I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. (1 Corinthians 9:22b-23)
There’s an old saying: “What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?” The saying is used in conversations as sort of a rebuff of a person’s comment that seems to have no relevance to the topic being discussed.
That’s what some people might think when the term, “Pickleball” is used in reference to sharing the Gospel. “What do pickles have to do with sharing Jesus?” Actually, there is some debate as to the origin of the funny name for the fastest growing sport in America, but it is believed that the sport, made up by a family on vacation, named it after the family dog, Pickles.
Pickleball is a mixture of both competition and community. It’s a sport that is fairly easy to play, provides some light exercise, and doesn’t take a lot of time. “Okay, but what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?” I know that’s what you were thinking.
Well, evangelism (Sharing Jesus) is most effective through relationships. As I shared this past Sunday, a survey of 10,000 followers of Christ revealed that 79% of them started coming to church and came to Christ through the influence of a family member or friend. So, building relationships, with the intent of helping others come to know Christ, is a critical part of seeing people trust Christ, and see churches reach more people.
Judy Bowman is here with us for a few days. Her ministry has gone all over the United States, using athletics, specifically bicycling and Pickleball, to share the message of Jesus. She has seen firsthand how Pickleball can be used to draw people onto a church campus and give followers of Christ an opportunity to build relationships with those who do not yet know Him.
Here at Gateway we are blessed with a Family Life Center that affords us a world of possibilities for ministry, including having room for indoor Pickleball courts on our gym floor. This coming Tuesday, February 14, at 2:00 PM and Thursday, February 16, at 6:30 PM we are having an introduction to Pickleball event in the Family Life Center so that we can see what this game with the funny name is all about. And, how it might be used by God to reach more people.
Now, some people might wonder why we’re making an investment in something like Pickleball. The answer is simple. I don’t know what the price of tea is in China, but I do know what the price of dying without Christ is; an eternity in Hell. And, if God can use Pickleball and this church to see people come to Christ, then it will be worth it all.
So, why not come out Tuesday afternoon or Thursday evening and see what this game with the funny name is all about? You can participate as much as you like, or just watch and learn. Who knows, maybe you’ll like it? At the very least, you’ll get a good laugh watching your pastor take a beat-down from Judy the Pickleball lady.
As the Apostle Paul makes clear in the passage above, “I do all things for the sake of the gospel,” being willing to do whatever is necessary to share Jesus Christ with the world around us. It is both our privilege and our responsibility. So, let’s pick up a paddle and give Pickleball a shot. Who knows, it could turn out to be a really big dill. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
I love being your Pastor,
PC