Physical activity is as good for the body as spiritual activity is for the soul, which is why it’s such a good idea to combine the two. Still, there’s quite a leap between starting such programs and actually fostering their growth. In order to be a successful ministry, church athletic programs must be supported and encouraged. Here are ten ways you can work to ensure the continued success of athletic programs affiliated with your church.

• Form a Ministry – Sports and athletic programs are incredibly effective when it comes to fostering physical health, but they can also be the key to spiritual health when they’re handled appropriately. Rather than treating your athletic program as an afterthought, consider founding a full-time ministry based around team sports and athletes. With a dedicated ministerial staff, your church can better support a healthy and thriving program.
• Keep the Congregation Informed – You can’t expect your sports outreach program to succeed if your congregation is only vaguely aware of your efforts. Reserve room in the weekly bulletin for news and announcements related to your sports teams. Actively encourage congregation members of all ages to get involved, not only as athletes, but also as volunteers and coordinators. Your program is better positioned for success when it’s a community effort grounded in love and enthusiasm.
• Reach Out to the Community – Your church’s athletic program can be a highly effective tool for supporting not only the spiritual health of your existing congregation, but also working towards the Great Commission. Witnessing to community members who might otherwise be out of reach is easier when they’re involved in your sports groups and programs, and these programs can always benefit from more players. As your teams grow, your congregation may very well follow suit.
• Sponsor Local Teams – Smaller churches or those with limited congregation interest in a sports team can still get in on the action by supporting athletic programs on the local level. Reach out to local leagues and team coaches to learn more about sponsoring an existing team; this investment allows you to not only encourage health and fitness in the community, but also strengthen the body of Christ.
• Focus on Serving All Ages – Too often, sports and athletic programs sponsored or run by churches fail simply because their focus is too narrow. Youth programs aren’t the only ones with potential for success; adult leagues can also be a big hit. Don’t put all of your athletic eggs in the kids’ basket; find out if there’s interest among older athletes in your group.
• Partner with Camps and Clinics – Secular clinic and camps aren’t the only option for young athletes who want to improve their skills. By partnering with faith-based organizations in your region, you can help the athletes who participate in your programs to hone their skills in a spiritually fulfilling manner.
• Treat Your Sports Program as More Than an Outreach Mission – Yes, your athletic programs can be an effective way to win souls for Christ. When you focus all of your energy on outreach programs, though, the athletes who already make up part of your congregation can be neglected. Your sports program can be an effective outreach mission, but it can also be so much more than that. Support from the congregation happens when your programs are contributing to the good of the whole, so make an effort to strike the appropriate balance.
• Join a Local League – Unless you’re heading up a massive congregation with several hundred members, you probably won’t be able to support an entire league. This is where local programs can be quite valuable. Gauge the level of interest shown by athletes in your congregation, then find out if there are existing leagues which will allow your team to participate.
• Host Benefits and Sponsorship Drives – Few things bring a community together like a charitable event or sponsorship drive. Your church’s athletic programs and participation will probably cost at least a small amount of money, but fundraising events can be great ways of getting everyone in your congregation involved. Even members who aren’t athletically inclined can lend their efforts to a fundraiser, bringing their own talents to the table to help support the congregation as a whole.
• Turn Athletes into Team Players – The primary beneficiaries of your efforts to organize and support an athletic program will be the athletes themselves, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also be part of the driving force behind the program. Building teamwork and leadership skills are among the greatest benefits of sports participation, so why not give your athletes a chance to put those new skills to the test? Let them work not only to win games and grow in faith, but also to stretch their legs as leaders. Your program, and all who participate in it, will feel the benefits.

Even the smallest congregations can reap the benefits of a sports-focused ministry. In fact, actively working to foster your fledgling sports program can help the congregation as a whole to grow and thrive. Don’t underestimate the power of a sports program; get involved today, and you may be surprised by how soon you’re helping to win souls, regardless of how often you win a game.

If you’re familiar with the Bible, you know the fate of Christ after his crucifixion and resurrection, but what about the twelve disciples who followed him?

The original recipients of the Great Commission are shrouded in a bit of mystery in the Bible itself. With the exception of Judas Iscariot, whose fate is well documented after his betrayal of Christ, only James the Greater’s death is shared in the Good Book. Here’s what happened to the other ten apostles who shared Jesus’s life and message, according to myth, legend and apocryphal tales.

1. Simon – According to popular belief, Simon began to minister to the people of Persia after Christ’s resurrection. There, he would eventually be executed for refusal to make a sacrifice to the sun god worshiped by the Persian people.
2. James, son of Alpheus – With three men named “James” mentioned in the New Testament and one disciple sharing his name, James, son of Alpheus is something of a mystery. As a result of this confusion and the amount of time that’s passed, it’s assumed this James was a witness for Jesus in the Syrian region. According to Josephus, a Jewish historian, James was there stoned and clubbed to death.
3. John – The only apostle who is widely regarded to have lived into old age and died of natural causes, John was said to have spent his life caring for Mary, mother of Christ and leading a congregation in Ephesus. He later wrote the Book of Revelation on the island of Patmos, where he was exiled during a persecution of Christians.
4. Bartholomew – History and legend names Bartholomew one of the most traveled disciples of Christ, witnessing in Southern Arabia, Ethiopia, India and Armenia. While there are several conflicting accounts of his death, all agree he was a martyr to the faith.
5. Matthew – Before becoming a follower of Christ, Matthew was a tax collector before the crucifixion. After the resurrection, he traveled throughout Ethiopia and Persia to spread the Good News. Legend has it he was stabbed to death in Ethiopia, though there is some dispute about whether or not he was martyred.
6. Philip – Ministering to the people of northern Africa and Asia Minor, Philip was successful in converting the wife of a Roman proconsul to Christianity. As punishment for what this proconsul perceived as a transgression, he was then arrested and sentenced to death for his faith.
7. Paul – Historical accounts indicate Paul was martyred in Rome around 66 AD by beheading.
8. Peter – Also around 66 AD in Rome, Peter was put to death by the Roman empire. Unlike Paul, he was not beheaded; he was crucified. Since he did not feel worthy of dying in the same manner as Christ, he requested to be put to death on the cross upside-down. According to legend, this request was honored.
9. Andrew – Serving predominately in the area formerly known as the Soviet Union, Andrew is credited with bringing Christianity to the Russian people. Also preaching in Turkey and Greece, Andrew was reportedly killed by crucifixion in Greece.
10. Thomas – Known to Bible scholars as “Doubting” Thomas, this particular apostle apparently made up for his reluctance to believe by ministering in India and Syria. He’s honored in India as the founder of Marthoma Christianity, and is said to have died there at the hands of four soldiers who stabbed him with their spears.

Because these lives aren’t chronicled in any detail in the Bible, it’s not actual gospel and as such, should be taken with a grain of salt. However they lived and died after Christ’s resurrection, though, it’s safe to say they accomplished much in the name of the Great Commission. After all, the message of Jesus has been spread to all corners of the globe and has become one of the world’s most widely followed religions.