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Golfing Ministry...cont'd

The Back Nine - Your Church or Mission

10. Deciding to Play
After a tough front nine often the golfers rest between sides and then wonder if they even wish to play the back nine. In this game however, it is very important that we play the back nine. In order to do so, we must get our heads together and prepare to finish strong. I have seen golfers go to the clubhouse between nines and ask the pro for a pointer or two to help improve their game on the back. The steps which follow are ones which will involve a church in the mission ministry of golf. 

As we prepare to play this side we must first have played the front. A church must have individual golfers committed to the personal witnessing effort. Then a church gathers those people and commissions them to carry out this very important ministry. Get your whole church involved by allowing it to vote to include this ministry in its mission efforts. Include a chairperson on Church Council, if possible, to continue to report and update the church on new ministry efforts from your golf ministry. When this is finished, continue to train and improve your ministry with workshops, fellowship and outreach opportunities.

11. Choosing a Foursome
When we plan to go out and play a round of golf we look for someone to go and play with us. This is also true of setting up an ongoing ministry in your church. Always recruit and train new members into the ministry. Like everything else we do in the church, the more who are involved, the more you can do for Christ. One idea is to have a monthly golf outing with the people involved. Talk after the round about new ways to witness and include others in your ministry. This fellowship will bring strength and energy to your ministry.

12.  Reserving a Tee Time
At many larger courses you must have a set time to get started. This is also true in setting up your golf ministry. Set a target date to have the training, supplies, and interested people together so that you may get off to a good start. Talk with this group and set goals for the ministry: Who will we focus on? What area (course) will we focus on? How many people can we involve? Then look at the overall purposes of the golf ministry. Know them, study them and incorporate them into your ministry.

13.  Enjoying the Fellowship
Golf can create the best possible fellowship. When you play 18 holes of golf with a person, you get to know them very well. Many churches already have annual tournaments, which include inviting non Christians. Why not expand that opportunity? Golfers who love to play will play in six to eight tournaments a year, which are sponsored by all types of groups from charities to beverage companies. Why can't your church work with a course to sponsor a tournament open to the public? Provide at that tournament some of the personal witnessing tools as tournament gifts. Sponsor an outing to give out the awards and during that share a testimony and information concerning your church. When your church sponsors anything it should be for the purpose of uplifting Christ. You can certainly do so at a public golf tournament. 

There are hundreds of ideas. Let's share and talk about more of them, but remember it is the ongoing use of the personal tools and sharing your story that will make the difference in golfers' lives.

14.  Expanding the Opportunity
Ministries that do not grow and expand tend to die! So it is with your church's golf ministry. You should include playing golf as a part of your gift search when talking with new and prospective members. You have a ministry they can plug into immediately. 

Promote the ministry to other churches. They may not know what to do and would invite your help or the help of CGM to get started. 

As a church we are always looking for opportunities to start a new and needed work. As the turn of the century approaches, we know that churches and church attendance are changing factors. One main purpose of leisure ministry concepts is to meet the needs of salvation, spiritual growth, and worship opportunities in a fast changing world. Your church should consider things like holding vespers at a course on Sunday morning, the need for a weekly Bible study at a course, or even a church/congregation mission which might meet at a golf course anytime during the week.  Consider times other than Sunday morning. This is one of the busiest times at a course and facilities are used to the maximum. How about Thursday night or afternoon? Our purpose is to reach people where they are and when they are willing. Be creative! You may just end up being the sponsoring church of a great and growing mission!!

15.  Playing the Hole
Playing the hole is the carrying out of the game. It is important that the golfer and the church have a sincere desire to share Christ with others. Can you think of how well you play golf or do anything when you really don't desire to do it? Make your commitment to "play the hole."  Your church should always envision long-range possibilities and the individual golfer should look for each and every opportunity to share Christ.

16.  Staying Out of the Hazards
As we said on the front nine, hazards can create a renewed opportunity or create more conflict trying to get out!  Remember that there are some hazards any time a church tries something new and different. Educate your church. Keep them informed and you will avoid many of the hazards on the course of this ministry. 

The sand trap is a place where you can become bogged down on a very small or short shot. When in a trap you must hit the ball just right in order to get out. Remember, these hazards are very close to the green (your goal). Use the right club, the right swing, and you will soon achieve your goal., Don't hit at the ball without thinking it through or you will miss the ball (the point of conflict) and end up right back in the trap again. 

When your ball goes astray (and it does sometimes), you may end up in the woods or rough. Often you can have a clear and clean shot out of the rough without much trouble. If that is the case, pick your club wisely and take your best shot. If you don't have a shot, many times you are better off to pick the ball up, take a stroke and continue play from a better lie (position). Don't be too proud to start over or improve your position if it can make a difference in your whole game. 

If you hit in the water, most of the time your ball is lost. Your only choice may be to drop a new ball and start from a point of play. Don't try to fish out a ball from the middle of the lake or you will get wet! Don't try to hit a ball lying in the water, you will get wet and the ball may not even move!! 

The greatest dream for water hazards on a golf course would be to someday attend a baptismal service being held at the pond on a beautiful fairway! What a thought!!

17.  Totalling Your Score
By the time you reach the seventeenth hole, most golfers have a real good idea how they played. They sometimes begin to total their score and find out what they must do on the next two holes. Your church should always be aware of what the ministry is doing and seeking new opportunities for growth. If it works, keep doing it day after day. If it doesn't work, talk about it and be willing to change.

18.  Improving Your Game
After each game golfers evaluate how they played. Some may even take a lesson from a pro, read something on how to improve, or go to that old driving range and just hit balls until they feel it is right. As a church starting a golf ministry, remember that this ministry is designed to involve the individual golfer in sharing Christ, to develop new work in and around golf courses and communities, and to lift the name of Christ in all we do. These are great and worthy causes. Always be willing to learn and share what you have learned. Be open to new ideas and willing to try them for the cause of Christ. Remember what Jesus said: "By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me" (John 5:30, NIV). 

We must always work as a team at any ministry in our church, not just to please ourselves, but also to please the one who sent us out to share his Love, Forgiveness and Eternal Redemption!

Related Reading:
Goal of a lifetime: Paul Henderson
Live a life of purpose
Need advice? ask us.

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Used with permission -  Special Ministries Unit, North American Mission Board

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