Basketball Ministry

A 'Shiner"

Matthew 5:16 (The Message)
14-16"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

My husband came home last night from his weekly basketball ministry with a small red place on the corner of his eye. He told me one of the high school boys accidentially head-butted him. Much to his surprise early this morning, he woke up with a 'shiner.' His eye is encirled with hues of maroon, brown, blue, black and red. OUCH!

Three years ago the Lord put it on my husband's heart to start a basketball ministry for a local ministry here in Monroe called Restoration House Ministries led by Pastor Dom Duarte.

The purpose of Restoration House is to reach out to lost and broken people with immediate focus on the homeless, men and women who have been released from the prisons, jails and are coming off the streets. The ministry seeks to provide them an environment conducive to building and discipling them for the Lord Jesus.
It is the desire of this ministry to see all those who enter Restoration House touched radically by the hand of God. It is the expectation of Restoration House that the love of Jesus Christ, flowing through the staff and those who take part of this ministry will change lives for society, but more importantly, will change those lives for the Kingdom of God !

When my husband began the basketball ministry for the men at RH, the Lord immediately began showering His blessing on it. Men, teenagers and even some women attended the Tuesday Night Basketball, playing ball side by side of men that many see have no purpose or use for society. Doors began opening where former prosecuters, judges, sheriffs and arresting officers of these men got into the game. Shoulder to shoulder shooting 2 and 3 pointers..... and realizing the RH guys weren't any different than they were....just made some poor choices and got 'caught.'

Tuesday night basketball has become something our family looks forward to. Our teenage boys attend with their dad along with alot of their friends who bring friends who bring friends. A time opened in prayer, individual ministry done as the game is played and lasting mentoring of unlikely relationships for eternity. All because my husband said yes to God. Thank you Kent. I pray your 'shiner' heals quickly as you go public being a light bearer for Him; with the various colors dancing around your eye a reminder that the Lord colors many paths for many purposes.

Proverbs 24:11-12 Rescue the perishing; don't hesitate to step in and help.If you say, "Hey, that's none of my business," will that get you off the hook?Someone is watching you closely, you know— Someone not impressed with weak excuses.