Soccer snafu

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[AgathaL'Orange]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200906120405/OPINION04/906120339
[The link is no longer valid, here is the archived text of the article (puff)]

Soccer was misused as way to proselytize

June 12, 2009

Recently, I registered my daughter for Central City Soccer, sponsored by the Walnut Creek Church. The flier for this activity came home in a folder from her elementary school.

The first practice was June 4 at Evelyn K. Davis Park. As I sat and watched, two things became evident: This "league" was really a ruse to provide an opportunity to proselytize to young children, and the program appears to be taking on a "colonial" attitude toward the community at large.

Why would the school district distribute what amounts to religious literature? Even though the flier didn't state the real intentions of the program, I was told by the woman directing activities, "I am sorry you were misinformed," when I stated that I thought this was a soccer league and not an opportunity to proselytize.

In one hour of practice, the young coaches spent 50 minutes speaking and proselytizing, and the children spent 10 minutes practicing soccer.

The ratio of Caucasian to minority children was roughly 20/80. The ratio of Caucasian to minority staff was roughly 90/10. This really smacks of an attempt by an influential, semiwealthy, primarily Caucasian church to try to dictate to a large minority group what they should believe. It looks like 21st century colonialism.

I welcome the coaches' efforts to try and teach good sportsmanship. I would even welcome team prayers or teaching values of good sportsmanship through the examples that Jesus laid out. But why try to convert or convince young children of this message? Their efforts are misplaced. We won't be returning to this activity.

- Rusty Eklund, Des Moines

What? You just want your kids to play soccer?

[LucyB]

The Walnut Creek Community Church Website does not mention that they are affiliated with the Great Commission Association of Churches. Even if the parents do their homework, they do not have enough information to make an informed decision.

[Flying Beetle]

The Decorah Summer Project (can't post a link anonymously, so "decorahsummerproject dot com" might work) is doing the "Soccer camp" thing too, it seems.  I expect it's the same thing, "little bit of soccer, lot of GCM," but don't actually know.

[EverAStudent]

Many churches participate in a cross-denominational program called "Updward Basketball" and "Upward Soccer."  Advertising for the program is clear that the sponsors are the local churches, not schools or other government agencies.  Based on the clear advertising, I think it is unlikely that any parent would misconstrue the program as a "religion-free" activity. 

Sadly, GC appears to have once again tried to create a fine line between "the real truth" and "the impression" they give with their literature.  For example:
   "college student organization" or "GC denomination controlled church"? 
   "Community soccer program"   or "GC church recruiting tool"? 

There is just no need for such practices to be constantly putting its toes over the line into deception.  Just be totally upfront and utterly honest and no one gets angry.  Being fully honest never hurt attendance at "Upward" programs.  Building church membership through questionable ethics is a terrible way to grow the Body of Christ.

[trthskr]

Agatha,
I kind of love you for always finding these articles.

I can see why the father was upset...there's nothing wrong with the fact that during upwards soccer there is always a time where the soccer coach shares their testimony, and that after soccer is over we did a week of vbs in the same park.  However....there's no need for the flier to not include the fact that the bible will be talked about.  I would've been upset to send my own children to soccer camp and then come to find out that LDS or Mormans were teaching their religion to them.  hmmmm???

Jesus is going to be offensive.  That's just how it is.  Lying about it kinda makes him more so.

[Cossette729]

Since EverAStudent brought up Upward soccer, I thought it might be of interest to mention that the Central City Soccer program was originally an Upward program sponsored by the Walnut Creek church.  I don't remember exactly when that changed, but it seems like it was pretty quickly after the establishment of the program--maybe in its second year.

Also, the girl I nanny came home from her public elementary school with a flier for this program.  There was absolutely nothing to indicate that this program was associated with any church or religious group.  It is only because of my former relationship with the Walnut Creek church that we knew to have nothing to do with this program.

[AgathaL'Orange]

I happened upon another woman who told me this story the other day.

Here's what she said:
"Let me tell you, STAY AWAY from Central City Soccer.  I had my kids in it thinking it was a good soccer program.   Then out of the blue they had a really long sermon in the middle and then split up and started working the crowd.  A girl came up to me (leaving out some mean stuff here) and asked me if I was a Christian.  I (the woman telling me the story, not me, Agatha) told her that I was more of a pagan, and she said, 'Well, at least you aren't a Catholic,' and then proceeded to say how bad Catholics were, going on and on."


So, she's telling me this, and I'm thinking, oh gosh... where do I even start?  A person who needs God, who gets yet another kooky example of Christianity...  I then proceeded to say that not all Christians feel that way, but it made me sad.  She's now hyperalert to any sort of proselytizing.  It's really sad. Is GC better than being pagan... well, yes, but why the tricking people and the consistent, extreme anti-catholic bias? 

[G_Prince]

'Well, at least you aren't a Catholic,' and then proceeded to say how bad Catholics were, going on and on."

Ha!...pray to Wooden, worship the moon...heck, cast a few spells in your backyard, as long as you don't go within 100 yards of a mass you're cool!

These people are clueless!

[nate]

The link is dead... I missed it... What happened?

