Awesome Message

Mon, Sep 24, 2018 at 3:57 PM

“Chaplain to the Athletes”

With all of my appreciation and emotion I greet you today dear Chaplain. I say with emotion, as we begin this day as the first of the week and with some advice about “Sports Chaplaincy”, which consists of offering spiritual care to athletes who practice a variety of sports discipline. Personally, I can’t assure that the Apostle Paul regularly practiced some kind of sport, although I can assure you that he exercised constantly because he walked for long distances preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can also be sure that he was a lover or fan of sports, because he mentions them several times in his letters.

The Apostle Paul was born and raised in a large city. Tarso had more or less 300,000 inhabitants. A city like that had a sports stadium and organized its athletic games every four years: races, wrestling, discus throwing, target shooting, etc. Paul was an inhabitant of the metropolis, he wasn’t a country man. Without a doubt, he didn’t know much about agriculture or livestock, but he knew about sports. For that reason, we find that within his epistles there are many comparisons between the Christian life and athletic life. For example: Winning the laurel wreath (1 Corinthians 9:25), running toward your goal and winning first place (Philippians 3:14), fighting or boxing without hitting the air (1 Corinthians 9:26), running knowing the direction in which you are going or where your goal is at (1 Corinthians 9:26). He also speaks of a “fight” or a “combat” (2 Timothy 4:7), of a “pugilism” or boxing (1 Corinthians 9 :26), Paul knows the effort and discipline of athletes (1 Corinthians 9:25).

MY ADVICE: As a Christian Chaplain you should take an interest in sports and exercise or practice some kind of sport. But overall, you should be interested in the integral wellbeing of athletes. You can be a Chaplain for a soccer or basketball team, or a marching band, etc., for example. They have pressure from their coaches, they have personal battles and families, and they need a word of encouragement, of advice, of a prayer. So, if you wish to venture into “Sports Chaplaincy”, put yourself at the disposition of a sports team or a group of athletes that you know and can help support unconditionally.

For a leadership of service,

Dr. Mynor Vargas,

General Commander IFCC.

P.S. Today more than ever, our world needs more and more competent Ministers, willing Chaplains, etc., etc. I invite you to continue adhering to your calling and to IFCC/Shalom. Blessings, amen.

Chaplain Federation Shalom Christian Temple, Inc. 38 Chaffee Street Providence, RI 02909