“God gifted me with coaching”

Bud Olszewski, Grace Brethren Church, Rittman, Ohio
Sport: High School Varsity Boys Soccer
Years Coaching: 15

Advice: Coaching is wonderful. I’ve been told coaching is not a popular activity for pastors and it is not easy for some, but it was easy for me. Coaching is a great avenue to impact people.

“The game is the best teacher”

Dan O’Deens, Gateway Grace Community Church and CPR3 Ministries, Parkesburg, Pa.
Sport: Soccer – WC United Boys U10 and U12
Years Coaching: 27

Advice: Preparation and training are as critical to coaching as to ministry. If you aren’t going to stay current with the culture of the game, you probably don’t want to coach. Coaching is not mentoring. Mentoring is telling the athlete what to do, while coaching is watching them play and asking questions. Coaching is for those who want to pass on what they have loved to a new generation. Do it because you love the game and you love people.

“Opportunity arises for teaching times about life beyond baseball”

Nathan Zakahi, Grace Brethren Church, Sunnyside, Wash.
Sport: Little League, Parks and Recreation, Middle School, and High School Baseball
Years Coaching: 13-15 years total

Advice: Coaching is a great way to get to know non-Christian families with their guard down. Players and parents knew me first as Coach Zakahi before they knew me as a pastor. It is a great opportunity to set an example of Christ for them.