Love Gives

Ready:

“Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen." -- Philippians 4:14-20 NLT

Set:

The standard of generosity was set for us long before the Philippians were able to impact Paul’s ministry through their own giving. In John 3:16, Jesus clearly defines the win and gives us the play to run. God’s love for the world must be expressed! His means for doing so was by giving. Not only did He give, but He gave us His best. He gave us His only Son, Jesus Christ. The Philippians understood that the culture of Team Jesus has GIVE in His DNA!

The impact of God’s love that was expressed through Jesus has transformed countless lives, even to this day. This model of giving towards advancing the Gospel was not limited to the early church. As the Philippians gave to Paul, we have the opportunity to give and be used by God to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.

Moussa Mwahebwa is an FCA Partner in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has been greatly impacted by the giving of the staff, coaches, and athletes of Mississippi FCA. With FCA, Moussa has the vision to help create spaces where pastors, coaches, and athletes could gather to be equipped and trained to start disciple-making movements on sports fields across the Congo. 

130,000 bricks have been made by the hands of Moussa and coaches in the DRC in recent years. Without the resources needed to take on a project of this magnitude, they gathered and made bricks anyways. 10 years ago, Moussa was dealing drugs outside of a stadium during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa when God used a man named Brad Woz and an FCA Bible to transform his life. He moved back to the DRC on a mission to bring this same hope and transformation through faith in Christ to others lost in the sports culture of the Congo. After a decade of making bricks to help make disciples, the construction of the DRC Coach’s Transformation Center will begin in the spring of ’21. Moussa had this to say, “Many have discouraged my vision, but here comes FCA, and a miracle has happened!”

This story is evidence that our vision to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes is becoming a reality and that this reality will be multiplied all over the world! Dream with me for a moment--imagine a partner like Moussa in every country in the world. Then, imagine you and your team partnering with them to see their God-sized visions become a reality. Love gives!

You can connect with others outside of your local teams and outside of your communities. You just have to pray and seek out the opportunity.

 Go:  

• What is one example of how God used generosity to impact your life?     
• What is one way God might be calling you to give?    
• As God expressed His love by giving Jesus to us, what are some ways you have expressed your love to others?

Workout:

Matthew 6:20-21; Genesis 12:2-3; John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; James 2: 14 – 26

Overtime:

“God, give me Your love for the world. A love for every coach and every athlete in every country. Make that love move me to action. Show me how I can give of my time, talent and treasure. I know that You are one true God who can use even a ball to transform the entire world. Thank You for the privilege of giving. Thank You for giving us Jesus! Amen.”

Swayze Waters

Swayze joined the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ staff in December of 2011 as a local Area Representative while continuing his 10-year pro football career in the NFL and CFL. He currently serves as the Regional International Coordinator for the Southeast Central Region and East Africa. He serves 265 staff throughout the four-state region of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama and a growing number of International Sports Partners in East Africa. Swayze graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Alabama-Birmingham in 2009, where he also kicked and punted for the Blazers. He is married to Kendal and has two sons named Taitum (4) and Swayze James (4), and a daughter named Annelise (2 months). Swayze and his family live in Jackson, MS.