Longtime friend Randy Curless is the Program Director of a great ministry utilizing sports in ministry, Sports Crusaders. (www.sportscrusaders.org). It is effective and affordable ministry … because the camps and staff come to the church property!
“What is “Sports Crusaders?"
“Sports Crusaders is a Christ centered organization that connects people with Jesus Christ and the local church by using sports and recreational activities through life-changing common ground ministries. The main effort is accomplished through the common ground ministries listed below….
“Sports Crusaders provides quality sports camps for children and youth. We offer skill-enhancing camps in four sporting endeavors: basketball, soccer, cheerleading, volleyball, and baseball/softball.
“Since our camps began in 1994 we have had more than 1500 camps and more than 40,250 children have attended these camps. More than 4,900 have made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior meaning 1 out of 8 campers have made a profession of faith….”
About Sports Crusaders’ Program Coordinator, Randy Curless …
Randy up in St Louis, Missouri in a very committed Christian home. As a result, he knew from the beginning that inviting Jesus Christ to take control of his life was the right thing to do. On Sunday night, October 27, 1963, he went forward and prayed and asked Jesus Christ to take control of his life. He and his dad started the Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle at McCluer North High School when he started there in 1973. During his junior year in high school, that he felt God leading him to a full-time Christian service. Randy attended Southwest Missouri State University and received a degree in Recreation/Leisure Studies. He then studied at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received a Masters of Divinity degree. He has served churches in Missouri, Louisiana, and Florida.
In May 2004, God led him to focus on his passion: sports evangelism/discipleship. He contacted his long-time friend and advisor, Bobby Shows. He said, “Boy, I think you ought to come work at Sports Crusaders.” On October 1, 2004, I went to work with Sports Crusaders and have been there ever since.
Randy is a the host of the weekly radio show Sports Crusaders Live, a year round mentor to our male summer staffers, chaplain for the River City Rascals minor league baseball team, and an adjunct Professor at Missouri Baptist University teaching the principles of sports evangelism.
Joan and I are delighted that our son, David Hendrick – on the Discipleship Development Team of the Missouri Baptist Convention – regularly partners with Randy in advancing the Gospel of Jesus with young people.