Taking the Plunge
Beyond the Game: Growing in Christ Through Sports Ministry
More Than a Moment: Making Disciples Through Sport
THE PATHWAY TO IMPACT A summary of my address at the IMPACT Dinner, 24 March, 2025 I - Identity M - Motive P - Platform A - Availability C - Credibility T - Testimony IDENTITY Everything in our lives is built or erodes based on our sense of identity, how we see ourselves. Everything starts with identity. Everything rises and falls based on our experience of unconditional love. I was building my entire identity and purpose on being a rich and famous footballer. Over 20% of young athletes in some surveys have revealed a mental health battle, more than likely from the issue of trying to achieve a performance-based identity. To have IMPACT, we have to operate from our true self, our true identity. We need to flip the narrative from seeking a performance-based identity to seeking an identity-based performance. The basis of who we are, what we do, and why we do it is based on our identity which flows from being in Christ. "To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." John 1:13-14 MOTIVE Our true identity is the pathway to discovering our purpose, the why or MOTIVE in our heart. The Bible mentions our ‘heart’ over 800 times. The motive in my heart was for gratifying self and the pursuit of fame & fortune. Only when I realised God created me on purpose for His purpose did I understand the higher purpose that God had for me in sport. Our MOTIVE, our purpose or WHY for doing what we do in and through sport changes dramatically when it goes from focus on SELF to focus on purpose beyond self, God’s purpose or His heart for us in sport. "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" Mark 8:34-37 PLATFORM The biggest defining moment of my faith journey came when I found myself in a mini depression, fearful of losing my football career. God rescued me from this horrible time through 2 amazing people, my wife Linda and football club Chaplain Dean Davis. I came out of this battle knowing that God was setting a platform for me to share his love and good news. 7 years later I won the Norm Smith Medal when our team won the AFL premiership and I was able to thank Jesus for his saving grace in my life. "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 AVAILABILITY When we understand the platform God gives us for IMPACT, we become available to God to minister through and to others. You see, God meets us right where we are at, he knows our failures and flaws, but he comes with unconditional love to welcome us, value us, rescue us and raise us up. There is such a harvest waiting for us in sport. These days I realise the ability to be available to people allows us to build relationship and trust. "After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. "Luke 10:1-2 CREDIBILITY When we make ourselves consistently available, we build CREDIBILITY, we build trust that we are there for others in all circumstances. Deep relationships open hearts to vulnerability and deep sharing. God is there for us on the mountains and in the valleys. He turns up so we should turn up! "Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well; Surely you remember our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you." 1 Thessalonians 2:8-9 TESTIMONY Finally, when we build credibility with people, God opens the doors of their hearts to hear our testimony of His goodness. His unconditional love His forgiveness His freedom His Glory "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 We can have significant IMPACT when we follow the I.M.P.A.C.T pathway. Identity Motive Platform Availability Credibility Testimony Let’s Go team FCA 360 Sports.
I'm Jim, and it's my great honour and privilege to serve you through FCA 360 Sports Australia. Our heart as a ministry in sport is to help people like yourself to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ and His church, and to connect with other Christians who are interested in sports. We cater for people at all levels and involvement in sport. What is sport to you? You may be a novice in one sport, and a pro in another. It may be that you are an athlete, or a coach, a parent / carer, mentor, or supporter. Lowrie McCown and Valarie Gin (2003) explain it with the following six categories. Which one/s are you?: SPECTATOR: You are among the millions who watch sport. You may be a casual observer or a passionate follower. I-was-there (!!) the day my beloved Wests Tigers won the 2005 NRL competition, which led to tears and days of celebration – what a distant memory that is now, but we live in hope! NOVICE: Perhaps you are a novice, trying out a new sport? Your skill level is very low, like when learning to drive. Competition isn’t the most important, but the pursuit of a new activity is. Those air swings at golf are all a part of the attraction! LEISURE: As a participant, you are looking for some fitness, fun and friendship. If you are a beginner, you are building your foundation, perhaps becoming more skilful over time. Some 30-year veterans continue to drag their bodies out with other weekend warriors. Winning and losing may be of interest, but won’t make or break you and are soon forgotten. McCown and Gin explain that these three areas don’t involve ‘playing for sheep stations‘. Sport is entertainment and recreational. One’s identity is formed outside of sport. However, the next level of involvement is a significant shift, where Sport is Life: it is about achievement, and identity is shaped and sustained through continued success. I add that these are generalisations, and do not reflect those who have been able to effectively integrate their Christian faith into their world of sport. That’s where we come in – helping you to learn how to honour your athletic ambition while knowing that the real game is glorifying God. In relative terms of importance, the Apostle Paul wrote: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 McCown and Gin call that next level the player, elite and high-profile participants. How does identity and sport work for them? PLAYER: You could be like me, a ‘player’ who takes sport seriously and plays to win, but sport was never going to be my day job, despite some fleeting moments of brilliance and childhood hopes to the contrary! You train hard, make sacrifices, what I call ’serious mediocrity’. ELITE: A small percentage compete at a high-level in amateur or professional sport, heading towards the goal of your respective sporting pathway. A performance pathway such as a state or national competitor or representative, or an Olympian or pro circuit player. HIGH PROFILE: Very few become household names, national icons or even heroes to a generation. Athletes like Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Nathan Cleary, and his special friend, Mary Fowler. Their every error and expression are scrutinised. They live life under the spotlight as public property, devoted to and despised in equal measure. It is an ‘unreal’ life.’ No matter where you are at, we at FCA hope to be an encouragement and support to you in coming to know Christ and grow in Him, while you engage in your world of sport. We want to help you build your identity based on the everlasting relationship with Christ, while still being engaged with your sport at whatever level you are at. “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2 Playing for more, Jim Dayhew Executive Director Reference: McCown., L, and Gin, V., Focus on Sport in Ministry. 360 Sports: Marrietta, Georgia.
