During the game...before the spiritual battle for eternal life.Tuesday, November 21, 2006
An Excited Audience
Jason addressing a bit more than half the remaining crowd (estimated at 2500) while the Kings listen during their cooling off stretches.
Team Effort
A backup squad of others who love the King of Kings...left to right...Debbie King (Athletics), Ric Chapman (Sports Journalist and Author), Steven Meredith (Sydney Roosters), Allison Shreeve (World Champion Windsurfer), Jeremy Rolleston (Winter Olympian Australian 2-Man Bobsled), and Marty Wilson (NSW Waratahs).
Carla and the Captain
Jason providing some support for Carla as she shared from her heart.
Jason sharing the Good News about Jesus with the audience.
King and Servant
Rodney Elliott declares his love for the King of Kings...His King--Jesus! The Team Chaplain prays for those who responded to the message.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
14 Hours "after the fact"
18 November...Firepower Sydney Kings Jason Smith Fan Game...
What a great night…basketball and blessings from God !!!
With the fan base of almost 4000, bolstered by an additional 1721 near-rabid fan night supporters, the Sydney Kings won a huge game against Dragons by four points in overtime!
The coach had a game plan, the captain--Jason Smith--lead well, and the team responded with heart and enthusiasm.
More importantly (from an eternal perspective) at least seven people (of the several thousand who stayed after the game) indicated that they had asked Jesus to come into their lives after hearing Jason’s journey story and brief explanation of the Good News about new life in Jesus.
Six minutes after the game, the basket was lower at one end of the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Brian Goorjian, the head coach gave a brief welcome and gave Jason a glowing (and probably unnecessary) introduction. Seven other professional and world class sportsmen and sportswomen, including one of Jason’s teammates (Rodney Elliot) lined up behind Jason and each took the microphone to tell the quieting crowd that like Jason, they loved the Kings…and the King of Kings.
It was especially powerful and touching to have Jason’s wife (Carla) stand with the others and tell the crowd that she loved the Kings…the King of Kings…and the captain of the Kings. She told how Jason’s faith had been a rock for her recently as they have recently been through major illness, a move, and renovation hell. When she choked up a bit, Jason came and put his arm around her and they both won everyone’s heart.
The captain then got about business and shared briefly how he had come to Christ at what was then the height of his career. He was far from “down and out”…everything was going well for him but he suddenly realized that wasn’t enough. There must be something more to life. With that awareness he gave himself to Christ in a simple bedside prayer.
Jason concluded the post-game programme with a brief explanation of the saving work of Jesus on our behalf…and the “how to’s” of responding to Him. He asked everyone to bow their heads and close their eyes in respect for those who might also want to say a simple prayer of response to Christ right then. In addition to those who indicated a response by a show of hands, a nine-year old boy came up to me afterwards and told me that he had “said the prayer”.
I realized that from an eternal perspective that one small “win” was worth far more than the Kings win against the Dragons. What a privilege for us to be involved in such weighty matters!
The audience was extremely receptive and positive about the evening and the programme. It was especially encouraging to have the entire Kings team on the court behind Jason doing their normal warm-down stretches and listening carefully to the message. I had both fans and Kings management asking me when we were going to do it again.
What a great night…basketball and blessings from God !!!
With the fan base of almost 4000, bolstered by an additional 1721 near-rabid fan night supporters, the Sydney Kings won a huge game against Dragons by four points in overtime!
The coach had a game plan, the captain--Jason Smith--lead well, and the team responded with heart and enthusiasm.
More importantly (from an eternal perspective) at least seven people (of the several thousand who stayed after the game) indicated that they had asked Jesus to come into their lives after hearing Jason’s journey story and brief explanation of the Good News about new life in Jesus.
Six minutes after the game, the basket was lower at one end of the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Brian Goorjian, the head coach gave a brief welcome and gave Jason a glowing (and probably unnecessary) introduction. Seven other professional and world class sportsmen and sportswomen, including one of Jason’s teammates (Rodney Elliot) lined up behind Jason and each took the microphone to tell the quieting crowd that like Jason, they loved the Kings…and the King of Kings.
It was especially powerful and touching to have Jason’s wife (Carla) stand with the others and tell the crowd that she loved the Kings…the King of Kings…and the captain of the Kings. She told how Jason’s faith had been a rock for her recently as they have recently been through major illness, a move, and renovation hell. When she choked up a bit, Jason came and put his arm around her and they both won everyone’s heart.
The captain then got about business and shared briefly how he had come to Christ at what was then the height of his career. He was far from “down and out”…everything was going well for him but he suddenly realized that wasn’t enough. There must be something more to life. With that awareness he gave himself to Christ in a simple bedside prayer.
Jason concluded the post-game programme with a brief explanation of the saving work of Jesus on our behalf…and the “how to’s” of responding to Him. He asked everyone to bow their heads and close their eyes in respect for those who might also want to say a simple prayer of response to Christ right then. In addition to those who indicated a response by a show of hands, a nine-year old boy came up to me afterwards and told me that he had “said the prayer”.
