isc brochure english (2008)

International Sports Coalition Introduction – page 1


Index

INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTS COALITION..............................................3

The 10 ISC Strategic Programs .............................................................................................4

Strategic Regional Coalitions .................................................................................................5

Serving the People of Sport ...................................................................................................6

International Sports Leadership Training ................................................................................7

Global Community Games.....................................................................................................8

Proclamation by Sports People ..............................................................................................9

Major Sports Event Partnership ........................................................................................... 10

Major Sports Events Host Partnership .................................................................................11

Strategic Sports Partnership ................................................................................................12

ACE Strategies Conference .................................................................................................13

Church Sports .....................................................................................................................14

International Sports Coalition is a registered trademark


ISC Strategic Programs Introduction Document

INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTS COALITION

The International Sports Coalition (ISC)

Sport is one of the few activities that brings people together no matter where you are on the globe. Color, race, language, religion, age and gender are all forgotten on the sporting field, in the pool or on the court.

Many sports organizations, agencies and local churches have long known of the benefit of being involved in sport and serving sports people as a way to build a bridge to connect with their cultures. The sports of basketball and volleyball both were created for this purpose.

In 1985 the ISC was formed as a partnering body to help the different spheres of sports interests to interact with each other. By doing this each part benefits from the strengths of the other and in turn is built up.

The main purposes of the ISC are to:

• Model

• Train

• Network and Establish Partnerships

In 2003 the ISC partners saw the benefit in describing the ten different strategies that had emerged out of this sports movement. This manual outlines each Strategic Program.

Each Strategic Program has an International Facilitator and a Council. The Council members are from a variety of cultural backgrounds and provide direction.

Each of the Facilitators of the 10 Strategic Programs sit on the Administrative Working Group. The first Strategic Program mentioned, the Strategic Regional Coalitions (SRC), is made up of 50 Mini - SRCs covering the globe. Over time it is anticipated that the 50 mini-regions will each have a representative of the other nine Strategic Programs. The Strategic Program facilitators in each mini-region make up the Administrative Working Group for the mini-region. Also over time each of the 10 Strategic Programs of the mini-regional coalition will have a Council.

The ISC is an international relational network that is only as strong as the partnerships in the network. The ISC has neither full time staff nor an office. A Facilitation Team provides oversight and is made up of men and women from approximately 20 countries who serve three-year rotating terms.


The 10 ISC Strategic Programs

• Strategic Regional Coalitions (SRC)

• ACE Strategies Conference (ASC)

• Church Sports (CS)

• Global Community Games (GCG)

• International Sports Leadership Training (ISLT)

• Major Sports Events Host Partnership (MSEHP)

• Major Sports Event Partnership (MSEP)

• Proclamation by Sports People (PSP)

• Serving the People of Sport (SPS)

• Strategic Sports Partnerships (SSP)


SRC Strategic Regional Coalitions

What is it?

A Strategic Regional Coalition (SRC) is the lifeblood of sports networking and training around the world, facilitating the Strategic Programs of the International Sports Coalition at a regional and mini-regional level. These areas are split into approximately 50 mini-coalitions for neighboring countries/islands. Each mini-coalition (SRC) consists of a wide variety of partners and 10 Strategic Program facilitators. Some of the partners serve as the Council members of the Strategic Program that fits their interests. A SRC functions by recruiting, partnering, facilitating and implementing the Strategic Programs of the ISC. It promotes partnering with churches, agencies and sporting organizations.

Aims

A mini-coalition will:

• Serve sports people and sports organizations.

• Connect like-minded churches and agencies.

• Promote sports agencies.

• Help develop sports opportunities in the regions through strategic partnerships.

• Create synergy and avoid duplication.

• Help churches/agencies to share resources and ideas.

• Ensure that every country has access to the resources for all the Strategic Programs.

• Help start new sports agencies through local cooperation.

• Identify key sports leaders that can attend the ISLS and other training opportunities.

