Sports Missionary

About the role

Catholic Sports is a Denver-based, nationally growing young adult recreational sports ministry. Our mission is to build authentic community through recreational sports. We define authentic community as one that fills the void of emotional and spiritual loneliness (Gen Z, 18–25 year-olds are the loneliest generation according to 2018 Cigna Health research) by living our core values — Hospitable Outreach, Catholic Orthodoxy, and Vulnerable Intimacy — while remaining rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church. Our recreational sports leagues allow players to enter this authentic community, through which they will be invited into our Bible Studies, so that they will grow in a personal relationship with Jesus and others. We have seen incredible fruit from our ministry: numerous marriages, re-conversions, and conversions have happened as the Spirit blesses our efforts.

The sports missionary serves our efforts to evangelize 18–39 year olds through authentic community building. Every missionary plans recreational sports leagues (e.g. basketball, ultimate, volleyball, wiffleball, soccer, etc.), fun social events (i.e. brewery tours, hikes, dances, parties, etc.) and Bible studies. They implement their plans through recruiting and managing a volunteer team, which they will also disciple/form in the Catholic Sports mission, vision, and core values. Program coordinators work in a team and report to a Regional Director. They are encouraged to live with another missionary of the same gender, if possible, with intentional prayer and community among them.

Schedule

• 15% managing league contractors and visiting their leagues, or running leagues in the absence of volunteers
• 25% leading the Bible study regional effort, including leading their own Bible studies & one-on-one outreach/discipleship
• 40% administration/managing/forming volunteers, planning events that build the community
• 10% networking (e.g. Theology on Tap, YCP, parish/diocese events, etc.) for recruitment and growing participation in all areas for launch locations
• 10% fundraising maintenance or growth (post fundraising/trainee period)

Responsibilities

Event Planning & Coordination

• Submit an annual event plan for review with supervisor
• Plan 5–6 leagues per year in a new location (more as volunteer/participation base grows)
• Plan a major social event (e.g. dances, tours, tournaments, picnics) every other month (6/year)
• Plan smaller socials (movies, pickup sports, etc.) on off months from major social events
• Encouraged to creatively invest in communities beyond minimums, leveraging volunteer assistance to avoid burnout

Formation

• Lead at least one Bible study and disciple its participants with intentionality
• Coordinate regional Bible study volunteers
• Cast vision for Bible studies to volunteer leaders

Volunteer Recruitment & Management

• Recruit volunteer study leaders and grow league outreach
• Manage volunteers
• Assist in planning an annual volunteer appreciation event

Qualifications

• Striving for holiness by continuing to grow spiritually and intellectually in orthodox Roman Catholic formation (Byzantine, Lithuanian, or other rites in union with Roman Catholicism included)
• Desire to lead a community of peers to knowing and loving Jesus Christ
• Willing to step out of comfort zone frequently to lead others in faith and hospitality
• Ability to meet people where they are and patiently love them
• Some affinity towards sports, or enough familiarity to be confident in planning and leading leagues (training provided)
• Strong social networking and conversational skills to create hospitable environments
• Embodiment of Catholic Sports’ core values: Hospitable Outreach, Catholic Orthodoxy, and Vulnerable Intimacy

Pay

Employees of Catholic Sports fundraise their income in order to further the mission (i.e. they are missionaries). Catholic Sports has successfully trained many missionaries on how to build an income-producing support team from friends, family, and referrals. The first nine weeks are set aside strictly for building this support team, which will sustain the missionaries in their work with Catholic Sports. Support team building is performed remotely near the missionary's home base. Building this support team for prayer and financial support is critical to making a livable wage in ministry and having the prayer backing needed for ministry.

Benefits

• Disability Insurance & Family Leave
• Retirement contribution matching up to 3%
• Health/vision/dental care insurance or premium reimbursements
• Flexible scheduling and unlimited PTO