I realized that from an eternal perspective that one small “win” was worth far more than the Kings win against the Dragons. What a privilege for us to be involved in such weighty matters!
The audience was extremely receptive and positive about the evening and the programme. It was especially encouraging to have the entire Kings team on the court behind Jason doing their normal warm-down stretches and listening carefully to the message. I had both fans and Kings management asking me when we were going to do it again.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
12 Hour Countdown
If all goes according plan…in exactly twelve hours from putting fingers to keyboard…
The captain of the Firepower Sydney Kings will have just concluded a 20 minute message of hope with over 3000 fans following an exciting game against the South Dragons.
Jason Smith (also captain of the Australian National Team—the Boomers) will be standing on the court addressing over 1700 fans who came to hear his journey story of faith…and hopefully thousands more who only came to see a game but will walk away having had the opportunity to experience God’s love personally.
I will report more details in the next couple of days. So many “God things” have happened already with this event, that I am trusting Him to truly manifest his glory tonight through a simple message by a faithful servant.
There is an “interview” story with Jason about the programme…and his intentions with it…as the feature story on the Kings website at…
The captain of the Firepower Sydney Kings will have just concluded a 20 minute message of hope with over 3000 fans following an exciting game against the South Dragons.
Jason Smith (also captain of the Australian National Team—the Boomers) will be standing on the court addressing over 1700 fans who came to hear his journey story of faith…and hopefully thousands more who only came to see a game but will walk away having had the opportunity to experience God’s love personally.
I will report more details in the next couple of days. So many “God things” have happened already with this event, that I am trusting Him to truly manifest his glory tonight through a simple message by a faithful servant.
There is an “interview” story with Jason about the programme…and his intentions with it…as the feature story on the Kings website at…
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
18 November--Jason Smith Fan Day
Immediately after the regular season game between the Firepower Sydney Kings and the South Dragons... Jason Smith, the Captain of both the Kings and the Boomers (our Australian National Team) will be sharing his journey story of faith in Jesus from the court with any fans who choose to stay back and listen. In anticipation of a positive and refreshing look into the inside life of a professional basketball player and follower of Jesus, Sydney schools and churches are encouraging their people to swell the ranks of the Kings fans. Those groups involved are able to purchase tickets for just $10 per person. The Kings have promised to provide a free clinic to any school that can sell 70 tickets for this game. Interest is high in many schools.
EXtreme TRaining Arvo--2
22 October saw our second EXtreme TRaining Arvo in less than a year. We had approximately 30 professional and elite sportsmen and sportswomen show up to interact on how to better use their personal sporting success as a platform for sharing the Good News with others.
It was extremely exciting to see three professional basketball players (from two different teams)... four rugby league... one rugby union... several hockey... a summer and a (different) winter Olympian... a former boxer... and a tennis player (along with a number of other sports represented) joining together to engage in ministry training for 4 hours.
This year in addition to talking about how to share our journey stories, how to share His story, and how to most effectively use the media to get the message across, we also just sat around a bit and talked about what God had done with us in the ten month since our last training.
The written evaluations were overwhelmingly positive. Looks like we are on to a "winner" as far as meeting an unusual niche need. Our thinking is to have another training afternoon in March or April of 2007.
There were several great stories of personal courage and opportunities seized, but one highlight for me was the story of a new "fellowship group" springing up in the rugby league community. After our meeting last year, a couple of the league players started meeting for a bit of fellowship and some praises with a guitar after footie training. As others started to come along and join them the group outgrew the garage where they were meeting and has since outgrown two other venues. The group is called "PowerUp". They presently have up to 200 people meeting on Thursday nights out near Campelltown. At a recent special "outreach" meeting there were over 500 people attending. God is moving in the rugby league world.
It was extremely exciting to see three professional basketball players (from two different teams)... four rugby league... one rugby union... several hockey... a summer and a (different) winter Olympian... a former boxer... and a tennis player (along with a number of other sports represented) joining together to engage in ministry training for 4 hours.
This year in addition to talking about how to share our journey stories, how to share His story, and how to most effectively use the media to get the message across, we also just sat around a bit and talked about what God had done with us in the ten month since our last training.
The written evaluations were overwhelmingly positive. Looks like we are on to a "winner" as far as meeting an unusual niche need. Our thinking is to have another training afternoon in March or April of 2007.
There were several great stories of personal courage and opportunities seized, but one highlight for me was the story of a new "fellowship group" springing up in the rugby league community. After our meeting last year, a couple of the league players started meeting for a bit of fellowship and some praises with a guitar after footie training. As others started to come along and join them the group outgrew the garage where they were meeting and has since outgrown two other venues. The group is called "PowerUp". They presently have up to 200 people meeting on Thursday nights out near Campelltown. At a recent special "outreach" meeting there were over 500 people attending. God is moving in the rugby league world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)