Jersey Effect – High Impact Teen Weekend In South Carolina
David McEntire lives in my hometown of Blacksburg, SC. He has a big part in running the little league football programs in the community there. We connected through Facebook a few months ago and started discussing The Jersey Effect book. David invited me to come “home” for a few days and speak to the football players in our community. All my family still lives in the area and my parents still live at the same place where I grew up. It was a unique privilege to go home and connect with the community. I was in South Carolina Thursday, August 16 through Monday, August 20. Thursday evening I spoke to a stadium full of football players, parents, band members, cheerleaders and fans at the “Restore The Roar” event at Blacksburg High School. I was asked to speak and challenge the students and their families on the message of The Jersey Effect. The football field was not intended to be a field of selfishness and the jersey was not intended to bring glory to one who wears it so that it destroys his life. We all wear a jersey of influence and we are to be making a positive impact on those around us. A few area business leaders committed to sponsor giving a Jersey Effect book to all the Blacksburg Football players from JH through Varsity. Our youth outreach will continue a connection with these 90-100 youth throughout the school year. We are seeking only $250 more to complete the sponsorship of these youth.
On Friday evening I was invited over to Gaffney, SC which is the other high school in our county (Cherokee County.) I did a pre-game chapel service for the Gaffney Indians Football team. They are starting the season ranked #3 and have been one of the stronger programs Nationally for several years. God was clearly at work and it was an honor to have this sm
all ministry with them.
On Saturday the Cherokee County Little League Football program had their little league combine where the youth try out and get recruited and placed on the various teams. During the lunch hour, David McEntire met me there to introduce me to a lot of the coaches and volunteers that run the programs for the entire county.
Sunday morning I was with my friend Pastor Chip Coleman at Bishop Branch Baptist Church near Clemson, SC. We had a great service. Chip had me teach the high school and college students Sunday school class and present our ministry in the Sunday morning service. Later on Sunday evening I connected with Walt and Diane Sirmans in Greenville, SC. They are on our ministry board of directors and we spent time meeting a lot of their friends who have a heart for our ministry.
The Gaffney High School Football coaches would like to place the Jersey Effect book in the hands of all their players for this season. We are finding this to be a great tool to link our youth outreach to athletes. If you are interested in this project and would like to have a part in the investment in these young men, please contact me to discuss how you can help.
