News & Updates
4th Annual Keith LeClair Golf Classic
Thursday July 22nd at the Greenville Country Club
Thursday July 22nd at the Greenville Country Club
About Us
Mission Statement
To proclaim and exalt Jesus Christ through the EVANGELIZING, ESTABLISHING, and EQUIPPING of those in the athletic community and those they significantly influence.
Purpose & History
SPORTworks Ministry, Inc. evolved from Jim Young’s personal involvement with the athletic community at North Carolina State University. Jim, while working with a mission organization, The Navigators, relocated to Raleigh in the fall of 1991. During his first four years of ministry, Jim became aware of specific needs that were unique to student-athletes and to the athletic community at large. With the counsel of a number of businessmen and coaches, SPORTworks Ministry, Inc. was begun as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in August of 1995. This ministry is funded solely through the gifts of individuals, businesses, grants and foundations.The ministry began a chapter at East Carolina University in September of 1998. Jim’s son, Chuck, heads up the work at ECU. Chuck is forty-six years old, and has spent the past twenty-five years in full time vocational ministry. The past twelve years have been spent ministering to ECU student-athletes and coaches. Chuck’s wife, Lisa, has been cooking large quantities of food twice a week for these young men as they come into the Young’s home for dinner and Bible study. Football comes on Wednesday and Baseball on Tuesday.
In July of 2007 Mandi Nichols was hired part time to begin to minister to the lady student-athletes. Mandi is a Greenville native, ECU graduate, and alum of the Pirate Softball team. Mandi works for Covenant Church in Winterville, NC. Fall of 2007 also saw ministry to the ECU Cheerleaders develop under Mike and Page Aman. Mike and Page are ECU graduates and cheerleader alums. Mike owns One Source Communications, a local business, and is on the SPORTworks Board.
The purpose of SPORTworks Ministry is most clearly summarized in the second Faith Direction as noted in the Mission Statement. “This ministry’s purpose is to prepare young men & women to serve and multiply for a lifetime as spiritual leaders wherever in the world God calls them.” Many student-athletes have leadership qualities already evident in their lives. Regarding athletics – they know where they are going and they are confident of getting there. They understand sacrifice and suffering for personal glory and gain. They are wholeheartedly obedient to whatever it takes to obtain it. Good or bad, they are role models. What they need is the understanding and motivation to use their gifts and their position of influence to glorify the One who has gifted them. Mentoring to this end takes place during much one on one time spent in a variety of situations. Group activities for fun, fellowship and teaching take place on a weekly basis. Chapels are set up with teams and counseling sessions occur frequently with individuals. A variety of Bible studies are available for coaches and student-athletes. This ministry models, motivates and teaches. Jesus Christ, as our Lord, Savior, and perfect model, will always be the focal point.
Our Faith Directions
- This ministry will major on the collegiate athletic community, but will extend naturally into the professional arena and into the marketplace.
- This ministry’s purpose is to prepare young men and women to serve and multiply for a lifetime as spiritual leaders wherever in the world God calls them.
- This ministry will, by faith, believe that through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures we will bring honor and glory to God through all that we say and do.
- This ministry will depend solely on the power of the Holy Spirit, the authority of the Scriptures, the enabling of prayer and the financial support that God provides.
- This ministry will exemplify love, respect and obedience to Holy Scripture.
- This ministry will operate creatively, innovatively, sensitively and relationally.
- An administrative board will oversee this ministry’s finances and operations. All financial information will be available to the public upon request and by an annual report.
- This ministry will serve and embrace the local Church and those other ministries that hold to the authority and infallibility of the Holy Scriptures.