep sports mentoring necessary TO EXPERIENCE: God in a personal way as an ongoing life-changing response to the gospel of Jesus Christ; others (students, faculty, coaches, community) as fellow image bearers of God worthy of reciprocal love and blessing; self as being in Christ, seeking to understand and cultivate one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength; and support team policies and goals through practical, helpful presence during practice and competition.
How Do We Serve?
Whole Person Development Components (E. Gomes, used by permission)
WPDSports utilizes a whole person development or holistic ministry and small group approach that undergirds the whole person, including, but not limited to, athletic, social, academic, and spiritual (faith) well-being. Like four wheels on a car each wheel must be properly maintained lest one goes low and throws off the entire car (student-athlete).
- Athletically – Prepare physically and mentally to compete in competition.
- Academically – Complete an education for life after athletics.
- Socially – Encourage positive interaction with fellow students, faculty, and community.
- Spiritually – Foster spiritual growth through biblical truths, disciplines, and character development.
Whole Person Development
WPDSports embraces the biblical directive to love God, others, and self with all your: HEART, MIND, SOUL AND STRENGTH (Mark 12:30-31).
Jesus said the essence of life is to love God, others, and self with all your:
- HEART – Thinking, feeling and willing. Connecting with others and self.
- MIND – Reason. Increase knowledge and understanding about God, others and self.
- SOUL – Immaterial part of our being. Giving ourselves silence and stillness. Being in-step with the Spirit.
- STRENGTH – How we use our abilities and powers. Exercise, training, work.
Biblically, student-athletes are holistic bound together. But most of the time they tend to operate in certain areas while letting the other areas fall into the shadows. WPDSports, with the help of the Spirit, seek to invade the shadows!
Meet Pneuman, WPDSports‘ “soul” mascot. Pneuma (πνεῦμα) is an ancient Greek word for breath,” and in a religious context for “spirit” or soul.” Created by Beta WPDer, Carter “TAOG” Adams.
Who Is a Sports Mentor?
A strategic position within WPDSports is the Sports Mentor – a leader who specifically facilitates holistic ministry for the sake of student-athletes.
A Sports Mentor and associates must fully engage the sport, its culture, and all those who participate in it to be an effective and transformational force in student-athletes’ lives.
A Sports Mentor and associates will approach life and faith matters with a long-term focus, committed to whole person development. A Sports Mentor and associates share their lives with the student-athletes. WPDSports ministry associates may be vetted and trained college-university volunteers/graduate students who have a deep interest in changing the trajectory of student-athlete lives for the glory of His Kingdom.
Dr. M. Chief Sports Mentor.
Mixing it up with the
student-athletes.
pc: T. Talley
Do We Know Our Limits?
WPDSports does not offer, nor claims to provide, psychological or psychiatric therapy. PARTICIPATION IN A GROUP EXPERIENCE IS NOT TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR THERAPY OR COUNSELING BY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER, OR OTHERWISE QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL. Participation in a group or experience offered by WPDSports is optional and does not create any protected privilege, including, but not limited to, the psychiatrist-patient, therapist-client, or clergy-penitent privileges. WPDSports does not guarantee results from group experiences, and any prior results achieved in previous group experiences, whether offered by WPDSports or another entity, should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future results.