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.
No comments:
Post a Comment