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| Hoosier United Methodists together |
April 2006 |
Former coach continues to make difference in lives of student athletes
By Daniel R. Gangler
"I believe this ministry will help provide financial resources for educational opportunities to youth who may not otherwise have access to them." - Jeff Landon, pastor, Middletown United Methodist Church |
Basketball has been his life's occupation. Bringing youth to church is his calling.
Through a new Web site service, this former basketball coach continues to make a difference in the lives of high school athletes and also give them an opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, especially those who have not heard the Gospel or experienced unconditional love and the blessings of Christian living.
Coach Mike Walker, 66, a member of the Middletown United Methodist Church southeast of Anderson, has created a Web site that intends to bring together high school athletes with college and university athletic recruiters. The site, www.PostYourT.org, has something for all involved in the process including: high school athletes, parents, coaches, athletic directors, college and university recruiters and high schools. He says he is in contact with more than 1,000 colleges and universities.
Walker told Together during a recent interview, "PostYourT is designed to help all interested high school athletes and college scouts through the recruiting process. Everything possible has been done to make the Web site safe and secure for all players."
Here's how it works
According to Walker's Web site, a High School athlete comes to the Web site and gives key contact information. The athlete associates him- or herself with a high school in the site's database, if the high school has been sponsored. The student athlete then enters at www.PostYourT.org information including SAT (college entrance exam) scores, grade point average, activities and college plans. PostYourT then collects the athlete's stats, sends an e-mail to the athlete's high school to inform the school the information has been entered. The high school verifies accuracy of the information. PostYourT enters the information, where upon college and university recruiters can search validated student athletes and contact their high school about them.
Part of the show-and-tell for student athletes to display their talents to college and university recruiters will come during the Indiana East-West All Star Basketball Games. Walker is working with organizers to hold these games Friday and Saturday, July 7 and 8 at a place yet to be announced. The tournament will allow 160 of Indiana's top boy and girl players to show their talent in all four classes: 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A. The tournament also will feature prep bands and cheerleaders.
Ron Hecklinski, head boys basketball coach at Anderson High School and a supporter of Walker's program says, "The East/West All-Star Games is a great way for some of the top high school players in the state to showcase their talents."
Where's the church?
Where is the church in all of this? Walker realizes that many small-membership United Methodist churches have a weak or no youth programs. He hopes PostYourT will help pastors get involved with their community's high school.
Walker also asks local United Methodists to provide the registration cost of $100 for their local high school to sign on the PostYourT Web service.
He says, "By so doing, hundreds of students will have the opportunity to post their individual talents to the Web site at no cost to the parent, the student or the schools. Naturally, since the local United Methodist church is the sponsor, their name will be noted in all PostYourT releases as well as posted on the Web site. Consequently, the local pastor and youth leaders will have excellent opportunity to reach out to the un-churched in their high school."
His pastor, the Rev. Jeff Landon, told Together, "I believe this ministry will help provide financial resources for educational opportunities to youth who may not otherwise have access to them. In addition it demonstrates the Church's interest in their lives. I see this as a wonderful method for evangelism and a new pedagogy for the church.
"To me, this is about reaching our youth 'where they are' and being involved in their interests. From there on, with God's grace, our example will be testimony to our message and lead them to Christ."
Landon fully supports Walker's ministry and has counseled him in the spiritual aspects of his recruitment online services.
Walker also says he is working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes leaders in the state to sponsor the Saturday morning Coaches Clinic during the weekend of the East/West All-Star Basketball Games this summer.
"The thought here is FCA will be a witness to the coaches," he said. But he assures, "Our program/project is not in any way a part of the FCA. We are working on being 'teammates' to present the Gospel along with the FCA. It is a great organization."
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008