5 Benefits of an Adventure Sports Ministry
We have been proving the concept at Bayside Church since 1998, now we want to help you prove it too!
1. REACH MORE UNCHURCHED WITH THE PASSION-FILLED LIFESTYLE OF JESUS
Adventure has its own way of bringing vitality, excitement and joy to all of us. Well, this mission trip won’t be off in a foreign country but this type of mission is designed to bring in more ADVENTURE - to reach those adventure enthusiasts who fill their weekends with hikes, bike rides, rowing trips, and more adrenaline-seeking excursions.
They live next door, they work down the hall, they have that RV or trailer full of dirt bikes parked on the side of their home. They work hard, then they play hard. They live for the weekends and vacations when they can escape to their own jungle. They have their own language and culture, and the church is not part of it.
“Church? You’re kidding, right? It’s not relevant and it happens smack in the middle of the weekend.”
The crazy thing is that many of those adventure families seem like they are solid citizens with fun families, and sometimes we wish we could be them. Why does church have to happen right smack in the middle of the weekend?
What if we inspired and unleashed the hikers, the dirt bike riders, the campers, and the fishermen in our church to be missionaries and take Jesus outdoors to those people? What if our people planned outings that those people wanted to attend? What if our people not only spoke their language and shared their values but also shared Jesus through normal conversations on a chair lift, on a trail, around a campfire?
Bayside Adventure Sports, the adventure ministry of Bayside Church in Northern California, began doing this in 1998. Hundreds of men, women, and kids now know Jesus and call Bayside Church their home. Yes, they still head out on weekend trips whenever possible, but they do it with a new purpose and with a larger family, the church.
An invitation to Church doesn’t always appeal to the average unchurched guy. And an invitation to a Men’s Ministry event can be even worse if they think they will be asked to sit with some strangers to talk about topics they don’t usually discuss...like personal stuff.
THE LIFE OF JESUS WAS ADVENTUROUS! HE WENT FROM CITY TO CITY, HELPING PEOPLE AND CONNECTING WITH THEM RIGHT WHERE THEY WERE
For decades, wives have attempted to convince their husbands that they should “join a men’s group” but they always find an excuse. That’s because many men are more comfortable when they are doing rather than talking, it’s like using their hands unlocks their mouths. And most men are more comfortable talking side by side while active rather than face to face. When men are doing something they love with people who have those same passions, conversations are more natural and organic for men. If your church had an adventure ministry with opportunities to shoot guns, fish, ride mountain bikes, kayak, climb mountains, or backpack, do you think your guys would invite their unchurched friends? And do you think these unchurched friends might come? Of course! Men’s small groups are good. They are important. But they are a better second step for the average guy, not first step. Start with building connections out on the trail, then launch a conversation about real-life around the campfire or in the truck on the way home. They do want help. They do want deep connections.
But they want them with guys from their own tribe. Bring Jesus into their life naturally and watch their re-creation happen through recreation in God’s Creation.
2. KEEP MORE PEOPLE IN YOUR CHURCH WITH MINISTRIES THAT FOSTER STRONGER CONNECTIONS
Most churches have a small group ministry working hard to put adults into groups based on what evening is best for them and what community they live in. But how close do these groups get? They start with an ice-breaker question, then listen to a lesson or video on a topic followed by designated questions that only a small portion of the group answers. But are these people really friends? Do they do things together outside of a small group? Do they call one another when they have some free time? Sometimes. But what if these groups created deep connections and life-long best friends?
PEOPLE STAY AT CHURCHES WHERE THERE ARE UNIQUE PROGRAMS FOR THEM
What if people first met through organized fun events doing what they love to do? What if people joined others from their church to go camping, hiking, riding, or paddling? What if people spent the whole day or multiple days together doing something they loved? That’s the environment that fosters real connections. And what if those people then began meeting together between events to share life, talk about real issues, and learn how Jesus could more effectively transform their life?
Studies have shown that people won’t leave a church if they have at least seven close connections or friends at that church. If we want to keep more people at our church, shouldn’t we help them create real friendships? In some cities, there are multiple healthy churches within a five-mile radius. When the other church hires a better communicator at their church or a better worship leader or youth pastor, what reduces the amount of “church shuffle?”
The difference happens when a church has a unique program that strengthens people’s connection to that church. If an adult is single and only one church has a strong and healthy single ministry, that’s where they stay. If a family. has a special needs child, they stay at the church that has that program. And if one church has a fun adventure sports program with many options to get outdoors and connect with others, people will stay there.
3. ATTRACT MORE VIBRANT LEADERS TO YOUR CHURCH
Adventure enthusiasts work hard, play hard, set goals, reach goals, take risks, live busy, live disciplined and live big. They have a “tribe” of friends with whom they regularly play outdoors.
Their social media posts share their latest adventures: hikes, mountain climbs, fitness challenges, fishing trophies and family trips. They may lead, manage and collaborate with others. They are influencers, drivers, builders, team-players who help others go farther faster. They are leaders.
ADVENTURE ENTHUSIASTS ARE NATURAL LEADERS BUT ARE THEY LEADING IN YOUR CHURCH?
What would happen if they met Jesus and dedicated their lives to following him? They would lead for Him, they would build “tribes” for Jesus and that same passion and enthusiasm would translate to God’s Kingdom.
ADVENTURE ENTHUSIASTS WANT TO EXCELL IN A RELATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.
While traditional sports like softball, basketball, or football focus on competition and result in winners and losers, in adventure sports every participant wants every other participant to get better, catch more, run faster, walk longer, fall less, and get healthier. The environment of adventure sports is filled with shared effort, challenges and celebrations.
ADVENTURE ENTHUSIASTS WILL SERVE YOUR CHURCH.
Many of these people will come into the church through their chosen sports. As they connect, they don’t stay on as just consumers. They transition to become helpers, volunteers, tithers, and leaders.
When Jesus becomes their Lord, these people take their skills, gifts, passion, and energy and devote it to helping other areas of the church. W
e didn’t start this ministry as a strategy for attracting new leaders, but it works that way.
4. BLESS & ENCOURAGE MORE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH NEW RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS
People do want connections. They want to belong. But for many active men and women, they either didn’t have any experience with church when they were growing up or the experience they had was not positive. They perceive churches to be irrelevant and the people in them to be judgmental and sedentary. They are so wrong, but who is going to show them?
When families go camping together, hiking together, cycling, snorkeling, mountain biking, dirt bike riding, fishing, or hunting together these experiences bond families together. As families spend time away from hotels, electronics, and the noise of the city, they gain quality time together in God’s Creation playing, learning and growing together.
As families develop rhythms of getting out in nature with other families, they strengthen their own family connections while gaining lifelong friendships.
5. COLLECT MORE FINANCIALLY THAN IT COSTS
A Bayside Adventure Sports 2018 study proved that its Adventure Program was very cash positive. Between the generosity of those who joined Bayside Church because of the Program combined with the generosity of those who had not left Bayside Church because of the Program, the Program’s giving/cost ratio was higher than 10:1.
Ministries are not started because they can bring in money, but it takes money to run a church. We know that. Decisions are made all the time about resources to purchase, programs to run, and priorities to fund. Nothing is really “free.” But an adventure ministry can be cash positive in less than a year.
Adventure Enthusiasts support what they value. They are used to budgeting to pay for the best gear they can afford, and they will support the church that is impacting their life. As they come to Christ and their values morph, they will learn that a Christian heart is a generous heart.