Slides from Faith and Sport

Directors 101: Dream Together January 26, 2022

Sports Ministry Graduate Program Program Snapshot • Current students: 26 – –

Male (73%) / Female (27%) White (73%) / Black (15%) / Latino (8%) / Filipino (4%)

• Alumni: 45 – Sports ministry; College athletics; Education; Church ministry; Social work; Community organizing; Doctoral studies

New Developments • Baylor Athletics Internships (x2) – Practical ministry and leadership experience with Baylor athletes and coaches • M.A. in Theology and Sports Studies (online) – Approved by Baylor Regents on Nov. 5, 2021

FSI Retreat

Integration & Multiplication • Since 2018, trained over 200 student-athletes, equipped 35 mentors, and facilitated learning experiences for coaches, athletic directors, and parents desiring to lead well • Collected research data for academic publications to help inform best practices • Provided embodied learning and practical leadership experience for Truett Sports Ministry grad students What’s Next?

• Mobile “Sprint” retreats for Christian high schools (e.g. Valor) • New lead researcher from Texas A&M

Online Certificate Program Program Snapshot • 199 students have enrolled • Over 30 countries represented (every continent except Antarctica) • Net revenue: $21,500 • 98 percent of students indicated they would be likely to recommend the course to others, with 86 percent saying they would be "extremely likely" to recommend it.

Current Areas of Focus • Developing new courses (Youth Sports, Sports Chaplaincy, etc.)

• Organizational Partnerships (e.g. FCA) • Growing roster of facilitators/instructors

STUDENT FEEDBACK “This was the best class I've ever taken. That's not hyperbole. It was amazing. I'm sad it's over.”

Bible “With the current racial climate in our country, this course was so timely and beneficial to equip Christian leaders.”

Race “It was an incredible journey that gave a new perspective about my role as a Christian in the world of sports.”

Theology “I am so thankful for this course and really wish that ALL of our coaches had this tool.”

Mental Health “Well planned activities that help participants reflect on their own experiences and develop effective leadership strategies. I am grateful that there is this opportunity available for men and women in sports ministry who want some quality education but can't do a seminary program.”

Leadership

FSI RESEARCH Postdoctoral Fellowship: • 180k award from Baylor University to fund for three years

Research is integrated into the entire FSI Program

Ongoing Research: • Book projects from FSI staff are currently under contract with Eerdmans, Baker Academic, Oxford University Press, and Routledge.

• FSI Retreat • Academic articles Networks: • Academic Conferences (interdisciplinary including history, biblical studies, ethics, theology, and more).

• Christian Scholars Review • Global Congress on Sports & Christianity From left to right: John White, Abby Lee, Elizabeth Bounds, Cindy White

FSI RESOURCES FSI Blog: •

30,000 total page views (average of 500 page views per post)

Online Events: • •

Faith & Sports Forum ARC Talks

Social Media: •

Gradual growth (see chart), opportunity for much more engagement with help

Online Articles: • •

Since 2020 FSI staff have published in Christianity Today, Christian Scholar’s Review, Slate, Gospel Coalition, Religion News Service, Houston Chronicle Branded content with Christianity Today (x2) and Sports Spectrum

FSI Social Media Followers Instagram

Facebook

FSI Book: •

Under development with freelance writer/editor Abby Perry

Twitter 0

100

200 Spring 2020

300 Fall 2021

400

500

600

• 2011 •

FSI Growth Timeline

Sports ministry graduate program begins at Truett Seminary

• 2016 •

• 2021 •

FSI program, website, and ToA are publicly unveiled

• 2019 •

Lilly Endowment Grant awarded to launch a retreat for high school athletes

Assistant Director hired to help develop online programs and curriculum

• 2020 •

Postdoctoral Fellowship funded through grant from Baylor

• 2025 • What fruit will result?

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast" Peter Drucker

“The people who are most in position to enhance the health of a system are precisely those who have been empowered to be responsible, namely the leaders…They set the tone, invite collaboration, make decisions, map a direction, establish boundaries, encourage self-expression, restrain what threatens the integrity of the whole, and keep the system’s direction aligned with purposes.” Peter Steinke, Healthy Congregations: A Systems Approach

“Leaders don’t organize people but align them” John Kotter

Who is on your team?

Internal to High School program: • Who do you have on your team right now?

• What are their gifts, passions, and roles?

• What is their capacity, time commitment, etc?

Internal to Seminary or College: • Who/department currently is involved with your mission?

• Who/department could be involved with your mission?

External: Local community partners (churches, schools, organizations) • State, national or global collaborators, religious affiliations • Donors

Create culture by aligning your team with Vision, Mission, and Values VISION: Your preferred future…if resources were not an issue, what would your program look like in 5 years? What do you see?

MISSION: The fundamental reason you exist…who is your audience? Why and how are your serving them?

To what end?

VALUES: The guiding principles for an organization that affect attitudes, behavior, and direction. They are non-negotiable and become the core DNA.

Source: Patrick Lencioni, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (Jossey-Bass, 2002)

AWAKEN WHAT’S POSSIBLE: MAKING YOUR DREAM A REALITY “No one is going to follow you off the map unless they trust you on it.”

GOALS

Tod Bolsinger

Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Timely

What do you envision? What goals and action plans can get you to that reality?

1. I envision high school youth being seen, heard, and loved

by God and others in a safe community.

• Provide a hospitable atmosphere at the retreat and yearlong mentors who encourage and equip them 2. I envision sports to be a space where racial conversations can be positive, productive and peace-making.

• Design roommates, teams, and courageous conversations that represent gender and racial diversity.

“Leaders don’t organize people but align them” John Kotter

Develop a Communication Plan Internal to High School program: • Weekly staff meetings and effective delegation • Occasional socials and team development • Notes of encouragement, love language and role preference inventory Internal to Seminary or College: • Dean, development officer, marketing, faculty, GA's • Internships: HHPR, Business school, Marketing, Education, Athletics External: Local community partners (churches, schools, organizations) • E-blasts, Christmas letters, personal visits, thank-you's • Donors and Collaborators: thank-you's, invites, End of Year Report

FSI Retreat Pedagogy Information

Formation

Spiritual Disciplines

Spiritual Disciplines Practiced Racially Mixed Roommates

Transformation Courageous Conversations - Friendship - Vulnerability/Family - Power of Play

Evening Prayer & Journaling

Ted Talk Style Lectures - Faith: Worship - Love: Identity - Discipline: Growth - Hope: Peace - Courage: Calling

Small Group Process Meals together

The Great Race Finale - Team Competition - Golgotha

Ropes course Virtue Labs in Sports - Reflection & Journaling

Alumni “Cloud of Witnesses” - Great Race sharing & meal

Immersion Experiences - Poverty-Privilege Walk - Community Service

Year-Long Mentoring

Directors 101: Dream Together January 26, 2022