Links to other Strategic Programs

A SRC is the channel of information and feedback between the local community and international agencies. It is a catalyst to enable and empower local communities to make the most of available resources and strengthen their network process. It links partnering international agencies to local agencies. It helps every church and agency to implement the 10 Strategic Programs of the ISC through local partnerships.


SPS Serving the People of Sport

What is it?

Serving the People of Sport is focusing solely on ministry to the people of sport, who are often an unreached people group in need of a restored relationship to God. Those who are walking with God need to be encouraged through whole-life, fully integrated discipleship to become the people of God in sport and life. SPS recognizes the powerful voice sports people have in communities around the world. Our service to them must go deeper in providing leadership and encouragement to develop their faith within the sport environment so that they can demonstrate the reality of a personal faith in their lives when they are playing the game, as well as living their lives outside of sport.

Aims

• Cultivate whole-life ministry to the people of sport in each sport, in each country and people group worldwide.

• Nurture a worldwide network to strategize, to resource and to serve the total wellness of the people of sport for transformation of their lives, their sport and their communities.

• Encourage integration of faith in sport by developing broader training and materials addressing the spiritual issues of sport people in sport and life.

• Develop mature sportspeople fully equipped to share their faith, and to demonstrate their spiritual walk in sport and life.


Service to the people of sport will be foundational for a number of the other Strategic Programs. Effective service to the people of sports will lead to many more sportspeople equipped to be channeled into Proclamation (PSP) through the various outreach strategies of Major Events and Games. Leadership Training (ISLT) will be equipped with models, strategies and materials targeted to serve the people of sport. Church Sports (CS) will have individuals within their work who will understand the issues in serving the people of sport, further expanding the opportunities to serve the people of sport in growing toward spiritual maturity.


ISLT International Sports Leadership Training

What is it?

The ISC Facilitation Team recognized in December 1998, that the initial pioneering phase in sports should be followed by a second phase, which makes use of previously acquired knowledge and further develops sports ethics, sports management and sports methods. To this end the International Sports Leadership School (ISLS) was formed in 1999 to train a worldwide-web-of-new-generation leadership in a thirteen-week residential course in South Africa. Now the training opportunities are extended to national and regional levels.

Aims

• The ISLT will serve the need for national and regional training.

• Share the newest training methodology and content.

• Facilitate partnerships between the regional schools.

• Train two leaders of each country at ISLS to an advanced level where they feel equipped to coordinate sports opportunities.

• Provide in the multiethnic composition of the selected leaders, the diversity of trainers and the multi-faceted South African context a unique global training environment.

• Provide opportunities for ISLS leaders from many countries to form friendships leading to cross cultural partnerships.

• Remain a laboratory of new thought and advanced training in the sports arena.


All ISLS leaders are introduced to the whole spectrum of global sports opportunities. Leaders are exposed to all 10 Strategic Programs of the ISC. The leaders are taught how to integrate these 10 Strategic Programs into a contextually relevant plan. The ISLS and ISLT equips leaders to serve all Strategic Programs in all the SRC mini-regions.


GCG Global Community Games

What is it?

The four Games are community-focused sports and games events, run over multiple days or weeks, that draws agencies, churches, companies, organizations and schools together into a partnership across a city, village, island or region. Each connects creatively with children, teenagers, families or singles/university age participants. The Games began in the year 2000 and have spread in an unprecedented way across every continent on earth. The programs are designed to be run using a unique experiential education curriculum produced with the personal story of Olympic and World Cup athletes every two years. The non-event years provide the opportunity for specialized life-skills training Camps and Schools in sports, leadership, creative arts and media run at a local level.

Aims

• Provide a locally organized and appropriate way to connect with all members of a community.

• Help participants develop sports, creative and leadership skills within a welcoming and loving environment.

• Facilitate the sharing of ideas, information and models across the globe, empowering all to see their unique contribution to the world.

• Create an entry point into personal faith and Sports Ministry.

