My family and I moved to Rochester after leaving a ministry position to stay with some dear friends while we awaited our next “assignment.” During that time God opened the door for me to coach a high school, coed soccer team called The Scarlet Knights - which was strictly homeschooled students. The soccer program had already been established several years previously and had teams for junior high and high school students. After the first day of our tryouts I knew that this was going to be unlike any other expereince I ever had as a coach or player!

The skill level of these players highly impressed me (homeschoolers aren’t supposed to be that good are they?) but what really caught my attention was the attitude and respect that ALL of these players had for a totally new coach and for each other. The team and their families really made us feel welcome and loved…and we quickly came to love them as well. There was also a focus on playing in a way that honored God. Yes, we wanted to win and be competitive, but it was always done in a way that showed great sportsmanship and with a Christ-like attitude. We prayed at practices and before games and we had a ministry that was accomplished through soccer. It was absolutely awesome!

Some have asked did we show the same attitude when we lost. Well, we didn’t lose a game until the championship in sudden death overtime. This one really hurt because for years these young men and women had lost to this great team in the big game (we beat them twice in regular season) and our goal was for this to be the year. I contribute that loss to my coaching and taking the focus off of Christ for that game. We got a little arrogant and up to that point I had played every player in every game. It was a hard lesson and heartbreaking. Of course there were tears and regrets because we had worked so hard but what was amazing was the attitudes of our players immediately afterwards and the days that followed. Many of our players talked about how we should thank God for a super season and give Him glory in our loss. Others sent e-mails to the team, encouraging each other and quoting Scripture. There was no real sense of defeat or failure.

There was much fruit born from that season despite that one “loss.” We had so many comments from parents and players from our side and the competition who gave praises for our sportsmanship, teamwork, and attitude on and off the field. We had referees who had never witnessed such respect and would send e-mails to us and the referee coordinator saying that they would officiate our games anytime and for less pay! In the final game, the state refs (who officiate the “big championships” in upstate NY) said that was the best game that they had ever officiated and commended us on our play and sportsmanship. Two of our players even received scholarships for college because of that game.

The best fruit though was the relationships with the players and their families. It was hard when we decided that God wanted us back in Oklahoma and the current team and the players moving up didn’t want us to leave. We look at that one season as a special gift from God and I am truly thankful to have been blessed with that opportunity! I still talk with some of the team on a regular basis and I won’t forget that time we spent in Rochester.

Now is a new season in life and we hope that we can provide that same type of experience here in Oklahoma. I hope that you will be able to be a part!