At the risk of adding to the
paralysis of analysis (ad infinitum, ad
nauseam) following big games, I have found myself captured by a powerful
parable I need to examine and express before time passes and the imagery of the
Alabama victory fades.
Monday night’s CFP National Championship
game between Alabama and Georgia displayed all the expected traits of the
strong, calculated and daring leadership that Nick Saban brought and continues
to bring to college football in this era.
Saban is now creating his
own new era—having tied Paul “Bear” Bryant’s legendary six championships—and by
all evidence, is not ready to throw in the towel. In the heat of post-season play,
Saban was willing to do what may be the most unconventional thing—risk the
future of his career and the game on a young man who was talented and eager,
but had little game time or experience with the team. Rather than following the
protocol of loyalty by staying with quarterback Jalen Hurt, Saban chose to
throw the second half into the hands of freshman Tau Tagovailoa.
Saban didn’t take the risk
because he was retiring; he took the risk because he cared passionately about
winning. He was not resigning to a better game plan demonstrated by Georgia in
the first half; he was leading. And in the risk to lead, Saban proved he had
overwhelming and amazing potential to win.
The result is now in the
record books. Alabama’s Crimson Tide overcame Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP
National Championship, 23-20. Saban led Alabama to a 17th national championship
(their fifth title in nine seasons) and tied Bryant’s record with six national championships,
the most in history.
Why am I repeating and
rehearsing Monday night’s game? I believe there are parallels from which we can
learn and apply to a winning ministry.
___________________________
Post-season play requires risks
and actions
that don’t fit the regular
season plan.
Whenever big wins occur, big
risks are often the key.
___________________________
In football, I’ve often heard,
“Do what we’ve done all year. Stay with the plan and those who got us here.” In
baseball, “Don’t change the line-up or take out the pitcher.” When the
predictable happens, we often lose. Post-season
play requires risks and actions that don’t fit the regular season plan.
Whenever big wins occur, big risks are often
the key.
I believe the easiest way to
lose in ministry is to quit leading your ministry: rest on your laurels, do
what you’ve always done, hope for the best.
For us as pastors and
leaders, it’s time to take a risk on a generation who have little game time,
but who are willing and able to be “all in”. This means taking a risk on players
whose backgrounds are diverse, whose names you can’t pronounce
(Tounge-oho-vie-loa), but players who can get a job done that benefits the team,
not just the record book.
As a pastor, I’m certainly
not saying this because I’m ready to retire or throw in the towel (though I’m beyond
the second half and clearly in the fourth quarter of my game). I’m saying this
because I believe the post-Christian era is going to require impact through
some talented—though inexperienced—game changers who need someone to say, “Take
the ball. Go make the play.”
I recently read an article in Christian Post and found myself concerned about the trend of
churches toward an aging ministry in an emerging generation. I’m not saying
that maturity doesn’t matter. It does. But like Paul and Timothy, the
intentionality of engagement and development may be our most strategic path
forward in order to see our churches strengthened and increased in numbers
daily (Acts 16:5).
On Monday night, the
instruction to take-the-ball-and-go-make-the-play was not limited to the Saban
playbook, but the Smart playbook as well.
Jake Fromm, quarterback for
Georgia, is an incredible young athlete with a bright future (just needs his pastor
to get behind him!)—see article from Baptist Press. Fromm, like Tau Tagovailoa, is a believer. He
is a Christ-follower and both of these young men have been willing to stand on
the biggest platform of college sports to give glory and honor to the name of
Jesus Christ.
In an arena where the name
of Christ is disrespected and disregarded (universities, sports’ franchises,
public displays), these men are bold and courageous to declare and affirm their
allegiance and service to the name of Jesus. When I witness this, I understand
and believe this post-Christian era needs seasoned leaders who are willing to
take great risks on an emerging generation.
If you are young and eager, get
ready! What happened on Monday night wasn’t a fluke of fate; it was the result
of young men’s spiritual and physical preparation for a big game.
Tua—not knowing he would
take a snap, experience a sack or save the game—was reliable, responsible and
ready. Like young Timothy, he let no one “despise [his] youth, but set the
believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1
Timothy 4:12).
In the end, the aim of our
effort is that the name of Jesus be glorified, His kingdom be extended, and His
will be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven. For me, it is not about
records; it is about wins for the kingdom. I want to keep leading, risking and
winning until the clock runs out.
David H. McKinley,
Pastor-Teacher
Warren Baptist Church, Augusta, GA
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