Respected athletes impact the behavior of family members, teammates, and fans.  They possess the credibility to impact lives all around them. In fact they will definitely influence… the question is whether the influence will be positive or negative.  Unfortunately the business of sports is a multi-billion dollar industry without a conscience, which devours a great many of these “leaders” and the peers who idolize them.  Reaching these young people for Christ impacts not only these lives, but all those they influence… their teammates, their family members, their communities.

Football has opportunity to be a bastion of Godly manhood.  But only if the purpose surpasses economics or worldly glory.  Whether football, basketball, baseball or some other connection point,  sports provides opportunity to be in relationship with young men drawn to the field, court and diamond.  Many – in fact most - athletes do not have a consistent Godly father figure in their lives, let alone their homes.  Those working in the coaching profession have to be interested in the X’s and O’s – but not where to align them – rather how best to influence them for more than a season.  Impacting young people for a lifetime and beyond is what coaching is all about.  It is not however what the business of sport is about.  Fighting to use the credibility and influence athletic talent provides to communicate truth is a significant challenge… but is a fight worth fighting.