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NEWS FROM CHRISTIAN TEAM MINISTRIES The CTM Coaching Ministry – It Changes Lives!
Recently, I received the following e-mail message from a mother about her two sons that I coached during the mid 1980’s at a public high school, in Grass Valley, California. When I first met one of the young men, he avoided any discussion about the Lord Jesus – But God changed his heart as our relationship developed – And then he introduced his brother to Christ!
“Hi Nick… Here’s an update: Gregg taught Chemistry and Physics for several years at Faith Christian Academy outside of Denver, while coaching volleyball. He and his wife are now full-time missionaries in La Victoria, Dominican Republic… Robb taught PE at Mercer Christian Academy in NJ and coached baseball. He spends part of the summer in Moldova and in the Ukraine conducting basketball clinics with a sports ministry called ‘Push the Rock.’ He is also married and is currently attending Seminary. I know that your influence has rubbed off on them. Thanks!”
One of CTM’s ministry projects is to enable mature Christians to become personally involved with young people by becoming mentors and coaches in our public schools and colleges. We are meeting a need the schools have: To provide quality coaching. Most schools, especially at the high school level, have a shortage of coaches and depend on “walk-ons” to fill their coaching staff positions.
I have been sharing my faith for over 38 years through coaching at various schools, while at the same time, working in full time ministry. From 1994 to December 2001, I coached at Yuba Community College in Marysville, California. From 2001 to 2003 I returned to coaching at the high school level, and later (2003-2007) served as head cross country/track & field coach at William Jessup University. I am currently an assistant coach at Rocklin High School, as well as coaching athletes from 12 schools at our CTM Indoor Pole Vault Training Center. Even though I work full-time with CTM (serving as Executive Director), our Board of Directors encourages me to continue coaching as a viable extension of ministry.
For many years we have also been mentoring mature Christians to begin coaching ministries primarily in the public schools. This is because we have the opportunity to share our faith in Christ with student-athletes who do not regularly attend churches and who might not otherwise hear the Gospel in any other way. Most of our nation’s young athletes are exceptional students in the secular classroom, but they are not yet Christians. Many, quite frankly, are actually GOSPEL IGNORANT! Through the CTM coaching ministries over the years, there have been literally hundreds of students begin a personal relationship with Christ.
It is our vision to train Christian young people in practical ministry skills and to help prepare them for future ministry service. In addition, we are encouraging Christian athletes to be involved in local sports ministry opportunities and short-term missionary service. Many of them, like Gregg and Robb, have transferred to Christian Colleges after they have left our programs and are teachers, coaches, pastors, and missionaries today. In addition, scores of students who have received the Lord through our “CTM Coaching Ministry” have joined us on CTM sports ministry tours to the Philippines and other countries. Moreover, we've helped countless numbers of young athletes escape the grasp of various cults and enter eternal life through a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Please be praying for all of our coaching ministry staff as well as the student-athletes who God has placed in our sphere of influence.
Thank you and God bless you! Nick Vogt Nick Vogt, Executive Director
PS: Your financial investment each month helps us continue our ministry with youth through athletic events, camps, mission trips, and the CTM Coaching Ministry. These ministries provide many ways we make contact with people who would otherwise never step through the door of a church. Your support of CTM is helping people receive God’s Gift of Eternal Life through a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We depend on your faithful prayers and your monthly investments to CTM. Thank you for your April investment. May God bless you richly! |
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Cale & Rob Simmons - Top prep Pole Vaulters |