Welcome to the aftermath of the first weekend of soccer games! I saw tons of fun and heard lots of happy cheers and giggles as the players got their first taste of 2018 CSports Soccer. Thank you all for your hard work getting this thing going! My staff have worked very hard (as they do each season of each sport) but could get nothing accomplished were it not for your spirit and dedication. Sorry for the problems with the pavilion bathrooms on game day. Turned out to be a minor problem with an easy fix.

By now all you coaches and team parents have certainly learned that you have become “ministers” by accepting the responsibilities of guiding your teams. My staff and I work to equip and encourage you, but frankly, the players will not remember us when they grow up and begin coaching the next generation; they will remember you along with all you taught them about teamwork and sportsmanship. It is our goal for them to also grow spiritually from your devotions and from your Christian leadership and mentoring.

If you are with us for a few seasons you will hear or read where I reference Deuteronomy 6:4-9 regularly. It tells us our purpose. It says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Basically, Live your faith, show your faith, and spread your faith! The C in CSports stands for Christ, the Son of God, who came to earth to teach us and died to save us. Wear it proudly and teach your children what it means that they are wearing that on their shirts.

Our church mantra is to LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE, AND CHANGE THE WORLD. One child at a time. One team at a time. One family at a time. You, desk volunteers, Prayer Partners, are all are world changers. Live it faithfully.

Thank you for all you do for this ministry! See you on the field!

In His Service,

Steve Ellisor, Recreation Minister

Christ United Methodist Church

251-706-3326

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:6