Ministry Advancement Tools
APRIL 2025
Hey Illinois Staff Team!
I have the honor of bringing emphasis to Ministry Advancement in this quarter's "Tools From The Toolbox". Rather than focus on a resource (check out this page if you need resource ideas), I wanted to use this space as an opportunity to offer some encouragement to you!
I truly love Opening Day of Major League Baseball. When my kids were young, we rarely missed an opening day at Busch Stadium (sorry Cubs fans). It had a nostalgic and magical feel all at the same time. It’s the perfect combination of old (Hall of Famers parading around the field waving and saluting the crowd) and new (after all, a brand-new chance at a season was about to begin!) I’m so glad my kids had the chance to see the likes of Stan The Man, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Red Schoendienst and many others before they left this world. Opening Day brings about fresh opportunities for veteran players, new faces of up-and-comers, and opportunities to right the wrongs of the previous season. Everyone gets a fresh start, and the energy is tangible in the stadium. It even comes at a ‘new life’ time of year in the spring as the grass is greening, flowers are beginning to bloom, and trees are sprouting new buds. Truly, on Opening Day, the grass at the ballpark looks a little greener, smells a little fresher and seems a bit more nostalgic.
"New Life" is a natural focus in the spring for you as an FCA staffer as well. The observance of Holy Week, culminating with the celebration of the Resurrection, is a powerful time of year for all of us that I pray truly infuses you with new life. As an FCA staffer, you have an amazing and privileged opportunity to connect coaches & athletes regularly with Jesus...the only source for life. I know ALOT is asked of you as FCA staff. In the midst of donor meetings and newsletters, scorecards and reports, traveling and calendars...my prayer for you is that you are supernaturally uplifted by our 'source of new life'. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9). A 'retired' leader that we all know and love used to say, "KEEP ON!!" The older I get and the more I walk out my calling in ministry, the more I need to be reminded of this! The 'how' might change as time marches on...the resources and tools might evolve as new ideas are developed (except for the Bible of course--it never 'evolves'!!!)...the maps might change...the structure of our organization might change, etc, etc. BUT THE GOAL NEVER CHANGES! We want to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus and His Church. That's a huge mission...and yet it is refreshingly simple.
So, Illinois FCA Staff, I leave you with this prayer!!
"Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:2-5
NOVEMBER 2024
Hey Illinois Staff Family!
My name is Josh Parr and I am new to the advancement team for our state and I have been trying on this role for 6 months to see if it is a good fit. The fall is one of my favorite times of the year for ministry. New coaches, new students, and Lord willing new opportunities. I truly think the fall is the best time of the year for Gospel proclamation to the lost and Gospel clarity to your empowered leaders.
With that being said, I wanted to put a tool in front of you all. It is a short 4-week study through "The Four." Whether you ask a new coach if they would have any interest in exploring the main message of the Bible or bring gospel clarity to a student leadership team, this tool can be useful in a variety of applications! Friends, there is no secret sauce or silver bullets in ministry. However, this resource is an attempt to do ministry in a way in which we generally see God work: proclamation of God's Word in the context of intentional relationships! The study is attached in two formats: One is a digital format and the other is for sending to a printer to be spiral bound! If you have any questions, please reach out! Thankful for serve King Jesus together with you all!
