In last Wednesday's sport article I detailed the "10 Common Questions for Christian in Sport" written by Olympian Richard Pengelley from Western Australia. In that article I documented the nature of Christian athlete ministry, that there is a fine line between exploitation of an athlete and pastoral care of that athlete.
Way back when I initiated this ministry, these athletes had confidence that this new ministry, (as it functioned under the auspecies of Heads of Churches), they would not have their name exploited, but rather they themselves would be pastored and cared for.
As explained in that article, there is always a fine line between evangelism with a Christian athlete as a "model for the Christian cause" and abusing the Christian athlete, as that person is a follower of Jesus needing all the support and encouragement as any other Christian. In some sense more so as they are in the front line of life.
I tended to err on the side of caution and emphasised the pastoral care role, but having said that, many Christian athletes and coaches have accompanied me over these past 29 years on Country Town Tours. Here they minister to regional and rural Australia through schools, youth groups, prisons, service clubs, sports dinners and breakfasts and the like.
These Country Town Tours (CTT) have been exceptional and the nature of a regional or rural visit of an athlete or coach is that they are indeed a draw card, but it's not the same as big city meet. Rural Australia does things differently. Less pace, more introspection, they know a phoney when they see one, and therefore, these CTT's function with the host community as organisers and their finger on the pulse.
Sometimes the host organisers are a fraternal, on other occasions, a single church, a youth organisation, and sometimes a school chaplaincy body that wants a speaker for their annual fund raiser dinner. Our teams have spoken at many of these across the nation.
The term "Country Town Tours" came from Well-Being Australia board member Vic Matthews who realised there was an important message in this phrase, yet, we have also had the privilege on many occasions to do what we do, in cities as well.
Former Australian Joeys (Soccer) Assistant Coach Tony Dunkerley from Melbourne has come on many Country Town Tours as has former world runner up IronMan Bruce Thomas. Former Rugby League star Ian Barkley and jockey Darren Beadman did one in Goondiwindi some years back and the effects are still felt. I recently spoke to a Goondiwindi pastor who says the community still speak of it.
But its now time for a new generation of leadership for these Country Town Tours and a fresh group of Christian athletes. If you are a Christian athlete and wish to be linked into like minded athletes and enjoy the wisdom of their experiences, and get involved in this Country Town Tour ministry, contact me at timeout@bushorchestra.com