Paul, how would you say that this volunteer ministry to sport has personally impacted and blessed you?
“As a Pastor involved in church life for over 40 years, I look at my chaplaincy roles as a para church ministry. Each club I have served in is a Congregation, a sanctuary for service.
This is true for the Melbourne Football Club where I have served for 26 years (and a Premiership!), Eastern Ranges for 3, Ballarat Rebels for 3, Ballarat Swans for 3 (and a Premiership!) Surrey Park Panthers for 3 years (and 5 Premierships!) Victoria Swimming Association for 3 years, Victorian Baptist Basketball Association for 4 years, and Blackburn United Football club chaplain and under/13’s Coach for 4 years (2 Premierships!)
At each club I was privileged to develop a PPC [Proactive Pastoral Care] Program.
At Melbourne, I have been Chaplain to the Past Players and Past Officials now for 18 years.
I have over 1800 people whom I contact once a year!
From one player who is 103, to the youngest who left last year, I have seen God at work in so many of their lives. I have had the awesome privilege of leading some of them to Christ and watching them grow. I have seen some players receive Jesus into their hearts on their death beds and then go into a coma and pass from this life a few days later. This has then led me into taking their funerals and expanding the Pastoral Care to their families.
In actual fact, I have a much wider congregation than the Players and Officials, as it now includes their families.
At the moment I am ministering to a Past Director of the MFC, who 2 years ago was suffering from depression and getting over surgery. When I visited him he told me his story, and I asked if he would like prayer for healing? He said yes!
I take my anointing oil with me when visiting hospitals, so I anointed him and prayed over him for a release of the depression he was going through and his surgery recovery, and led him in the Lord’s Prayer which is so powerful.
After a few home truths I left him and the next day he said that during the night he felt a spiritual presence by his bed, and in that moment, he gave his life to Christ, and suddenly his depression left him! He hasn’t had an episode since, and his surgery recovery improved to such an extent he was released home in a few days.
I shared with him the need to pray the Lord’s Prayer everyday with his wife which he has been doing. Then this year his wife had a burst aneurysm on the brain and she wasn’t expected to live.
Her husband and I have prayed and prayed for healing every day since February and to this day we maintain our Prayer Vigil using the Lord’s Prayer as a healing tool.
At the moment, his wife has been moved to a rehab centre where she is starting to move her arms and legs and is talking to her family quite coherently. My friend knows there’s a long way to go but praises God for the small blessings so far.
He recently texted me with the words, “Oh Rev, your words are so timely and a reminder of the power of Christ in our lives. What you have said makes complete sense to me as I equally understand my own responsibilities to both Linda and our Lord.
Thank you Rev – the messages you pass on from upstairs drive me onward and upward. I cherish the support that God has given us. She now joins me in the Lord’s Prayer which in itself is such a powerful blessing and so beautiful. Thank you Rev.”
This is from a person who hasn’t been to church for years yet sees his conversion and continued growth in Christ as a result of a sporting Club with a Chaplain, who has been able to give support and guidance along the way. That is why today I praise God for each opportunity He provides me with. Now you know why Sports Chaplaincy is so important, and the place God has in it!”
