Baller 21

John Garner Interview // Recreation and Sports Ministry Specialist

by Chris Harvey on 08/24/09

John Garner is a Recreation and Sports Ministry Specialist, and longtime speaker and conference host of Rec Lab, for LifeWay Christian Resources.

Q1. Could you describe your career path in the sports ministry field? How did you get started?

(John Garner) I served as a summer missionary in the River Ministry several summers doing a lot of recreation, camps, VBS etc. I started working in recreation ministry in high school during the school year after being with the River Ministry in the summer. I volunteered, interned and worked part-time as a paid staff member under the recreation minister at the time Bobby Shows. I did practical hands on work in the area of planning games, day camping, league management and recreation used in missions. I did not know that a vocational calling was even possible until I talked to Bobby about my life’s work. I went to Mississippi College and earned a degree in recreation while working in churches as youth minister. From there I went to FBC Texas City, Texas as youth and recreation minister. I felt the call to seminary while there and went to SWBTS. While there I managed a racquetball club at night and worked at a church as youth minister on weekends and other days I had off. I then served FBC Minden Louisiana as Minister of Recreation for 10 years. Minden wanted someone to come and start a work from scratch. We started with a softball team and church picnic and when I left we had built a large ministry that touched and involved 2.5 times the population of the city during a year. I helped design, staff, and program and manage a facility that included, gym, running track, Nautilus fitness center, Sauna/whirlpool, two crafts rooms, game room, tv area, commercial kitchen and racquetball courts. From there I came to Nashville to work in the church recreation department at LifeWay Christian Resources for 18 years as a consultant, conference leader, writer and director of the program. I am now working at Clearview Baptist church as Pastor of Next Generations Ministry and Assimilation. I continue to consult, write and lead conferences in the area of Recreation and Sports Ministry. I also teach college and seminary classes in the area of recreation and sports ministry. My textbook, Recreation and Sports Ministry Impacting Postmodern Culture is used in many Christian colleges and seminaries.

Q2. What is the career path for sports-minded people in the Church?

(John Garner) There is no one career path. God opens different doors and gifts each person differently. The best thing a potential sports minister can do is be actively involved in ministry using sports or recreation as a volunteer, intern or part-time staff. It can be at a church, YMCA, Christian camp, Boys and Girls club. The main thing is to get actual ministry planning and involvement on the resume – so churches can see that the person has some experience. Also, be open to combination jobs – Youth and Sports Ministry, Missions and Sports Ministry or some other combination. Most churches cannot afford a dedicated “sports minister” so the look for someone who has a ministry heart that is adaptable, teachable and a team player.

Q3. What is your assessment of the current role of the Church and athletics? Are we (nationally, internationally) engaged and gaining momentum, or declining into disengagement?

(John Garner) Because American culture and indeed many western European cultures are leisure oriented, the use of sports and reaction as outreach and for discipleship is growing. Non-traditional ministry methods are widely accepted. Sports is the world’s language. Sporting events continue to gather huge crowds and interest. Churches who intentionally use sports and recreation to share the gospel will see people respond. The common ground of the sporting event opens doors for creative ways to share the gospel. The key word in the above sentence is “intentional”. One can host many sports and recreation events and gather large crowds. However, if the gospel is not shared and opportunity to respond is not given, the even though the attendance may be large, the mission of the church was no carried out and in my thinking, the event was a nice social event, but will have no lasting, eternal effect. So the ministry area is wide open. The opportunity is here now, the time is short and the message is too important to not take advantage of every opportunity to share it.

Right now, I sense a pause in momentum. We are not gaining much ground, we are not losing ground. I fully believe that God is raising up a new generation of ministers who will take the solid foundations that have been laid and build new and far reaching sports and recreation ministry that will touch millions with the gospel.

Q4. What is the future role of the Church and athletics? What do we need to be doing that we are not currently doing?

(John Garner) As I indicated above, I believe we have a bright future. Men and women alike are sensing the call of God to use their gifts, talents, abilities and interests to reach people. Many of those interests center around the use of leisure as a time to share the gospel. I don’t see “athletics” as the be all to end all. I see “athletics” as one part of the whole of leisure service ministry. Other areas include, camping, day camping, crafts, extreme sports, dance, the arts, outdoor education/adventure recreation, fitness/wellness and much more. Anything anyone does in his or her leisure time can be a tool to share the gospel. If we center on sports only, that limits the church. Now, if you are called to a specific sports ministry then maybe sports evangelism is what that person needs to do. However, if one is working in a church, to do only sports leaves out entire segments of the population. I believe the future OF CHURCH MINISTRY is found in well-rounded programming for all ages, pre-school to Sr. Adults. Many young people today don’t consider all ages and all leisure areas but focus on sports. I think we need to be care how we approach one of the most opportune times in life – the time of leisure and look for every opportunity to reach people.

Q5. Is the next generation sports ministry leader being raised up?

(John Garner) The next generation of leaders is here now. You guys are out there doing the work. If your church or denomination does not provide the opportunity for you to live out you passion, you all are simply finding ways to get it done – on your terms, in your way, to those who you see need a touch of God. The next generation is going to be very entrepreneurial in its approach to ministry. You will lead the way to doing new ministry in new ways to new people. That is very cool.

Q6. Who are the top sports ministry leaders, churches (nationally, internationally)?

(John Garner) I hesitate to name names because I do not know everyone and new names pop up all the time. Some stay around for many years, some seem to come and go quickly. I will tell you that God is using many new folks to start extra-church ministries, like Upward Unlimited or In His Grip Golf, or Connect 3 on 3, or Outdoor Ministry Network. These specialty ministries have found niches to reach help churches reach different segments of the population with well thought out ministry plans that work. There are many of those also – I just don’t know them all. Contemporaries I would name are: Greg Linville, Roger Oswald, Bill Buchanan, Jenny Brown, Bobby Shows, David Maki, Ronnie Joe Webb, Laura Cole, Johnny Flynt and his son Jay, Paul Stutz, Steve Quatro, and many others. Those who have paved the way for me Pat Lowery, Bob Raus, Ray Conner, Agnes Pylant, T. B. Maston, Frank Hart “Pogo” Smith, Bob Sessoms, E.O. Harbin and the list could go on.

Q7. Which books or resources have influenced you the most in sports ministry? And what are you currently reading?

(John Garner) There are some classics that influenced me:
Handbook for Church Recreation Leaders by T.B. Maston.
Church Recreation by Agnes Pylany.
Playgrounds: Their Administration and Operation by Butler.
Recreation for Churches by Ray Conner.
The Volunteer Coach by Bob Sessoms.
Currently I have on my desk: Christ Centered Coaching, Sticky Church, Fusion (about assimilation of new Christians in churches) and You Are Gifted (Spiritual gifts).

Q8. How well is the sports ministry field connected with a web presence (blog, Twitter, Facebook)? Do you have a blog or Twitter account?

(John Garner) The sports and recreation field is not very well connected on the internet. We have many sites but most are about themselves and what they do. Many churches have web sites up, some blogging is going on, very little twitter, but some Facebook folks are out there.

I have a twitter account and a Facebook account. I am setting up a web based consulting company where churches can come for free helps, web links to useful sites, online consulting, web based video classes, a job board, a place for students to get information and ask questions etc.

I would like to thank John Garner for his time and continued enthusasium in developing the sports and recreation ministry field.

You can also find John Garner on Twitter here: www.twitter.com/johngarner01

Chris Harvey