Live The Great

As spring approaches, images of baseball spring to mind. The smell of fresh cut grass, the warmth of leather gloves, and the crack of a bat connecting to ball evoke strong memories in many of us. What better way to meet other KCBT members and reach out to our community than joining us at the KCBT ball park this spring? Leagues for children and adults are forming now; space is limited so sign up today! Our leagues are designed to be enjoyable for those of all skill levels.

Prefer to watch games rather than play? Why not signup to help keep score and do both! You can also help serve food and beverages in our concession stand, keep our grounds tidy between games, help prepare the fields for games, or help umpire games. You’ll find more information on areas of service on our league pages, or you can contact Scott Gates if you’d like more information.

This article was written by KCBT staff member Erin Coleman.

Do you see the field? I see it too, but the field I see is one full of the potential of a mission, one that reaches across an entire community and one that can impact the future of the schools and workplaces of the community for the better.  This field is one that brings hope and love to dysfunction and confusion.  It provides opportunity for making a difference and it provides it at the most basic and foundational core of humanity: relationships.  These are not forced and awkward relationships full of agenda and distrust but natural relationships found on common ground.  Without this common ground, how can we as the church relate?  How do we meet the people who are God’s heart?  How to we enjoy each other and minister to each other as part of the same community?

The answers are on the field.  Right now it is covered in leaves and sticks and the grass is dried and brown.  Surely the answers do not lie here.  We have been given a vision and a mission, but surely this is not the right place to act on it.  It is too easy, it is too close, it doesn’t cost us much more than a Saturday morning and a few blisters.  But I say, if we can’t meet here, if we can’t change this field, what can we change?  So, an invitation has been given, a challenge has been cast.

Find your mission on the field, clean it up and let it be the start of a season of growth.  KCBT Ball Fields Workday is Saturday, March 28, 2009.  For more information or to signup, click here or contact Scott Gates at 816.358.0988 x 2137.

Get ready KCBT Basketball is about to begin!

Kansas City Baptist Temple Adult Basketball league is a ministry that attracts not only KCBT members but also families from the surrounding area.  This is inexpensive Friday night fun for both men and women and also an open door to the surrounding community.

Online sign-ups begin December 1 and continue through January 5 (or until leagues are filled), with a small one-time fee of $35. The men’s league is limited to 80 men; the women’s league is limited to 40 women. Don’t have a computer? Athletic Ministry Leaders will be available at the Connections Counter on December 21, 28, and January 4 to help you register, or you can talk with one of the Connections Counter workers. Practice games will be held on January 2 and 9 to dust off any cob webs. The season begins January 16, and childcare will be provided for regular games.

If you would like to help but can’t play there is always a need for help with childcare, scorekeeping, and officiating.  For additional information concerning basketball or information concerning volunteering please contact Michael Pruitt.

This article was written by KCBT Staff member Adrienne Anderson.

You’ve been asked to play volleyball this season at Kansas City Baptist Temple. The only problem, your last fleeting memory of spiking a ball over a net was a number of years ago, and even then you didn’t have people coming up to you saying that you should considering becoming a professional. No, volleyball is a whole new world to you.  So, why sign-up?

The league is competitive but in a well balanced way. Yes, people want to win, but there is an understanding that you can have fun while playing a good game. Even if you play more like Kermit the Frog than Kerri Walsh, you will still have fun, and possibly learn how to volley.

There are other bonuses to signing up for Volleyball as well: you can save money! Yes, that is right for only $20 you have almost three months of Saturday night excitement and fun. Do you have kids? No problem! Free child care is provided while you play. So, Instead of asking yourself, “why sign-up?” you might want to ask, “why not?”

This article was written by KCBT Directions Pastor Dale Moline.

During softball tournaments last Saturday evening (July 20) I was down in the parking lot between games. As I began to walk back to the ballpark there was a young Army soldier dressed in full uniform. I stopped him and introduced myself as a former military man myself. We exchanged some military jargon and experiences. We quickly connected on common ground. He was a very sincere young man who is attending college while serving in the Army Reserve.

