Why The Preacher is Involved in Lacrosse Coaching

I pastor a small but vibrant church in Fort Worth, Texas.  We are in a very diverse community and to be honest our church is in a tremendous stage of transition.  I think many churches are in the same boat: a neighborhood that has changed demographically and trying to figure out how to serve this new reality.  When I came to my current place of service, I was committed to the long haul, begin here until God moves me.  That is not just preacher talk for being here until a better deal comes along.  Other opportunities have come along and I have said no to them.  I am serious about the call I have received from God deal.  On my taxes I am 'self-employed' but I view this as being employed by God. Only God (or a church that is mad at me) can move my employment.  Don't get scared if you are not a church person, it is not as mystical as you might think.  This however is not a post about my real-job but a post about my involvement in something very different, a local youth lacrosse organization.

Lacrosse is relatively new to Texas, I played while growing up in Virginia and a little in clubs while in College. Lacrosse is growing like gangbusters in Texas, because there are great athletes, great weather and a lot of people moving into Texas from the North East (where lacrosse is very established).

A couple of years ago I found out that my dad had played on a National Co-Championship Lacrosse team while he was at West Point.  A fact he failed to tell me when I was picking football as my sport and a fact that I often let him now know would have changed my life if I had known this when I was choosing college (I would have pursued lacrosse instead of football).   My son and I were watching the NCAA Championship lacrosse game and he turned to me and said, 'I would love to play lacrosse.'  It was a great timing for me; I needed something to be involved in outside of church.  Pastoring a church is all consuming and you can burn out very quickly, so with the OK from my wife we started the Fort Worth Youth Lacrosse Association.  There are 5 benefits to my 'real-job' that I have experienced from my connection with this program.

1. Connect with Community - through my volunteering with the lacrosse program I have met literally hundreds of people, many who do not go to church.  One of the dangers of working in a church is that you become isolated among church people.  My time at FWYLA has allowed me to have meaningful conversations with people who have no interest in church what-so-ever.  They are usually very surprised to find out that I am a pastor.  However, so far they have been pleasantly surprised.  A few of them, especially the kids have said, ‘Hey, you are pretty cool for a priest.'  They may not come to my church (although I wish they would/and a few have attended) but if I can help them see ministers as normal and approachable, maybe they will go to a church with a new perspective.


2. A distraction - I was at a preacher meeting a few years back, where a pastor, George Mason from Wilshire Baptist in Dallas suggested that every pastor needs a distraction.  Being a minister is one of the most stressful jobs in America...fact, end of discussion.  So George studies and follows the Texas Rangers.  He said he knew the players, their stats, their interests...it became his 'other thing' his distraction.  You may not realize this but ministers get criticized, talked about, called at night and early in the morning, on days off and holidays.  It comes with the territory and it gets very heavy at times.  Having a distraction eases the burden, so we can respond to the negatives with grace and peace.  A preacher having a distraction is essential for longevity in the ministry...mine is youth lacrosse.


3. A new cross-training platform for leadership - I have learned to develop a website for lacrosse, we needed a new site at church and were short on funds, and I put my new skills to work.  I watched a coaching video about leadership and mission; I implemented a new leadership structure that helped our church get healthier.  I had to tell a coach they could not work with the kids because of their actions, I learned the value of training and communicating expectations at church.  When you learn and grow in one area of your life you can implement those skills in other areas of your life...true leadership cross-training.


4. A place to practice my faith (intense) - Working with teenagers and their parents is a privilege and responsibility.  Many families on our teams are not followers of Jesus.  I am.  How I respond and react to them, especially in the intense moments of a game or a parent frustration, how I react to a referee or opposing coach is a great indication of where my spiritual life is.  Am I taking my Christian beliefs into every area of my life or only playing Christian in church.  One of the dangers of working in a church is that you can fake it and be nice church person on the church campus and jerk off church property.  I don't ever want to be fake and coaching kids is a great laboratory to put into action my Christian beliefs.


5. Time with kids - 'you only work on Sunday's' is a common misconception of Pastors.  Preparing a sermon for 50 or 1000 people takes about the same amount of time.  From start to finish roughly 15-20 hours.  Add in meetings, phone calls, interruptions at the office, planning sessions, visitation, small group bible studies...the list goes on, it all adds up to a very busy and full week.  One of the first things to go if you are not careful is time with your own kids.  One of the ways to schedule time with them is to coach their teams and be a part of their lives.  No matter what anyone says, no church member is going to raise your kids for you.  (Someone wiser than me told me that one day).  I coach my kids so I can have appointments with them and be involved in their lives.

What is your diversion?  How has it helped you as a pastor?  I would love to hear and learn from how you handle these issues.