After a day of physical activities, came the movie night session. We watched the movie 'Gridiron Gang', which documented the efforts of a prison warden to transform the lives of juvenile inmates through football, in an attempt to keep them off the streets.
Personally, was deeply moved and inspired by the coach's courage and attempt to start something which he sees value in, despite not knowing what the eventual outcome will be.
The next day's sharing served as a reminder of the higher purpose to which God has called us.
1. True unity is moving together in God's common goal
1.1 Be inspired and personalise God's vision
Initially, the prison gang inmates got involved in the programme because of Coach Porter's initial efforts in inspiring and casting the vision of the football team. In the same way, what were Jesus' last words before He ascended to heaven? "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Who is the coach who continues to inspire and guide us today? The Holy Spirit.
Being inspired is one thing, but it serves no long term purpose if one fails to personalise the vision. How do we know the team has personalised the coach's vision? After a major loss, they practised on their own initiative without their coach, who was told that the football programme will be scrapped. They also motivated each other during a playoff game, in the absence of their coach. The main protagonist, Willie actually rallied his teammates by saying, "This means more to us than them." When asked to offer words of encouragement to the juveniles, Coach Porter remarked, "They are ready."
How do I know if I have personalised the church vision / Great commission?
What kind of person are we back in our hometowns, while away from church coverage in JB? Do we spend our holidays / free time predominantly on leisure (ie eat, sleep, have fun), or make an attempt to be a positive influence and blessing at home?
What would you do if transferred to another city / town where there is no Hope church? Would you take up the challenge to start a lifegroup?
1.2 Be committed in fulfilling the goal.
We live in a world where the value of commitment is losing value, as evidenced through rising divorce rates, and job changes. Commitment to unity and the local church will be tested by conflicts, misunderstandings, seeing each other's weaknesses.
2. Unity is costly - pain and hurts, require us to make the decision to lay down ourselves. Not easy, for we are our own worst enemy.
As in the words of Jim Elliot, 'He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.' Choose to be hurt free in conflicts as we experience more of God's love and His willingness to pay the price for our sins.
In the movie, one of the inmates, Junior, who suffered a slipped disc during practice and was deemed not fit to play, donned his jersey and charged unto the field at a crucial moment of a playoff game, tackling 2 opponents in the process. He could have been seriously injured and paralysed, but he did it, because he wanted to make his son proud, despite his past deeds. Kelvin, who used to be Willie's arch nemesis as they came from rival gangs, ran alongside him during one of the crucial plays to defend him from the opposing team's players.
3. Unity brings us reward.
Session closed with a call to respond, whichever LG we are in - to personalise God's vision, and to work towards maintaining unity among LG members.
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