The soldier lives in St. Joseph, but was spending the night in Kansas City because his unit was traveling to Ft. Riley early Sunday morning for two weeks of special training. He had seen the bright ball field lights on the hill from afar off. So he drove toward the lights hoping to catch a baseball game, a favorite sport of his.

I pointed toward our church buildling across the street and invited him to visit on a Sunday morning. After a farewell we headed opposite directions. Then the Holy Spirit stopped me in my tracks. “This may be the only time you ever talk to that young man. Go catch him and tell him about Jesus Christ.” So I ran toward him and called out his name. He did an about face and met me half way.

“Soldier,” I said, “Can I ask you a personal question?” When he replied that I could, I asked if he had any spiritual beliefs. When he replied that he was a Christian I asked him what that meant. He answered that he was a good person who prayed quite a bit.

I next asked if he had ever had an experience with God. He replied, “When I was seventeen years old my life was a wreck and my best friend was killed. My godparents started taking me to church.” I proceeded to tell him those were good things but he also needed a personal relationship with God. I told him about God sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for him and he needed forgiveness for sin and eternal life.

“But how?”he asked. Very briefly I laid out the simple Gospel message. I asked if he would like to pray with me right now and settle the issue. “Yes” he said. I asked him to listen to my prayer and if he agreed with the words I said to repeat them to God because He is up there above those clouds listening to you. He took off is Army cap and prayed the sinner’s prayer. After we said, “Amen,” he finished and sighed some relief.

“Nobody can take your personal relationship with Jesus Christ from you,” I told him. I then suggested he read the Gospel of John and allow God’s Spirit to help him understand what he read.

This young man at Ft. Riley is now a child of God. I invited him to visit our church sometime and ask someone to lead him to Sgt. Moline. I plan to follow up on him in the weeks to come. This was truly a divine appointment. Praise God he uses the bright lights upon that hill!

Matthew 5:14 - Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Don’t dust off your baseball cleats just yet!  We are gearing up for our Men’s Fall Softball League.  This league is for the men that have the love of the sport in their blood.  We play double-headers each Friday night starting August 15 through tournaments in October.

League cost of $30.00 includes a team shirt; space is limited (52) so sign up today. Contact Ward DIckmann for more information.

Close your eyes.  Imagine standing at home plate, your heart is pounding; the pitch is coming in, you starting anticipating the swing, your instincts tell you to do it.  You hear the bat connect and the ball goes soaring.  The crowd goes wild.  This can describe the excitement and adrenaline rush for any ball player –whatever the age, skill or nationality.   If you have a love for the game, we have a plan for you that far exceeds your imagination.

Men,  join the focused team for KCBT’s Men’s Fall Softball League.  We are drafting a team during the month of July that will not only play the game with passion but also explore options for ministry at KCBT and abroad.   During the fall league (August – October) the team will unite and play double-header games on Friday nights.   Ladies, we always need scorekeepers. Then during November and December, leaders from our Grand Slam Youth League will teach you how to teach the fundamentals of baseball and different coaching techniques.  (Girls are welcome too!) But it doesn’t stop there! In January 2009, you will have an open door to teach baseball fundamentals to teenage boys in the Dominican Republic.

This plan will put you on a path for significant spiritual growth. Your faith will grow as you trust God to prove His greatness to you by providing resources to go. Just answer for yourself, “How big is my God?” Your view of ministry will change as you see baseball and the kids through God’s eyes. You will be challenged as God’s servant by leading a group of kids who are watching you, who want to know how you live your life for God. You will be challenged to teach principles of discipleship to a group of pastors in the Dominican Republic.

At this point, you have probably decided you are not interested or are asking, “What will it cost me?” There is a sacrifice and price to pay to passionately follow God. It will cost a week of vacation time. It will be a little less time with your family. To join this team for the Fall Softball League, the regular league fee will be waived.  Instead a $100 fee will go towards your non-refundable deposit and commitment to go to the Dominican Republic.  The trip estimated cost of the trip is $850 plus airfare.  To sign up or for more information, contact Scott Gates or Rod Suydam before July 31.

