Faculty lead author for Sport Ministry textbook

Dr. David Lewis, associate professor and head women’s soccer coach at Huntington University, is the lead author for a new textbook titled Sports Ministry, which is set to be released in April 2023.

The textbook is one of the first on the subject of sports ministry and it is intended, according to the book description, to provide college and university instructors with a dedicated text for “educating students on the how-to process of developing viable sports ministry programs that share the Word and positively influence the world in which we live.”

Sports Ministry defines and provides a historical overview of sports ministry. With emphasis on evangelism and discipleship in athletics, this text is meant to be a definitive resource for building an effective sports ministry program, even including chapters devoted to topics such as finances, facilities, and legal considerations.

The book description states that “when done right, sport is a powerful platform that God will use to transform lives for His eternal purposes. With Sports Ministry, students will gain the knowledge and tools to share their faith and offer hope to others through the universal language of sport.”

Lewis is well versed in the subject of sports ministry. He is in his fourth season as the Forester women’s soccer coach. He has over 30 years of coaching experience and is an ordained minister, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion/philosophy from The King’s College as well as Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

“Students, groups, and individuals who have a passion for sports and Jesus will be given the opportunity to integrate these loves for service with practical ministry applications,” said Lewis. “Since Human Kinetics is a textbook company, their primary audience would be for people in higher education (e.g., students interested in sport management, ministry, camping/recreation, coaching, etc.). The authors have written with these intended audiences in mind, but also to equip the local church, missions and parachurch sports ministries.”

Lewis is one of four authors on this project. Wayne Rasmussen, professor from The Master’s University (California) contacted David Irby, of Surge International (Oregon), about a textbook proposal for Sports Ministry and asked him to recommend an additional author. Irby and Lewis worked together previously on international sports ministry trips, and he knew Lewis had developed and taught sports ministry courses at Houghton University and had overseen their academic minor. Irby recommended Lewis to Wayne, and the process was initiated. Adjunct professor Bill Galipault, of Missionary Athletes International (California), was also soon added.

“Each of the authors are sports ministry practitioners who have combined theory with practice,” said Lewis. “Our training has predominantly been dependent upon first-hand experience. To our knowledge, there has never been a textbook devoted to training/equipping sports ministers. Resource references for sports ministry courses have relied upon a hodgepodge of materials that are more supplemental in nature. This textbook compiles materials into one volume, providing instructors with a readable format for full classroom implementation.”

For more information about Sports Ministry, visit here.