• Focus on the non-cultural benefits from the many universal aspects of sport.

• Provide a fun event that excludes nobody and builds bridges to all areas of a community or city.

• Expose churches to the wider opportunities that sports provide.


The Games follow a natural flow from KidsGames through TeenGames and into EdgeGames and FamilyGames. Each is a way to introduce churches, agencies, schools, companies and communities to the broader possibilities of sports through a non-threatening and valuable event. The Games provide a means for churches to partner in preparation for hosting a major event. They provide an opportunity for top class athletes with an interest to serve children/teens/families. They provide an opportunity for talented kids/teens to express themselves and are a great community transformation option.

KidsGames - TeenGames - FamilyGames - EdgeGames


PSP Proclamation by Sports People

What is it?

In most societies athletes are role models. What they do and what they say is observed and heard. There are large numbers of athletes who love God and care for the poor, orphans, prisoners, AIDS victims, family issues and many other needs. Ever growing numbers share their faith on radio, television in post-match interviews on internet sites - making a local, national or international impact. The athletes who proclaim their faith in a wide variety of ways have a direct, as well as indirect witness. Often when the athlete proclaims their faith it opens opportunities for believers to share their faith with friends.

Aims

• Identify the kind of passion God has placed on each athlete’s heart.

• Identify, equip and empower athletes who are ready and willing to share their faith and serve.

• Provide opportunities for proclamation that match the athletes' passion and gifts.

• Create effective and culturally sensitive proclamation resources and tools.

• Choose and seize the best opportunities for proclamation.

• Maximize the scope of the outreach through the universal language of sport.


Each of the Strategic Programs contributes to the building and sending that result in proclamation. Proclamation by sports people is often the most visible Strategic Program. The impact is maximized with effective training and having the right people serving the people of sport and the other Strategic Programs.

Proclamation by Sports People acts as the link between athletes who wish to share their faith and the agencies willing to produce resources. It is a further link to outreach agencies and every individual willing to share the good news though sports.


MSEP Major Sports Event Partnership

What is it?

Society places so much attention on sports that some become global events attracting huge followings. The MSEP is a network empowering athletes participating in those global events and the church through outreach strategies and resources to serve the world through major sports events.

Aims

• Cast vision to churches/agencies that global sports events are global opportunities.

• Facilitate the partnering and empowering of athletes, resource agencies and churches helping each accomplish their mission through the global sports events.

• Encourage the development of outreach strategies.

• Provide leadership to the development of sports themes around major sports events to unify all agencies/churches in outreach.


The MSEP is closely connected to all other Strategic Programs. The MSEP provides a means for many of the programs to accomplish their mission. Proclamation by Sports People, Global Community Games, Major Sports Events Host Partnerships, Strategic Regional Coalitions, Strategic Sports Partnerships, and the ACE Strategies Conference each contribute significantly to the success of the MSEP and common goals being realized.


MSEHP Major Sports Events Host Partnership

What is it?

Following the success of the Sydney Games outreach and service programs, the ISC recognized that it would be advantageous to create an ongoing major sports events (MSE) host city partnership. Thus the knowledge gained from coordinating a MSE outreach could be transferred to other cities and countries wishing to develop a program for their major sporting event. The mission of this partnership is to mobilize, train and equip communities for Major Sporting Event service and outreach at all regional and global events such as the Summer and Winter Olympics, the World Cup of Football, the Rugby World Cup, the Cricket World Cup, the All-African Games, the Commonwealth Games, etc.

Aims

• Cast the vision of MSE opportunities to leaders’ in future major sporting event cities.

• Provide MSEHP training and ongoing guidance to leaders in future major sports event cities.

• Facilitate the linking and partnership of leaders in major sports event cities with official event organizers and other like-minded local, national and international agencies.

• Provide consultation and assistance to official event organizations regarding programs that involve the religious communities.


