It’s our favorite time of year again! Yes, the holidays with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, but, that also means it’s basketball season and we get to go see our guys! When the time changes, it gets dark early, and it gets cold outside, Robby and I are ready to get to work, hit the road, and see our people in person. When the college basketball schedules come out we quickly look over them and map out our journey.
Yes, we go to some exhibition games and a few individual games early in the season, but as the holiday tournaments get going, that’s where the rubber meets the road for us! We believe in the ministry of presence and being seen. No, not flashy, and for attention, but for the effort of travel and desire to be somewhere to encourage, support, and pray for the coaches, players, and officials we know and care for. They greatly appreciate it and are always glad to see us. The tournaments also provide opportunities for us to see 8 teams in one place rather than having to go to each individual school spread out across the country.
November 21-24 Robby and I traveled to Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Daytona Beach for three tournaments and got to see 24 teams over three days. We saw close coaching friends & alumni from South Florida, Portland, FAU, Miami, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt, James Madison, Stetson, and Jacksonville State. We got acquainted with coaches from other schools like Wright State, Drake, UIC, LaSalle, and others. We saw friends who are referees in all three locations, and met scouts, administrators, and sports information directors. These are special opportunities to build relationships, deepen relations, and to further plant seeds for the gospel in people’s lives. We reminisce on trips of the past and shared experiences and also recruit and share information about upcoming trips and opportunities to share the gospel through sports with us in 2025. The most special moment came when some longtime coaching friends asked us to ask a head coach to pray over him as he is in a difficult and challenging situation. The head coach was grateful and appreciative and we prayed over him right then and there in the corner of the gym!
Thank you so much for your prayers, support, and encouragement as you send us, provide for us, and ask for traveling mercies on our behalf! It takes us all, and you’re a big part of it too! God’s Glory!