Fall League Signup Note

Please contact Scott Gates or Rod Suydam for your non-refundable deposit to be applied to the trip; do not register for Fall Softball through the regular Fall Softball signups.

Soon you will hear the first referee’s whistle blown. Soon you can pull up your shin guards and lace up your cleats. Soon you will hear the whoosh of the soccer ball hitting the net. Soon Soccer Season will begin and the earlier you sign-up the better.

Open registration begins June 1and ends June 30. A $10 late fee will be applied from July 1 to the end of registration. Practices begin August 4 and games begin August 16! The season is going fast. Space is limited so register today!

Registration fees include uniform, field equipment and field use. All players must meet the age requirement by August 1, 2008 and have a completed release agreement.

$45.00: Birth Date 07/31/04 – 08/01/02
$65.00: Birth Date 07/31/02 – 08/01/93

All practices and games are held at the Blue Ridge Sports Complex located at 55th and Blue Ridge Cut-Off. All games will be played on Saturdays; practices will be held Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday evenings.

Divisions are divided by age as indicated; all divisions are co-ed.

U6: Birth Date 07/31/04 – 08/01/02
U9: Birth Date 07/31/02 – 08/01/99
U12: Birth Date 07/31/99 – 08/01/96
U15: Birth Date 07/31/96 – 08/01/93

Interested in helping? There are a number of volunteers needed to make this soccer season the best it has ever been. Those positions to fill include but are not restricted to coaching, assistant coaching, concessions and refereeing. If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions concerning Soccer Season 2008, please contact Scott Parrie or Donna Bruce at 816.358.0988 x 2082. Anyone working with children must complete a KCBT Screening Form for Youth Workers and the State of Missouri Caregiver Background Screening Form.

This article was written by KCBT member Rod Suydam

It is said that every child has that one adult in their life that has greatly influenced them. Perhaps you can recall the mentor of your childhood? Was it a math, English, art or music teacher? Was it your grandfather that took you hunting, fishing, or on tractor rides through the pastures? Maybe it was your Grandmother as she spoke wisdom from the garden rows or served your favorite homemade pie? For me it was a baseball coach.

School was out for the summer and I was excited to get to my first baseball practice. While hurriedly peddling my bike down the street the front wheel lost traction in the gravel. The fall was abrupt and graceless. I found myself sprawled in pain in the middle of the street. It was all I could do to pick myself up and finish the journey to the ball field. Upon arriving I quickly made a desperate bee-line for the coach. I exposed my painful, bloody wounds and erupted into uncontrollable sobs.

The coach promptly attended to my wounds with Bactine, applied band-aids and cheered my heart with words of comfort. When finished his final encouragement came in the form of a swat on the backside, a nudge towards the ball field and a wish for a good practice.

I always watched Coach Bennet. The way that he ran the leagues and coached our team. The manner in which he talked to us kids. He was a pillar in the community. He played with his grandkids in his big back yard. They later named the high school gym after him. All he really did for that honor was to spend time coaching us, the neighborhood kids.

The Blue Ridge Sports Association provides an amazing opportunity to serve the community kids and their families. Many come to us with painful scrapes on their lives. I presently have three boys on my team whose dads have passed away. They were quick to tell me that. The season has begun and now twelve sets of eyes look to you.

A coach in our league does not merely throw a ball on the field and say “Now go play guys while I sit here and watch”. It is so much more exciting than that. For the next ten weeks we become Baseball/Softball Coaches. This entails the responsibilities that are inclusive of the following: part time Public Relations Administrator, part Meteorologist, part Psychologist , part Drill Instructor, part Nurse, part Pastor, part athletic authoritarian, part mentor, part Dad, part Mom - yet full time Coach.

As Yogi Berra once said, “90% of the game is half mental”.

