My older brother Jason Lyons is starting a new basketball ministry at his church in Southern Indiana. He has created a GoFundMe www.gofundme.com/pm6l7k campaign to raise $1500 for new, sturdy basketball goals. I interviewed him to see what it is all about.
Saraya: Tell us a bit about yourself, how you came to know Jesus, and your family.
Jason: I am a 29-year-old husband and father of 2. I was in and out of church my entire life from Friendly Bible Church, where my Great Grandfather was the pastor, finally ending up here at White River Baptist where we have found a church family where we felt welcomed and integrated from day
one. I was Baptized by Pastor Joe Stevens (Our Great Grandfather) when I was in Junior High, but am getting r
eady to be re-baptized because I don’t believe that I truly understood what it meant. Now I d
o and I want to recommit myself.
Saraya: So now you are starting a
basketball ministry. What is basketball ministry and why is it important?
Jason: Basketball ministry is about having fun while participating as a
g
roup to accomplish one goal. As people are having fun it makes it easier t
o open up and trust others. It is a great way to get people to become more outgoing and more comfortable to talk about the Word of God.
Saraya: How long have you been playing the sport?
Jason: I have been playing basketball since I was 5 years old…well, I say that but technically doing cartwheels and spinning circles at mid-court doesn’t exactly count as ba
sketball now does it…I would say that I have been LEARNING basketball since I was 5 years old haha.
Saraya:Haha I wish we could show a video to everyone. Priceless
How can we best support you?
Jason: We need new basketball goals, we have them but they have been heavily used and will not last much longer. I have opened a GoFundMe www.gofundme.com/pm6l7k fundraiser account to try to raise the money for a couple of goals that are going to withstand years of play.
I could also use prayers that God may guide me on this journey, I haven’t ever headed up any type of ministry so I am still learning how to go about it. Any helpful suggestions are welcome as well.
Saraya Thank you and God Bless.
As I have been in Moldova this month, I’ve had the opportunity to play basketball with youth for ministry. I am like my brothers in that I have played basketball my whole life, so it was a great time playing with the teens. Nastea, our 17-year-old friend and fire-starter, told a bible story during “halftime” and it was cool to see that ministry.
I liked to see that while I did basketball ministry in Moldova, across the world in Southern Indiana was my brother starting a basketball ministry. No matter where you are, God is moving, and He wants to use you to do amazing things.
Much Love,
Saraya
