For a number of years now, Soccer Chaplains United’s very own Benjamin Dudley has been collaborating, teaching, and contributing with his alma mater, Baylor University. The well-known, Division-I school in Waco, Texas is also home to the George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Amongst the seminary’s distinct theological and ministry-driven programs is the Faith and Sport Institute (FSI).
It’s exciting to see Truett recognizing sport and recreation as a field that is worth investing into. It’s an important space for developing Christian leaders and Christian thought in and around sport — the athletes, the coaches, and the fans. I’m proud that this is coming from my alma mater and I love serving with a diverse and ecumenical group that challenge the status quo of what people consider as ‘sports ministry.’ FSI is also raising the expectations and accountability of professionalism where sports ministry has generally lagged behind.
Ben Dudley, 1999 Baylor graduate and co-chaplain Portland Timbers
Courses that are part of FSI’s online certificate program have appeared on the radar for our chaplains. A number of chaplains have enrolled in online courses as they look to grow in their understanding and proficiency. Chaplain Jordan Medas and Gregory Aydt have both participated in continuing education offerings through FSI as part of their ongoing requirements.
Recently, Paul Putz, the Assistant Director of FSI, has been building a team of collaborators. The team is assisting the program with the build out of some additional courses to add that emphasize sports chaplaincy. A diverse group includes members of Athletes in Action, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and other ministry groups. There are also professional and former collegiate athletes headlining the FSI Collaboration Team.
For me, it’s a privilege to work to contribute to the furtherance of sports chaplaincy education and excellence with the FSI team. Today, sport has a more and more sacrosanct position in Western (and even global) culture. It is necessary and important for Christian people — especially ministers and chaplains — to work to understand and cultivate this space where many of God’s lost and lonely children reside.
I look forward to working more with FSI in the future. We will periodically share some updates from our friends like the one below.
Updates from our Friends with FSI
- Starting summer 2022 FSI is offering two online certificate courses.
- Mental Health in Sports
- The Christian Athlete
- This past spring FSI received full approval for a new online MA in Theology and Sports Studies degree. The first cohort will begin classes in the fall.
- The FSI High School Retreat is set to take place next month (June 15-18) at Baylor’s campus.
- In a recent blog post, John and Cindy White discuss the principles and practices behind the FSI Retreat
- In April, FSI Postdoctoral Fellow Brian Gamel delivered a talk on the Book of Revelation and Christian approaches to winning. Check it out on their YouTube page.
- FSI In The News!
- FSI grad student Josh Ehambe and FSI co-founder Cindy White were recently interviewed by a local television station.
- A sponsored article in Sports Spectrum discussed some of the ways FSI is impacting sports leaders.
- FSI Assistant Director Paul Putz recently co-wrote an article for Christianity Today on the history of football coaches and prayer in American public education.
