Pickleball

Last week I decided to learn how to play the fastest-growing sport in the nation—pickleball.  So far, I have played five times in three locations and met over forty people. The game is described as a marriage between ping pong and badminton, or as I like to say, ping pong on steroids. It is a ton of fun, and I’m amazed at how friendly and welcoming the community is.  ​

Judy Bowman (www.wheelpower.org) introduced herself to me at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, which has a building that holds three courts.  She shared how her marriage dissolved because of an abusive husband. In 1978 she surrendered her heart to Jesus at the age of 28.  In 1990 she was laid off, but the Lord gave her the vision to start her bike ministry. This single mom and grandmother raised a terrific son and has lived by faith ever since—amazed at how God has provided for their needs all these years.  Besides helping her with her ministry, her son is a disc golf and varsity basketball coach. 

Judy has biked across the United States 15 times, pedaling in all 50 states and covering over 500,000 miles. She holds a world record in bicycling.  She is the Pickleball Ambassador for the Lynchburg, VA, area and runs the pickleball ministry at her church. Her energy and desire to share her faith are inspiring.  For each new person that comes to play pickleball, she hands them her two tracts, “Is there LIFE after PICKLEBALL?” and “Can We Pedal Our Way to Heaven?”  
 
Meditation
Romans 10:15--And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things!
 
Judy uses her “beautiful” feet to pedal bikes and traverse courts, hitting a plastic pickleball so that she has the opportunity to share the gospel. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Brennan Manning wrote in The Ragamuffin Gospel, “We ought to attract people to the church quite literally by the fun there is in being a Christian.” I think Judy is on to something.  Joe Aldrich noted in Gentle Persuasion, “The tragedy is that the average Christian has no non-Christian friends after he’s known the Lord for two years.” This is why we need to get out and circulate and make friends with people on a court they have no problem frequenting.  

I reserved a court for tomorrow morning and invited Eric, my battle buddy, to join me (his first time playing). In addition, a couple I met last week is joining us. I can’t wait until the opening presents itself for me to share the hope I have in Jesus with Tony and Ruby!  
 
Inspiration
“Oh my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the church, that of evangelizing the world and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected!”—Oswald J. Smith.
 
©2023 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you want to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)