Mission Statement:
Rain Makers Christian Sports Ministry exists to present God’s love through sports as a form of worship. Our mission is to change the lives of youth for the sake of Jesus Christ.

What is Sports Ministry?
In short, Sports Ministry is exactly as it sounds: using Sports to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sports Ministry takes on many shapes with many sports. Any sport can be used to reach kids for God.

Sports Ministries target different ages, interests, etc... Just like churches and parachurch organizations, Sport Ministries focus and appeal to different groups. But whatever the group it may reach, the point is still the same: to bring glory and honor to God through sports.

Is Sports Ministry a new thing?
No. There are sports ministries that have functioned for years. Organizations such as, Athletes In Action and Fellowship of Christian Athletes are two of the more well known organizations.

Is there a true market and need for Sports Ministry?
Absolutely! As many may know, sports are a valuable tool in reaching young people in today’s world. When asked what would be the greatest evangelistic tool of the new millennium, the legendary Billy Graham explained that sports would probably reach more lives for Christ. Our culture, society, and world have made sports a “main course” on our dinner table of interests. Communities get behind their favorite teams (high school, college and pro) with an enthusiasm that is not match in many areas of life. There is no denying its place--right or wrong--in our world.

And for our youth today, it is a fact that sports play a larger part in their lives than ever before. Kids of all ages, races, and genders participate in a pantheon of sporting events and activities. And while we can see the problems in an unhealthy emphasis and interest on sports, once again there is no denying what is! I believe it was the great theologian Cornelius Van Til who explained that we have to embrace what is instead of simply speaking of what ought.

And what is it is this: Sports have captivated our lives and the lives of our youth. With the rise of sports in our culture, we must address this and use it for the glory of God. From personal experience I can tell you that sports have taught me much about life. I learned so much about myself, teamwork, work ethic, perseverance, etc… through my experiences in athletics.

Sports are a tool just like music, arts, drama, and any other avenue that has been used to present the gospel. Sports ministry is a valuable tool (perhaps the most valuable in reaching young people).

So what shape will Rain Makers take?
Rain Makers Christian Sports Ministry will be focused on youth with Basketball and Volleyball being its sports of focus.

What do you hope to accomplish?
Use sports to present the gospel of Jesus Christ and convey his love to youth and the community.

Rain Makers is dedicated to 10 principles that God has led us to in establishing this ministry.

• (1) To teach of God’s love for his children. (Matt 18:1-6, John 3:16-18, Ephesians 3:17-19)
  
  
• (2) To teach and model God’s commandments to love Him and each other.
  (Matthew 22:34-40, I Corinthians 13, John 15: 9-17)
  
  
• (3) To clearly present the biblical way of salvation in and through Jesus Christ.
  (John 3:16-18, Romans 10:9-13, John 14:1-6)
  
  
• (4) To teach, demonstrate, help, and encourage youth to have a true love-relationship with the Lord.
  (Matthew 6:33, Matthew 22:34-40, Philippians 3:7-10)
  
  
• (5) To teach basketball and volleyball as worship to God.
  (Colossians 3:23, I Corinthians 6:19-20, John 4:23-24)
  
  
• (6) To teach fundamentally sound basketball and volleyball principles and skills.
  
  
• (7) To provide a sports organization where both males and females are equally welcome, important, and instructed; to embrace all young people through Jesus Christ.
  
  
• (8) To teach principles and morals which are relevant in sports and in life (leadership,
  integrity, work ethic, sportsmanship, teamwork).
  
  
• (9) Strive to be excellent in our youth traveling teams, clinics and camps.
  (Colossians 3:23)
  
  
• (10) As stated earlier, Rain Makers Christian Sports Ministry’s ultimate purpose is to bring glory, honor, praise and worship to God. (John 4:23-24, Colossians 3:17, Matthew 5:16)

What is the structure and breakdown of the ministry itself?
Rain Makers will be involved in sports ministry in a variety of creative ways however its major focuses will be these areas:

(1) Competitive Traveling Sports Teams (AAU Basketball and USA Club Volleyball certified teams). We will have Boys Basketball Teams and Girls Volleyball Teams (with Girls Basketball to come in the future) compromised of local talent. There will be as many age groups as we have interest and coaches.

So far for 2004-2005 we will have a 17 and under Boys Basketball and a 15 and under Boys Basketball team. And a 17 and under Girls Volleyball Team! The teams will practice consistently and play a full and competitive schedule.

The goal is to raise the skill level and competitiveness of Joplin area athletes. This will create a platform to share God’s word and love with those youth and those we compete against. Rain Makers has a desire to show the youth of Joplin that we can compete with youth for anywhere (Springfield, Kansas City and beyond). It will take time to build, but we are confident that we will have a premiere sports organization. Joplin has the talent and we are committed to encouraging and teaching our youth to use it to be the very best for God, their team, and themselves.

We also believe this will open doors in the future to traveling and share the gospel in areas around the United States.

(2) Christian Sports Camps. Rain Makers has been doing Christian Sports Camps with great success over the past four years. Rain Makers will do Basketball and Volleyball camps in the summer as well as some clinics and specialized camps during the school year. Last year there were over 60 young men and women who participated in the summer basketball camps. We expect that number to continue to grow.

These camps are a tremendous outreach to the community. In four years, Rain Makers has ministered to about 250 kids through the sports camps. With Rain Makers now becoming a full time Sports Ministry the camps ministry will expand with more options, flexibility, and availability.

These camps combine sports training and the teaching of God’s word. Each day we pause from the physical training to have devotional times, prayers and studies. They reach out equally to boys and girls and they are going to broken down by ages (middle school, high school, etc…) Isaac Edwards directs these camps with the assistance of numerous volunteers.

(3) Speaking Engagements. Rain Makers (Isaac specifically) will speak at churches, youth rallies, retreats, schools, etc…There is a huge market for speakers who can inspire and challenge while preaching the truth of God’s word. Rain Makers is dedicated to this.

(4) Finally and most importantly, prayer! Prayer is the most important ministry that anyone can undertake. Rain Makers is dedicated to praying for the youth of our area and beyond. There will be weekly times devoted to praying for area churches, ministries, youth directors, pastors, missionaries, ministers, our athletes, teams, and coaches, etc… This ministry will not make it without prayer.

It is so vital that it has to be included as an actual focus of the ministry. It is by prayer that we will see God touch and change lives. Rain Makers itself is the result of 10 years of prayer!

These four areas: Competitive Traveling Teams, Christian Sports Camps, Speaking Engagements, and Prayer are what Rain Makers is dedicated to doing. Other opportunities may present themselves and we desire to be open to that, but this is what this Sports Ministry will focus on.