Sports Crusaders

A “testimony” according to dictionary.com is “evidence in support of a fact or assertion:proof”.

Below you can read what the Lord is doing through the Sports Crusaders Ministry.

Praise be to our Heavenly Father who allows us to serve in this capacity!

Beth Mayberry–Former Collegiate Staff

My name is Beth and I have been in church my whole life. Sports Crusaders has played a very special role in my life. The second year of Crusader camps[1995] a small group came to Potosi, my home town. I knew that I needed to trust in Jesus and give Him my heart, but it was not until that weekend with the help of Amy Rhea, that Jesus came into my life.

Since that summer after my third grade year, I have attended basketball camp at my church every summer. This will be my 11 th year, but this year…I am a Crusader not a camper.

I always knew this was something that I felt God wanted me to do. All of the Crusaders have had such a positive impact on my life. I remember all the fun times I have spent with them over the years. I am really looking forward to being used by God this summer! I really hope that He will give me the opportunity to be an Amy Rhea for a little kid, just like I was in third grade!

Sports Crusaders is a ministry that has truly blessed my life and changed my life!!

Brad Clark–Camp Host

Just want to compliment your team led by Chris Westcoat that just finished camp at First Baptist Church O’Fallon. Chris and the other leaders (Dave, Susie, and Becka) did wonderful job of teaching the kids about God and his role in our everyday life including sports. We felt very blessed by having a group of young people willing to dedicate their summer teaching the word of God and what Jesus has done for them. What a mission field! Thank you again for your organization and what you are doing to spread the Word.

Chuck Baker–Pastor, Camp Host

As a former basketball coach and current pastor I’ve had a keen interest in sports evangelism for years. Sports Crusaders was the first organization that I was involved with in this unique ministry. We have hosted a basketball camp at our church for a decade and will continue to support this ministry as it bears fruit for the kingdom!

David Higgs–Pastor, FBC Nederland, TX

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is great to hear about your interest in the Sports Crusader ministry. I was introduced to Sports Crusaders in the summer of 2000. I became acquainted with Sports Crusaders while I was the pastor of Union Hill Baptist Church in Holts Summit, Missouri. After seeing the impact of this ministry on our church and state I led our church to become the home church of Missouri Sports Crusaders. Our church put this ministry in our monthly budget and provided office space for their workers.

Through Sports Crusaders our church reached into the homes of local residents that we would have never reached into otherwise. Also, the camps gave our members the opportunity to become involved in a local mission opportunity. Each year our church baptized children from our community who received Christ as their Savior at our Sports Crusader camps. While working in Missouri our church benefited from Sports Crusader camps so much that we began hosting multiple camps each summer.

Bobby Shows provided the leadership and support that we needed in order to host effective sports camps. Bobby loves to see lost souls come to know Christ as their Savior. I am confident that winning souls to Christ is his motivation for working in sports evangelism.

During my last year of working in Missouri, our church was awarded the Pacesetter Award for evangelism by the Missouri Baptist Convention. This award was for being number one in baptisms in churches averaging 350 or less in Sunday School. I believe that our church’s participation in sports evangelism through Sports Crusaders certainly played a significant role in helping us reach this achievement.

In short, if it is your desire to reach more people in your city for Christ I highly recommend incorporating Sports Crusaders into your evangelism plan.

Dr. Dean Finley-Board Member

“Sports Crusaders is designed to invite young people to accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Sports is the means and salvation is the goal. My observation about Sports Crusaders, as much as, or more than any other Christian Sports ministry, have never lost site of their goal.”

Dr. Susan Renoe–Former Collegiate Staff and Board Member

I had the unique distinction of being associated with the Sports Crusaders in three ways: as a team member, as a board member, and as a camp sponsor. My favorite of those three was being a team member. I was a team member way back in the dark ages when there was only basketball, and only two teams at that. The summer I spent as a Sports Crusader was the best of my life. What better summer job than to play basketball and tell kids about the love of Jesus Christ? As a member of the University of Missouri Lady Tiger basketball team, I had the chance to touch many lives, but nothing compared to my experience as a Sports Crusader. Sports evangelism is not a new field, but it is catching fire as a way to spread the gospel. Sometimes a ball will open a door that a Bible never could.