In my opinion we are stewards of the best league in the metro area. This happens because of the quality of coaches that set the mood for this ministry.

If this task seems daunting there are a few resources to enable you to be the effective coach that you were meant to be.

1. Remember that God has called you into his work. What he has called you to do he will also do it! We have a great church family and Pastors that will equip you for the work of the ministry. The Spirit will lead. All you have to do is to listen and obey. Keep life that simple.
2. Athletic Director Scott Gates does a great job overseeing the entire ministry. Whether you need help with scheduling, equipment, spiritual questions, coaching or demonstrating the baseball fundamental “how-to’s”, he will be there for your every need.
3. Plug in somewhere to catch the fever. We are always in need of coaches, scorekeepers, umpires, grounds crew, concession stand worker, photographers, trash picker uppers, weed pullers, grass mowers and so much more. Learn to grow in the largest ministry of KCBT. Exercise your gifts and faith by working with young boys and girls who come to us to learn to play baseball. As a special bonus unbeknownst to them, they also learn Christ! It’s not too late to get involved.
4. Division Leaders and Veteran Coaches. There are key people in the place of leadership that have “been there and done that” and made every mistake along the way. They have studied and perfected the ministry. They have given themselves wholly to it. Feel free to ask them any questions or ask for help for areas of weakness that you may have. Perhaps it is how to deal with a parent in a tense situation, rule interpretation, or how to instruct the five steps of pitching.
5. Be a student of the game! Buy the books. Rent the DVD’s. Search the web. Talk to a professional instructor. Play the game yourself! Cal Ripken has great resources for both coaches and players. The more fundamentally minded you are the better coach you will be.
6. Join the DR team. Each winter, Scott Gates and I lead a BRSA ministry team to Santiago, Dominican Republic. Yes, while you are hibernating, shoveling snow, and enduring freezing temperatures, some of our very own are playing baseball on a tropical island that is beautiful, warm and sunny. What a life! As great as that may seem there is a sacrifice involved on our part. We organize 15-20 committed team members. Their gifts, athletic talent, or involvement does not matter. Practice begins in the fall with the Adult Softball League. For four months we practice in the areas of baseball fundamentals, discipleship, missions and ministry leadership. While in the DR we lead a week long baseball clinic for boys ages 13-16. We minister to the missionaries and the community. We also provide a discipleship conference for the local Pastors. Then at night we play a week long double-header tournament of fast-pitch softball with local teams. Upon our return to Kansas City, we provide a baseball/softball clinic for our own BRSA kids. Click here for the 2008 trip summary.

We invite you to come join our team! For more info, contact Scott Gates at 816.358.0988 x 2137.

May your kids learn baseball as being fun and see Christ as Savior this season!

What sport boasts of having the biggest fan base world wide? That would be soccer! To say it is a widely celebrated sport in Europe and Latin America would be an understatement. Soccer in Europe is the life blood of so many fans that they see the sport as their own “religion”. The fact that there is a church named after Diego Armando Maradona proves that point. Here at KCBT we do not take soccer to that extent but we do have people that love the sport. While some shy away of the sport because they don’t “know it”, it is really an easy game. There are no more than 17 easy rules to follow. Have you ever tried to teach someone the rules of baseball or American football? Talk about a headache!

In just a few months our 2008 Youth Soccer season begin. We want you to know there is a place for you to come and be actively involved in changing lives. We have a growing number of people that are investing time and talents in training young players in the fundamentals of the game. And at the same time they are finding ways to engage in God’s Mission to love those around them by sharing His love. Part of our ministry here is to provide an avenue where sports can be used as a tool to reach out to players, families, and communities through sharing of God’s Word and reaching out to help those in need.

If you would like to be a part of the upcoming season we are always in need of head coaches, assistant coaches, and referees. Sign ups for players will be held from the end of May and the entire month of June. Practices begin in early August. More information and signup links will be posted here in late May. If you have specific questions now you can e-mail our Youth Soccer leader, Scott Parrie. We look forward to meeting you up on the field and engaging in God’s mission.