A Crucifix for the Weight Room

As a coach do you talk about our Lord with your players? Do you say His name - Jesus?

Do you encourage your players to follow His virtuous example?

Athletes want to be tough, physical, capable, determined … Our Lord was all of those virtues.

He is THE BEST example of any virtue you can think of.

Yet some coaches are afraid or uncomfortable to speak about Jesus … even when coaching at a Catholic or Christian school where it is allowed and encouraged even.

If your players love your sport, look up to you, spend hours and hours learning from you … If you speak of our Lord with honor, praise and admiration and do so frequently you will teach them to do so as well.

They will develop the confidence to not only speak about Jesus but more importantly - to act like Him.

Jesus was the most virtuous man who ever lived. You would want Him on your team!

If you coach up your players to act like Him, play like Him, not quit like Him … you will soon have a team just like Jesus.

That is a team I would want to be on. That is a successful, championship team.

Coach Mike Orlando of Cincinnati Archbishop McNicholas High School, head football coach and Director of Sports Ministry, recently added a large crucifix to the weight room.

I’d like to encourage you to do the same … and not just hang Him there. Speak about Him, reference Him, have your players imitate Him.

This will help serve as a reminder for YOU to keep Jesus front and center on your team.

Another resource that might help encourage-inspire you is a new movie due to come out August 28th.

From the award-winning creators of Fireproof and Courageous comes WAR ROOM, a compelling drama with humor and heart that explores the power that prayer can have on marriages, parenting, careers, friendships, and every other area of our lives.

Tony and Elizabeth Jordan have it all—great jobs, a beautiful daughter, and their dream house. But appearances can be deceiving. Tony and Elizabeth Jordan’s world is actually crumbling under the strain of a failing marriage. While Tony basks in his professional success and flirts with temptation, Elizabeth resigns herself to increasing bitterness.

But their lives take an unexpected turn when Elizabeth meets her newest client, Miss Clara, and is challenged to establish a “war room” and a battle plan of prayer for her family. As Elizabeth tries to fight for her family, Tony’s hidden struggles come to light. Tony must decide if he will make amends to his family and prove Miss Clara’s wisdom that victories don’t come by accident.

Opening nationwide in theaters August 28 and filled with more of the authentic characters loved by millions in previous Kendrick Brothers’ films, WAR ROOM is a vivid reminder that prayer is a powerful weapon.

Virtue = Strength, Lou Judd 
SportsLeader Manual to Teach Virtue