Power Quote“I hate quotes. Tell me what you know...” Diary |
- 1. How can I have a Christian devotional for my team when I am not sure if all of my parents would approve?
- 2. When is the best time to do these devotionals?
- 3. What if it is not possible to do these devotionals as a team? Can I do them as a parent with my child or as a family?
- 4. Does every child on the team need their own book?
- 5. Why are there activities in the book that can not be done at the ball field?
- 6. Can these devotionals be used as part of a church curriculum?
- 7. What is the target age range for these devotionals?
1. How can I have a Christian devotional for my team when I am not sure if all of my parents would approve?
Every situation is different, but we have found it to be successful for coaches (or an interested parent or team mom) to offer to do these devotionals as optional, and to have them 15 minutes before or after practice, so that it does not interfere with regularly scheduled practice time. Open communication is important...tell the parents what you would like to do, show them the book, address any questions they have, make sure that they know that this is optional, and invite them to listen in and participate if you want. I know this may be new and a bit uncomfortable for you to have this conversation with a new set of parents at the start of a season (it was for me as well). Keep in mind that you could be making an eternal difference in the life of a child that may not otherwise be hearing about the love of Jesus. In some cases, you may not know until you get to Heaven the impact that these devotionals may have had.
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not useful2. When is the best time to do these devotionals?
Although we started doing these devotionals at the ball field on game day, we realize that is not practical in most situations. See the question above about regarding successful tips on having these devotionals before or after practice.
useful not useful3. What if it is not possible to do these devotionals as a team? Can I do them as a parent with my child or as a family?
Definitely. These devotionals can be done one-on-one between a parent and a younger child. Older kids will be able to read the devotionals and do the activities on their own if they want. Also, these devotionals are great for parents to use as family devotionals. Nothing brings families closer together than studying the Word of God!
useful not useful4. Does every child on the team need their own book?
No. It is not required for every child to have their own book. A coach or parent can lead the discussion from one book. That being said, the original intent was for everyone to have a copy of the book for many reasons. First, we included activities in the book that will be fun for the kids and in many cases, will reinforce the lesson. There are also Bible references included that will allow the kids to seek out more verses related to the topic being discussed. Secondly, the attention span for kids is short, especially in a group setting at a ball field. Having their own copy will allow them to spend time in the book at their own pace. Lastly, the “Instant Replay” feature allows them to review the key concepts from the prior week. Many kids end up missing practice for whatever reason, meaning they will miss out on hearing one of these devotionals that may have a positive impact on them.
I would like to provide copies for everyone on my team, but it is not financially feasible. What do you suggest? I completely understand. Here are some options. Many teams look for sponsors to cover the cost of uniforms, equipment, and tournament fees. Some of that money could be used to cover devotionals for the team. We have reduced the price to $6 a copy when you buy 9 or more, which will generally be <$75 for
useful not useful5. Why are there activities in the book that can not be done at the ball field?
This was done intentionally because we want kids to be in the book off the field as well. Kids learn differently. Some learn more when they listen, while others learn more when they read. Also, the activities are designed to spark an interest and cause them to want to use the book on their own.
useful not useful6. Can these devotionals be used as part of a church curriculum?
Yes. Sunday School leaders or small group Bible study leaders may want to do these devotionals as a part of a ten week series during that sports season to spark interest and identify with the kids. These lessons were designed to be ~15 minutes. Therefore, it may be necessary to build out some other content or discussion questions around the topic for that day. Contact us to obtain a soft copy of the activities that you can download and print for your entire class.
useful not useful7. What is the target age range for these devotionals?
The baseball and softball books are designed for ages 5-13. That is a large span, so I encourage parents or coaches to read through and tailor the message to meet the age and spiritual condition of the kids. Based on feedback, most, if not all, of the future devotionals will have a version for younger kids and a version for older kids.
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