What have we been doing since the end of this past year?  Well, we have moved our focus from www.HisKingdom.golf to www.GolfFromtheHeart.golf.

​You can read about Golf From the Heart by clicking here.
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Most of our efforts have been outward as we spent a significant amount of time in the early part of the year engaging with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Golf program headed by Jim Esary.  We attended the Waste Management Open and the FCA Gameday featuring Kevin Streelman.  We also attended the Tales from the Tour program conducted by Links Ministry and hosted by Lewis Greer.  We were able to experience these ministries in action and, especially with the FCA Golf, identify a strategy that may be employed for us to assist them in their mission for 2019.  We'll see.

Our next focus was with a group of dedicated men and women focused on discipleship of golf pros throughout the world.  We attended a conference and experienced what a focused discipleship week could look like when we're able to gather a group of committed Christians gifted to make disciples.  It was incredibly enlivening and, as you would imagine got the creative juices going on our part to implement and to use the Internet and social media to assist and expand a ministry of this type.  More coming on that.

Lastly, for now, we have been invited by Wally Armstrong of WallyMade Golf, Snag and many, many other golf instruction efforts to assist him in his latest program to teach golf to children and families; Go - Start - Golf.

Go Start Golf is an amazing game and learning tool for the game of golf and life.  We will be assisting Wally with the introduction of the game to churches throughout the country at the REACHgathering in Asheville, NC this week, April 23 - 25th.

Wally's efforts throughout the years have mirrored the vision we have expressed in our HisKingdom.golf vision and expressed here;

​(I, personally, believe the capability exists for a young golfer when he/she picks up a club, into middle school and high school golf teams through FCA Golf to hear the Gospel and be mentored....) read more by clicking on the stroy.

Hopefully, we will be able to coordinate and arrange WallyMade and coordinate with many others to "give the Gospel thru golf" and "Give Others Loving Fellowship".

​Thanks

How are we going to Give Others Loving Fellowship?

During this 2017 Masters, we wanted to identify our objectives again.

​We have stated before that we believe there is an opportunity for every golfer who ever picks up a golf club to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, participate in a program that introduces them to Christ and/or programs and individuals that could mentor or disciple every golfer that the Lord calls. (Click below)

(I, personally, believe the capability exists for a young golfer when he/she picks up a club, into middle school and high school golf teams through FCA Golf to hear the Gospel and be mentored....)

But how will they know if they have not heard?  The Apostle Paul in Romans 10 speaks about God's plan for the Israelite's.  He speaks of how some believed Christ, but many have rejected Him after He was among them as a fulfillment of prophesy, but, he speaks about "How" will they believe if they have not heard and how will they hear without someone preaching to them and, finally, "how can anyone preach unless they are sent?"  We have the workers, they are or can be motivated to preach or testify of what the Lord has done for them.  The fields are ripe for the harvest, so let's get the workers and the fields together so that they will hear.

The challenge is cooperation and communication as well as a methodology to lovingly introduce golfers to a relationship with Jesus.

I believe we need to continue to equip and encourage the Christ Followers in each of the existing ministries.  We need to increase the promotion of those individuals in their ministries and tell the stories of the 'harvesting' that is going on.  I believe we also must make a way to conduct Christian outreach messaging and fellowship during certain events in the golf calendar to reach out to the "fields".

Thus the reason for Giving Others Loving Fellowship (GOLF).  My recent experience at the Masters revealed an opportunity to coordinate a GOLF program at each golf tournament where the conditions were just right to coordinate and conduct a GOLF program.  The best experience during the Masters relative to a faith in Christ outreach came as I was walking along the fairways of Augusta National or, actually, standing in various spots at the tournament.  I was wearing my FCA hat and, in my own inimitable way engaged people in conversation.  When asked where I was from or what was I doing at the tournament, I was very open and frank about being called to introduce golfers to Jesus Christ after growing to know Him myself and what He had done in my life.  These simple engagements created a response from the few I spoke with that was comfortable and engaging.  I did not go into detail, but, if I had a card or a bracelet, thumb drive or a booklet of some type I could hand to them, they would have been introduced to Jesus all the more.  Additionally, I had several other encounters with Believers or former/current pastors who were intrigued and excited about being able to share their faith stories with me and glad to hear more about how to conduct an outreach in the future.

Can we ignite a group of Believers who have a passion for golf to "Tell Their Story" at the Masters in 2018 and equip and guide them as they enjoy and observe golf tournaments throughout the world?  Of course we can.

Of particular interest were two areas for support and guidance.

Churches in Augusta; 

Warren Baptist Church traditionally conducts the FCA Breakfast during Masters week with some 1000+ in attendance and the Warren Golf Association which builds relationships with golfers in the area for fellowship and spiritual growth.

Whole Life Ministries is just across Washington Road from Augusta National and was simply reaching out to the "patrons" during the week with refreshments   I visited their offices felt an immediate connection as I shared how an outreach program might be conducted during the Masters 2016.

Several other churches in the area.  There is little doubt in my mind that some 10 plus churches could cooperate on a "GOLF" type fellowship.

Inside and around the Masters.  We played golf in South Carolina and the first person I met was Forest who is a retired pastor from Augusta.  He said he would love to participate in an outreach. The men I was with celebrating the Masters were from Wilmington DE representing a small group of Believers who fellowship around golf.  They're connections through hospitality providers in Augusta also expressed an interest in outreach during the Masters.

What would the focus and ultimate objective be for a Masters 2016 GOLF Outreach as well as other professional golf venues; PGA Tour, Champions Tour, LPGA Tour, Web.com Tour, Symmetra Tour and, eventually, the European men's and women's Tours?

Well, we'll see if we can get our other connections in the golf world to buy in.....

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