[AgathaL'Orange]

You are right, they just took it down.  Basically a man wrote a letter to the editor that his local school was handing out fliers for the soccer program.  Then he was surprised when there was an evangelical talk there.  He felt that there was no clear information that it was a proselytizing event and felt that the kids played soccer a short time compared to the evangelistic talk.  It's all his opinion, of course, but I've now heard that same story at least three times from various people.

[G_Prince]

Yeah, it looks like Decorah's also doing the soccer camp thing: http://www.decorahlifehouse.org/summer-project. Want a nervous breakdown? Check out the calendar (http://www.decorahlifehouse.org/calendar/index.asp). One night a week is free! Live it up, kids!

[MidnightRider]

I have no idea what actually happened, but I can easily imagine something like this going on in the hey-day of GCx:

A soccer-loving guy joins GCx. He plays soccer, teaches it to kids, even watches it on TV.    But he is beginning to feel uncomfortable. His elders tell him he should be spending more time sharing the gospel. His practices and games take up a lot of his time. Soccer might be a hindrance to his fulfilling the Great Commission. So he begins to agonize - I want to be a loyal member of GCx and share the gospel, but I also want to play soccer. What can I do?

Then one night he watches Chariots of Fire for the 87th time. And it hits him - he can be soccer's Eric Liddell. So he starts a soccer program where he shares his love of soccer and the gospel with the kids. A win-win solution.  

[AgathaL'Orange]

The guy who wrote the letter to the editor wasn't kidding.  There really isn't anything other than the email address which says walnutcreekcc (who would know what cc meant) and in the fine print of the legal waiver, there is a part that says, I agree not to hold Walnut Creek Community Church responsible yadda yadda yadda.
Here's the flyer that apparently went out at the public schools.  Note it says to be returned at evaluation time.  It appears to be a city community activity to me.  You would have to really be digging hard to see this comes from a church at all.
http://centralcitysoccer.org/Central_City_Soccer_09.pdf

Here's the other site.  A small line on the bottom of the first page says that it's a ministry of Walnut Creek Community Church.


http://centralcitysoccer.org

In my mind, this seems like a trick.  What would be wrong with saying in big letters UP FRONT that it is a ministry of a church.  What in the world are they trying to hide?

[AgathaL'Orange]

Oh, and I also see that there is a space for "church" if regularly attend.  I suppose that might make one pay attention a bit more.  Of course, I'm assuming all of those people are now on a church mailing list.

[Soccer mom]

I would just like to ask you people if you actually care about the gospel or not? What things are YOU doing to try to tell people about Jesus? Let's turn the tables and criticize and analyze every ministry activity you are participating in......

Here is the truth: The central city soccer league is a soccer league designed for kids to have fun, learn about soccer and yes - hear about Jesus! Isn't that what believers are supposed to do??? ... or did you guys forget that?

So a few foolish (most likely young believers) have said and done things that don't represent Jesus very well... we can't control people! No Christian is perfect! Praise God for His grace in this crazy-messed-up-world! I would just ask yourself - are you representing Jesus well by the filth you are posting on this web site?

I doubt seriously if you actually knew some of the people in the league that you would say this garbage to their faces.

[AgathaL'Orange]

Of course, I want people to know Jesus.  I just don't want them to go to a GC church, because in the long run, that could HURT their relationship with Jesus and their family.

[Linda]

I would just like to ask you people if you actually care about the gospel or not? What things are YOU doing to try to tell people about Jesus? Let's turn the tables and criticize and analyze every ministry activity you are participating in......

In response to your first question, my answer is yes.

In response to the second, I believe that the Holy Spirit moment my moment directs me in the way I should go, puts people in my path, tells me what to do, and gives me words to say. Each person who crosses my path is in a different place and has a different story. There is no "formula", no plan that works for everyone. All people matter to God and therefore I treat everyone I meet with respect and honesty trusting the Holy Spirit for wisdom and direction.

The problem with the soccer program as I understand it is that it involved deception. How about a flyer that said, "Join us for our annual CHRISTIAN SOCCER PROGRAM". I think the point being made wasn't that it's a bad idea to play a little soccer and learn a little Bible, the point is that information was withheld so that people would be tricked into attending who might not otherwise attend if they knew there was a "religious" aspect to the program.

Would you feel the same way if the Mormons had sent out this flyer and you had signed your child up to work on some soccer skills? I don't think so.

[ab]

The schools asked them to take out the religious part because of "discriminatory" policies. Upon registration parents were told very clearly about the leagues religious ties. Just a little bit of information that I think you all are missing out on.

[Linda]

I would just ask yourself - are you representing Jesus well by the filth you are posting on this web site?

One question for you. What filth are you talking about? Not sure what you mean.

[wastedyearsthere]

I doubt seriously if you actually knew some of the people in the league that you would say this garbage to their faces.
 

 

I know some of the leaders from this church and I would confront them about this -- if they aren't being upfront about their Christianity on the soccer form.  I don't see this as being garbage.  This is constructive criticism.  I think the point is good about if my kids were invited to soccer and I found out later it was a Mormon agenda how I would be angry......  It is better to share that this is soccer along with a Christianity lesson.