The MSEHP, along with the Strategic Regional Coalitions, is the main conduit for linking host city church and agency leaders with the international agencies who have an ongoing desire to be involved in major event host city service and outreaches. Any agency that is interested in participating in a host city/country opportunity should contact the mini-region MSEHP Facilitator. The MSEHP facilitates the linking of local agency leaders with international partners and vice-versa.


SSP Strategic Sports Partnership

What is it?

“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” – African proverb

The Strategic Sports Partnership is dedicated to training and supporting individuals and groups who are collaborating together around sports. The SSP has established a two-level training process to be used worldwide. Level One Foundational Training equips people with the knowledge and skills in launching partnerships. Level Two Training addresses issues in how to operate ongoing partnering efforts more effectively.

Aims

• Advance and equip the Strategic Programs and sports network in how to develop successful collaborations.

• Teach the principles of partnership within culturally diverse settings based upon the teachings of the good news.

• Implement above by seeking to: 1) identify key best practices in partnering for mutual learning. 2) cultivate coaching and mentoring skills in partnering process and principles.

• Equip people in sports agencies with capability of building ongoing relationships at the local, regional and global levels.


Partnership is essential to sports agencies, as teamwork is essential to sports. Working together is complicated and can look different according to the situation. The Strategic Sports Partnership exists to train and consult in all areas of sports agency and Strategic Program collaboration.


ASC ACE Strategies Conference

What is it?

Since 1988, the ACE Strategies Conference has been held every four years, giving momentum, vision and direction to a growing movement of athletes and coaches who are finding eternal purpose and significance outside their sport. A growing number of churches and agencies desiring to serve and partner in sports opportunities are finding the ASC an important place to develop relationships and strategies. The Conference provides a unique opportunity for those around the globe to gather and consider ways to impact and serve Athletes, Cities and Events. The conference celebrates the accomplishments of the past and seeks to build future strategies to capitalize on the influence of sport around the world.

Aims

The ACE Strategies Conference is designed to:

• Initiate and accelerate sports agency development in every country of the world.

• Impart vision, training and resources for those serving in sport and those who are sport-minded.

• Provide opportunities for networking, connection and partnership among the global sports community.

• Expose each delegate to the ten Strategic Programs of the International Sports Coalition.

• Prepare for the “More Than Gold” opportunities during the next Olympics.


During the ASC, the vision, direction and importance for each ISC Strategic Program will be expanded. As further awareness and understanding are created, stronger partnerships and strategies will result in each country and region around the world. The ASC provides endless opportunities for relationships and partnerships to develop.


CS Church Sports

What is it?

In recent year’s church sports has expanded in many cultures. These models encompass a wide variety of areas including outreach, discipleship, leadership training, experiential learning, (church) planting, partnerships and sending teams. Sports provide a means for churches to be relevant to the interests of children, teens, singles, families and seniors in every culture. The Church Sports Strategic Program introduces both practical opportunities for the individual church and a growing number of options on how sports acts as a catalyst for community change through cooperative efforts. Church Sports intends to prepare churches to serve the interests of children up to the needs of top class sports persons.

Aims

• Make sports and recreation training available to every interested church.

• Expand culturally relevant models to as many churches as possible worldwide.

• Profile models of how sports serve churches with community change interests.

• Teach churches and agencies how to work in unity through sports options.


Each Strategic Program benefits from Church Sports and Church Sports benefits from every Strategic Program. If the local church understands what is offered by the three Strategic Programs that relate to major events (MSEP, MSEHP and ASC), then the church will be able to utilize these events for its own purposes. The two people of sport programs (SPS and PSP) help local churches to have a better understanding of the people of sport and enable the church to lay the right foundation in their lives. The ISLT program provides training material, the GCG program provides youth, singles and family programs and the SSP and SRC programs provide key principles for networking and partnerships. The more the local churches are equipped and take responsibility for the follow through, the more effective the Strategic Programs become.

isc brochure english (2008)

Documents

sports people

strategic sports partnership

sports organizations

sports of basketball

church sports

sports movement

major sports event partnership

international facilitator