We tell them that we're providing the infrastructure and support so you can do what you have been doing more effectively. And some churches form basketball teams, like the two that played in the Christian Basketball League at the Boys and Girls Club in Frankford last weekend. It's another way of Bible class. Number of victories isn't what wins in this league. Coaches understand that the lure of playing competitive basketball brings some of the players to the teams, and is an inducement to learn Scripture and attend Bible study.
Sport is a form of mentoring that works, they say.
This helps them understand that the Lord is involved in every aspect of their lives. I like going to Bible study, I'm used to it. My mom is straying away from church, but I'm trying to get her back on track. The Mentoring Partnership has not yet assessed how successful the programs spawned from its training sessions have been. But personal testimonies suggest that they are on the right track.