Dean Wallace–Camp Host at Shining Light Baptist Outreach Center

Sports Crusaders, what an experience. I have a great burden to reach the children and youth of our town. I am willing to do anything that is possible to share Jesus with them. I believe that Jesus is the answer. Several people had told me about Sports Crusaders and since our town is a big basketball town I thought that this might just work. With a desire, a need, and faith in God I started. Would you believe the only week Sports Crusaders had open was the only week we had open. In fact, it was filled and just a little while before Becky contacted me they called and changed their week. So Becky offered me the only week available and the only week we were open. I started asking people for money and would you believe they started sharing. Yes, we raised enough that we were able to meet all our obligations to Sports Crusaders. After facing several disappointments and setbacks everything finally came together and after all worked out for the best. So we are ready.

Well with excitement I advertised and waited. The day came when the team showed up. My heart dropped. I was expecting bigggg tallllllllll COLLEGE Athletes. What I got was four young people, not much taller than me, one just out of high school. NOW what? You go with what you got. Isn’t that just like God. He is not interested in our ability just our availability. These young people were fantastic. Then a seasoned coached show up to assist. The kids came in droves and responded to this team. I melted in their presence. We had the largest camp that Sports Crusaders had this year. Now several months later the kids are starting to ask when are we going to have camp again? God sent the right team. He used them in a mighty way. There were 16 professtions of faith. We had over 100 enrolled and averaged 85 in two camps. Would I have another camp? YOU better believe it!! I am already starting to pray and make plans for June 2010. Thank you Sports Crusaders.

Jim Denbow–Camp Host

We have had SC Soccer Camp at Dixon, FBC, for several years. Every year the number of kids grows! And even better, at least one kid gets saved! The coaches are top notch kids that really know soccer and love the Lord most of all. The soccer kids LOVE them! It’s a well-run week of excellent instruction and fun. The only drawback is the big, tall guy back in Holts Summit that causes problems. Other than that, it’s a good deal…

John Frasier–Steelville, MO

We have been involved with the Sports Crusaders for a number of years now and it has had a tremendous impact on our ministry here at First Baptist Church, Steelville, MO. First and foremost a number of boys and girls have come to know the Lord as their Lord and Savior because of the basketball camps lead by the Sports Crusaders. How can you put a price tag on salvation? The Christian testimony and influence the college athletes have had on our young people is priceless. The kids look forward to camp not just because of the skills they learn but because they enjoy being around energetic Christian students.

I am fortunate in that several of my students have been leaders in the Sports Crusaders summer camp program and through the summer mission trips that have been taken. Every one of the students who have been involved, have come back changed and the experiences have impacted their lives forever.

I cannot tell you the value that the Missouri Sports Crusader has done to our ministry. Students, young and old look forward to and anticipate the college athletes coming to the Steelville High School gym each to lead them in camp. It has become a ministry that we greatly benefit from each summer.

Todd Pridemore–Camp Host

My experience with the Sports Crusaders…

For the past six summers, I’ve had the privilege of working with a team of Sports Crusaders. Although it is a different team of missionaries each year, they are always excellent to work with. They do an incredible job of connecting with kids, loving them, and sharing the gospel message with them. We’ve worked them hard (asking them to run as many as three camp sessions in one day), and they always respond well and do incredible ministry. Our church was responsible for publicizing the sports camps, providing houses and meals for the team of missionaries, and following up with the kids after the camp; the Sports Crusaders did everything else! It is an amazing ministry. Sports ministries are an incredible and powerful outreach and evangelism tool. I know of no “ministry” that reaches so many unchurched, non Christian kids and families than does sports ministries. The Sports Crusaders have reached people that simply would not have walked into our church on Sunday mornings. Because of them and their efforts, our outreach in our community has grown. Not only has our church benefited, but the many people who now know Jesus as their Savior have obviously benefited as well.

Tommy &  Beth Larner–Missionaries in Mexico

We are thrilled to share about our experiences with the Sports Team. We have had the opportunity to work with Bobby and the Sports Evangelism Team from Missouri on three occasions – twice in Ecuador and once in Mexico. The most impressive thing about the group was their dedication to Christ and the desire to share through the means of basketball. The team was well coordinated. They had a very balanced program in doing a good job of teaching basketball skills as well as making a very positive spiritual impact. The young men had a great testimony on and off the court.

The Lord used the ministry in both countries to open broader opportunities to witness. The team witnessed to coaches, potential officials, and players, plus the many spectators. We would recommend this program without reservation.