Week 2 - Potential

This week's 4th and Inches dealt with 'Potential.' Shawn Campbell led the devotional as the Warrior Football team listened intently.

Potential is something that could happen or that may happen. The fact is that it hasn't happended yet. We all have potential the question is wheather we will tap into it.

When God looks at us He sees potential. He sees men and women of God. He sees people who will live godly lives. He sees people of integrity.  It's up to us however to fulfill the potential.

Shawn brought a great word and the players were challenged. We were also joined tonight by Brad Carter and Jeremiah Riner who spoke words of encouragement and prayer over the players. As we keep going with this thing God has called us to it keeps getting more and more exciting. I can't wait to see what is going to take place over the next several weeks.

The Warriors have a bye this week before squaring off with Sullivan Central next Friday night.

Week 1 - The Gladiator

Kelly sharing about Jesus being the ultimate gladiator

Being with the Central Warriors yesterday was simply awesome! The guys were reponsive and very respectful as me, Shawn Campbell, and Jeremiah Riner ministered. Jeremiah opened up in a word of prayer before I came and shared about who we were and what 4th and inches is about. As I began to share I began to notice so many familiar faces on the team many of whom I have coached myself, or taught. It really made me feel at home with them.

Week 1's devotion was dealing with how Jesus is the ultimate gladiator. The premise for this devotion comes from the fact that football players are often referred to as gladitors because of the "wars" they fight on the gridiron. Jesus is however the greatest gladitor of all time because He took the field one Friday Night and defeated death, hell, and the grave. What an awesome thing!! The players were encouraged to rely on the strength of God and know that they are not alone, they have a gladiator fighting for them.

Shawn Campbell ended our devotional time with a prayer and I broke the team down with Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Afterwards we talked with several of the fellas and enjoyed plenty of laughs.

Good luck to the Warriors tonight as they open their season against Thomas Walker.

Welcome

I have always been an athlete. I have always loved sports. I have always wanted to make a difference. I have not always followed Jesus. That all changed in the summer of 1997 when I surrendered my life and found salvation at the cross of Jesus Christ. Over the next 4 years I wanted so desperatley to do something for God but understood that I needed to learn and grow in my Christian walk. Then on a Sunday night in the summer of 2001 God gave me a vision of minstering to student-athletes. This however wasn't your tyical vision of ministering in a church setting. This was a vision of minstering to student-athletes on their turf and in their surroundings. It was the best of both worlds for me. A chance to make a difference for God through football and thus 4th and Inches was born.

So....What is 4th and Inches?

The whole design of 4th and Inches is simple: Take a cooler full of Gatorade and water to local high school football teams at the end of a practice, give them a drink, share a devotion, encourage them, and pray for them. Sounds simple, right? It really is. It is the Body of Christ not just telling about the Love of God but showing the Love of God. The old saying goes "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." It is that mindset that we carry every time we go and minister to these students.

What is the goal?

Anyone who follows football knows that on 4th and inches there is a CHOICE that has to be made. Do we go for it? Do we punt? We find in God's Word that we have a CHOICE to make as well. Joshua 24:15 enourages us to "Choose this day who we will serve." The goal of this ministry is to make these student-athletes aware that they have a choice to make in regards to their relationship with Jesus. We are not there to shove religion down their throats. We are there to make them think .

What has been the outcome?

Over the last 11 football seasons we have ministered to hundereds of football players from Wise (JJ Kelly and Central High), Pound (Pound High and Central High), and Norton. We have also seen many recieve Jesus as their personal Saviour. We have built lasting relationships. We have made a difference.

How was this made possible?
Volunteers (too many to count), donations (too many to count), an awesome church (Zion Family Ministries), and the Grace of God.

As we head into our 12th year I would like to encourage you to follow us and keep up on the happenings of  4th and Inches. In the end we all have a choice to make.