Professional Soccer Ministries: the Deconstruction of Secularization Through the Globalization of Soccer in Conjuction with a Biblical Worldview
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Liberty University Digital Commons LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PROFESSIONAL SOCCER MINISTRIES: THE DECONSTRUCTION OF SECULARIZATION THROUGH THE GLOBALIZATION OF SOCCER IN CONJUCTION WITH A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW A Thesis Project Submitted to Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF MINISTRY By Aaron M. Tredway Cleveland, Ohio December, 2006 Copyright 2006 Aaron Matsuo Tredway All Rights Reserved ii LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THESIS PROJECT APPROVAL SHEET ______________________________ GRADE ______________________________ Mentor, Dr. Frank J. Schmitt Director, Doctorate of Ministry Program Liberty University ______________________________ Reader, Dr. Fred Smith Associate Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies Liberty University iii ABSTRACT PROFESSIONAL SOCCER MINISTRIES: THE DECONSTRUCTION OF SECULARIZATION THROUGH THE GLOBALIZATION OF SOCCER IN CONJUNCTION WITH A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW Aaron M. Tredway Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, 2006 Mentor: Dr. Frank J. Schmitt This project is an attempt to present the ministry of, conceptual/theological impetus for, and assessment of Professional Soccer Ministries as it pertains to the deconstruction of secularization. This will be accomplished by one presenting the inception of Professional Soccer Ministries. Secondly, a review of the cultural/societal shift from Christendom to Enlightenment thought and its implications for the church of the modern era will be discussed. Third, the methodology and pragmatic implementation of Professional Soccer Ministries will be reviewed and conclusions drawn based upon its effectiveness as an avenue of the church for the proactive deconstruction of secularization. iv CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................1 Justification for the Study ...............................................................................2 Personal Testimony ............................................................................2 Inception of Professional Soccer Ministries ......................................3 Soccer Becoming Sacred ....................................................................5 A Missionary Culture .........................................................................6 The Globalization of Soccer ...............................................................7 Soccer as a Potential means towards the Deconstruction of Secularization ............................................................................... 10 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................. 12 Statement of Scope and Limitations ............................................................. 15 The Biblical Theological Basis for the Project ............................................. 16 Biblical Basis for Sports Ministry .................................................... 18 Definition of Terms ...................................................................................... 19 Description of Methodology ......................................................................... 21 Review of Literature ..................................................................................... 23 Summary ....................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER TWO ..................................................................................................... 25 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................. 25 Introduction .................................................................................................. 25 The Early Church ......................................................................................... 25 The Influence of Constantine towards Christendom .................................... 28 From Christendom to Secularism ................................................................. 32 Implications of Secularization upon Society ................................................ 37 A Response to Secularization ....................................................................... 40 Globalization and its Implications towards the Church and Secularism ...... 41 The Church Becoming Missional: A Response to Secularism in the wake of Globalization ............................................................................................ 46 Soccer Ministry: One of the Church‘s Specific Responses to Secularism in the wake of Globalization ......................................................................... 55 The Global Sport Phenomenon ........................................................ 56 Why Soccer Ministry? ...................................................................... 59 The Church Incarnating Soccer ........................................................ 61 Summary ....................................................................................................... 63 v CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................. 65 CONCEPTUAL AND THEOLOGICAL IMPETUS FOR PROFESSIONAL SOCCER MINISTRIES ................................................. 65 Introduction .................................................................................................. 65 Conceptual and Theological Overview ........................................................ 65 Illustration 3.1 .................................................................................. 69 Sin and a Secularized Worldview: Life 1 .................................................... 69 Illustration 3.2 .................................................................................. 69 Modernity‘s Influence on the Church, a Secularized Worldview: Life 2 .... 71 Illustration 3.3 .................................................................................. 71 The Deconstruction of Secularism, a Biblical Worldview: Life 3 .............. 76 Illustration 3.4 .................................................................................. 76 The Priesthood of all Believers and Professional Soccer ................. 79 The Reciprocal Deconstruction of Secularism through the Church‘s embrace of Professional Soccer Ministries ...................... 80 Summary ....................................................................................................... 84 CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................... 86 PROFESSIONAL SOCCER MINISTRIES METHODOLOGY ................. 86 Introduction .................................................................................................. 86 The Missional Church Revisited .................................................................. 86 The Missional Church Utilizing the Globalized Game: Soccer .................. 88 Professional Soccer Ministries Theoretically Defined ................................. 91 Identify ............................................................................................. 94 Envision............................................................................................ 94 Train ................................................................................................. 94 Resource ........................................................................................... 94 Deploy .............................................................................................. 95 Maintain/Minister ............................................................................. 95 Professional Soccer Ministries Academy ......................................... 95 Professional Soccer Ministries Academy Methods .......................... 96 Experiential Learning ....................................................................... 97 Church Partnering Strategy .............................................................. 98 Strategies for Ministry through Professional Soccer .................................... 98 Ministry to the Professional Team ................................................... 99 Ministry through the Platform of Professional Soccer ................... 100 Camps, Clinics and Additional Opportunities ............................... 100 Ministry of Prayer .......................................................................... 102 Professional Soccer Ministries Consociation with the Church .................. 102 Summary ..................................................................................................... 103 CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................... 105 vi PROFESSIONAL SOCCER MINISTRIES PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND ANALYSIS .................................................. 105 Introduction ................................................................................................ 105 Professional Soccer Ministries Six-Fold Objectives Applied .................... 105 Envisioning Current and Potential Professional Soccer Ministers ............. 106 Sudan Tour ..................................................................................... 107 Table 5.1 ...........................................................................