Across several East Asian church networks, sports camps have become a powerful tool for discipling youth and raising up the next generation of healthy Christian leaders.

 

LeaderSource sports camps differ from typical Christian sports ministries in four key ways.

 

• First, our primary goal is to build the whole person with a deep emphasis on the centrality of Christ. Sports are simply a vehicle for this work.
• Second, we work with and through churches, not just individuals. While many sports ministries operate independently and focus on personal experiences, we focus on strengthening local churches so they can disciple their own young people.
• Third, we focus on developing life coaches rather than running stand-alone events. Each camp is an opportunity to train church-based mentors who can continue to disciple youth long after the event ends.
• Finally, our goal is to build local, indigenous vision and capacity, not to run impressive outsider-led programs. Events serve only as tools to equip national churches to sustain and grow their own sports ministry.

At the heart of each camp are the coaches, men and women fully dependent on God and committed to building young lives through holistic sports ministry. These coaches don’t just serve, they grow. As they pour themselves out for others, they themselves are renewed. Three coaches recently shared what shaped them most during their time serving in these camps. Their stories reveal the personal transformation that comes through faithful, Christ-centered service.

 

Brother H

 

Brother H didn’t know much about football when he first joined the sports camp, let alone how to disciple people through it. But that didn’t stop him. In fact, it became a gateway for growth.

 

Being part of a team that truly depended on God, loved each other, and pursued Christ-like character deeply impacted me. Their humility and passion sparked something inside me – I wanted to become the kind of leader who could build life through this ministry.

 

Brother H identified eight factors that produced change in him during his time coaching the sports camp.

 

• Participating in a spiritually rich, relational sports camp combining informal teaching, worship and group activities.
• Being embraced by a healthy, encouraging coaching culture that values humility, grace for mistakes and dependence on God.
• Witnessing coaches live out Christ-like character with love, humility, and servant leadership.
• Experiencing daily reliance on God and sharing testimonies within the coaching team.
• Ongoing involvement in coaching and ministry events that built his confidence and calling.
• Seeing tangible spiritual and character growth in youth through the camp’s intentional design.
• Engaging youth in relational discipleship and helping them explore their personal calling.
• Being inspired by a Christ-centered community that fueled his spiritual hunger and desire to lead.

 

Brother K

 

Brother K’s journey began with Life Coach training, which laid the foundation for his personal growth and ministry vision.

 

Sports became more than a game – they shaped my character and helped me experience God’s love through community. Seeing my own coach’s genuine faith inspired me to pursue this calling. Now, as part of the coaching team, I’m amazed how God continues to raise up new leaders and transform young lives through this vision.

 

Brother K also identified eight factors that facilitated his own growth as a coach.

 

• Initial Life Coach training that revealed how sports build character and deepen relationship with God.
• Mentorship from his own coach, whose faith and reliance on God inspired him personally.
• Serving as assistant coach in a sports camp with intentional, holistic programming.
• Following a clear framework that applied both 5C goals (Christ, Community, Character, Calling, and Competency) and a 4D process (Spiritual, Relational, Experiential, and Instructional dynamics).
• Being part of a growing team training new coaches and multiplying impact.
• Witnessing God’s ongoing leadership in raising new coaches and transforming youth and communities.
• Personal growth through discipling and training others, maturing his faith and leadership.
• Active ministry with families and youth, seeing practical fruit through integrated sports ministry.

 

Sister L

 

For six years, Sister L has coached sports camps, mentored new leaders, and watched God work powerfully in and through her. But for her, every camp still feels like a fresh encounter with God.

 

Every time I prepare for training – during the design phase and while praying – the Holy Spirit always strongly reminds me: This is God’s vision. It’s His work. And every time, it’s something new! He will reign and lead; we are simply hidden in Him, co-working with God. As we think proactively, offer ourselves, and stay sensitive to His guidance throughout the process, beautiful things are bound to happen – and indeed, they always do!

 

Time and again, things have happened that far exceed what we asked or imagined. This has especially built up my heart in knowing God, relying on Him and fearing Him. God is truly among us. It has greatly strengthened my courage and confidence in Christ – I don’t need to fear, because this is God’s work!

 

She now looks forward to each camp, knowing God will surprise and strengthen her:

 

Every time I witness God’s wonders firsthand – the gains people experience, the transformations in their lives – it leaves me in awe. I’m also so thankful that during each training session, I feel all my cells are alive, I’m full of energy, and my thinking becomes especially sharp. I often get ideas or revelations that surprise even myself. I know this isn’t from me – it’s God’s care for the entire group, and a personal strengthening and encouragement for me.

 

These experiences make me deeply enjoy every time I serve. They ignite my passion for ministry and reinforce the vision I’ve been given. I’ve gone from believing sports ministry had nothing to do with me to knowing that this is God’s calling for me. I want to fully devote myself to it and continue to discover and witness God’s power.

 

Whenever she looks back and reflects on the experiences of a specific sports camp, Sister L also sees relational growth in community.

 

In every preparation phase, our co-workers are always filled with eager anticipation – excited and energized. The overall culture of service is uplifting and positive. Never once have I felt they were just fulfilling a duty out of obligation. Instead, they step in with a deep desire to journey with God and with their spiritual family. Because everyone embraces the vision so wholeheartedly and truly experiences God’s power, we walk together in a healthy serving culture. The relationships among co-workers are beautiful, sincere, loving, and full of mutual encouragement and appreciation. We speak the truth in love. This community is a great encouragement to me.

 

During each training, the participants, through those few days of intense training, shared life, and listening to each other’s stories, became wonderful companions on the journey.

 

In addition, Sister L has seen how every interaction with participants and every opportunity to lead a session is a training-ground for her character and a pathway to greater competency.

 

At first, I had to intentionally cultivate team culture, remind myself to be passionate, take ownership, consider others better than myself, practice self-denial and sacrifice and humility … There were struggles and challenges in interacting with different people. God increasingly revealed areas within me that needed growth and breakthroughs. Later on, I found – by God’s mercy – that my heart began to naturally embrace others and express that genuinely in the group. That’s real growth.

 

In terms of competency, it’s been even more evident: through affirmation and support from leaders, trust and encouragement from the team, opportunities to lead, collaborative brainstorming with fellow workers … Each training brings new ideas, a constant stream of living water, not just repeating what we’ve done before. These experiences have especially enhanced my design skills and leadership thinking. I’ve learned not to cling to past successes, but to strive for God’s highest will. I truly feel that God is real and generous. Each time, He grants us wisdom and leadership. Over these five years and many trainings, when I now face each new challenge, my heart is filled with awe – but also with the firm belief that God will richly provide. He will supply what I lack in my abilities.

 

This is only a fraction of what God has done in her own life, let alone what He has done through her life to those around her. Every sports camp they complete carries its own encouraging stories and testimonies.

 

Growth is often subtle and imperceptible, but together, the testimonies of our brothers and sisters in East Asia show how intentional ministry grounded in faith, community and character development can profoundly transform leaders and the next generation for Christ!