Why Not Give Christian Education a Sporting Chance?

Sport provides a range of exciting Christian education opportunities in schools and other contexts for the development of young people. An Action Research study explored the new school-based Sports Serve initiative. Some program features included student leadership development, experiential learning and service learning, and major sports events. Professional Development envisioned and supported teacher engagement. The applicability and efficacy of these initiatives were recorded through participant observation, brief student qualitative questionnaires and, for staff, a lengthy online quantitative questionnaire with short comments. Students and staff were optimistic in their reflections about these sports-based experiences of Christian education. The Sports Serve program is becoming imbedded in the culture of the College's senior school. While sport will engage many people, a limitation is a neutral or negative impact on some non-sporty students and staff. Further academic study, professional development, networking and resource development will potentially expand this initiative to not only other schools but also churches, mission organisations and community sports clubs.