Help Equip Spiritual Leaders in the Sports Community
The Challenge
How do we help athletes face specific problems and issues that are unique to them?
Athletes face unique issues such as illness and injury, inexperience and aging, peak performance and diminished ability, success and failure, publicity and obscurity, and not to mention the trappings of the world – gambling, wealth, and social status.
These players need a support-base specifically trained to respond to their unique needs. This support base may consist of pastors and ministers who have been taught about the pitfalls and typical circumstances in the sports world, as well as other athletes, coaches, and parents who have been equipped in basic theology, counseling, and community ministering skills. The goal is to surround athletes with a support group ready to provide Biblically-based support, encouragement, and community.
The Solution
The Sports Ministry Institute is designed to train and equip Sports Ministers to engage with athletes, coaches, and front office personnel. This will not only bring a biblical worldview to their profession but also set the example of Jesus Christ into their daily lives.
Certified Curriculum
Ongoing Training
Discipleship Groups for Athletes
Conferences and Seminars
Placement Service for Trained Ministers
Help Launch Grace’s Sports Ministry Institute
Our ultimate goal is to make a self-sustaining Sports Institute through memberships, placement services, and continuous training.
Funding is needed for the establishment of a team of people who will focus on creating the following:
- credentialed curriculum
- ongoing theological training to deal with sports-related issues
- discipleship
- conferences, seminars, and counseling for Ministers
- recruitment and placement services
- full video production for online training
- a Sports Ministry Network
OUR TEAM
Randy Youngling is an All-American Division 1 Basketball Player who has spent years in pastoring churches, and now athletes, through his association with the Positive Coaching Alliance. He received his ThM through Dallas Theological Seminary. He has a heart to pastor existing Ministers and train new people who are interested in serving the athletes at multiple levels.
DON COLEMAN MEMORIAL FUND
In order to continue Coach Coleman’s legacy and his desire to impact the lives of others for the Kingdom of God, the Don Coleman Memorial Fund has been created in his honor and to move forward his ministry for years to come. Your generous and fully tax-deductible contributions will help fund the launch of the Sports Ministry Institute (SMI) developed by and offered through two of Coach’s former players, Mark Rae (MHS Class of ’75) and Randy Youngling (MHS Class of ’70). As a ministry of Grace School of Theology, a full accredited seminary in The Woodlands, Texas, the vision of the SMI is to target, train, and equip women and men to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ within the broad world of sports, from Pre-K T-ball through the professional ranks, and everything in between.
With the help of professional athletes and former ministers who have served multiple professional teams, the curriculum has been designed to prepare men and women to intentionally engage athletes, their parents, coaches, and others in the world of sports, addressing the unique challenges associated with sports involvement. This 40-hour certificate program offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to receive this training.
Please help us continue to remember and perpetuate Coach Don Coleman’s legacy by investing in the Sports Ministry Institute.
ONLINE
Memorial gifts can be made securely online using the form below by mentioning “In Memory of Don Coleman” in the comment box.
Memorial gifts can also be sent to Grace School of Theology, 3705 College Park Drive, Suite 140, The Woodlands, TX 77384. Please write “In Memory of Don Coleman” on the check.
Source: CoachColeman.Org
Coach Coleman’s legacy goes far beyond the hardwoods of Texas high school gymnasiums. His passion for helping others and serving his Lord and Savior were the ultimate scoreboard for which Coach liked to be measured. Nothing meant more to Coach than a former player or student coming to him years after the fact and noting the difference he had made in their lives, and he always gave the glory to God.
In retirement, he dedicated much of his time serving his Lord through his commitment to Bethel Church, where he served as Chairman of Men’s Ministries and a mentor to younger men seeking to direct their lives in a Godly manner. In 2000, he was inducted in the Ring of Honor at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for which he had served for many years.
His favorite Bible verse was Philippians 3:14, “Press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”