Jerry Morgan and His volleyball team the Trojans, lost their first game, but with a big smile on his face, he didn’t care. "We all had a blast," he said, as he left the gymnasium owned by The Grove Community Church in Riverside. Playing with his daughters, and son-in-law the 59- year -old salesman said, "There's no profanity, just good Christian fun. Morgan and 80 others paid $30 apiece on a recent Friday to join the volleyball league in the Grove's sports ministry.
As today's houses of worship attempt to cater to members' needs, pastors have found that physical outlets are as essential as spiritual and emotional gratification. "The family that prays together, stays together" could be the mantra at many of today's bigger churches. Scott Thumma, director of the Hartford Institute for Religious Research in Connecticut stated “Nowhere is this more evident than at mega churches, which have more than 2,000 members, and at what one author calls "giga churches," which have more than 10,000 members. Many offer state-of-the-art facilities, sports leagues and a smorgasbord of activities, from scuba diving to bowling, dodge ball to paintball and golf to tennis’. 56-year-old James Hucks, signed up in the Grove's gymnasium for his first volleyball season. He said, "I thought it might be my last chance to play competitive sports Thumma wrote in e-mail. Besides fellowship, sports provide a "subtle evangelistic effort" for members to invite their friends to "sample" their church. "The mega church (also) creates its own leagues for kids so as not to have to make them choose between soccer or church on Sunday mornings." Mike Jonker coordinates the sports ministry for Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside. Membership is estimated at 15,000 to 18,000. He said, “Organized religion and recreation, is one way to break down behemoth churches into smaller groups, His sport facility should be completed this year, until then the church rents a gym and uses playing fields in Norco. Jonker said. "Sports is an enticement, a great bridge to come to church for those who don't feel any connection "But we discourage members just to come for the sports." The names of this season's teams reflect their divine impetus: Clearly Committed, Repent, Soul Winners, Glory to God, Disciplines for Christ, Zion, Finish Well and Living Sacrifice. Jonker said, “A short Bible study precedes each game. "We try to keep the focus on growing with Christ. Ron Logue, who runs the men's basketball league at Cornerstone Community Church in Wildomar Stated, "When I play ball for 2 ½ hours, it's a stress relief," I can forget about the bills and job issues. I'm like a kid again. He keeps his eye on the ball and the Bible during basketball games. Logue adds 2 Scripture points onto a team's score for memorized verses recited at Bible study and 3 points for the correct interpretation. There is devotional at halftime. He said "This is not a city league where there's a lot of in-your-face chest pounding, "It's designed to connect men together. There are different rules." Logue shuffles players to fix unbalanced teams so there's no more than a 10-point spread. Two technical fouls and he will can that player for the season. No sacking, No taunting of poor players, no playing favorites. Logue said, "This is meant to be character building”. The players on the court have very deep and genuine concern for one another. Elders counsel young. Players have supported guys going through chemotherapy, men who have lost a child, and help to sponsor men who couldn't afford the cost to enter. Confidences have developed. James Twitchell believes Sports Ministries, as a ticket to male bonding is a huge selling point. He is the author of the 2007 book "Shopping for God: How Christianity Went From in Your Heart to in Your Face." He calls the clergy at mega churches, “Pastopreneurs.” They appeal directly to men, the crucial adopters of religions. James Twitchell, professor of English and advertising at the University of Florida in Gainesville said "To be sure, it was the big screens with words they can sing, the comfortable seats and the light doctrine," "But the greatest marketing innovation was to make them feel comfortable by providing what the women's movement did in -- men-only groups." Logue agrees. "Most definitely," he said. "You can get a guy to show up for basketball who won't show up for church."
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