Tracking Toward the Ultimate Goal February 2010

F.I.R.E. Publication
Welcome to Christian Sportsmen’s Fellowship’s
Online F.I.R.E. Publication!

F – Friends through Fellowship
I – Interest around Common Goals
R – Relationships that are built to last
E – Evangelize as God Opens the Door
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Chapter Leadership Training Introduction

This leadership training publication has been prepared for the purpose of helping church leaders to encourage, empower then engage Christian sportsmen in developing a viable men’s outreach to sportsmen. Relevant men’s ministry events and projects provide the basis for fellowship where growth occurs around common passions which then lead to long term friendships. Used as a personal or group devotional, chapter leaders have found the F.I.R.E. Publication to be very helpful in understanding the sportsmen’s central role in fulfilling the Great Commission. As sportsmen, we can unashamedly utilize our passions for hunting, fishing and target shooting to bring men, women, boys and girls to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Tracking Toward the Ultimate Goal

Fresh animal tracks are probably the best directional sign that a sportsman can find in harvesting his quarry, especially with snow accumulation on the trail. Such terrain may have its downside especially when temperatures drop below zero degrees Fahrenheit. But when it comes to tracking game with snow on the ground, even the novice sportsman can determine the right direction in finding wild game animals.

While on a memorable hunting trip to the Last Frontier in search for the Alaska Yukon Bull Moose along the Hoho Litna River, I spotted the elusive wolverine. Most definitely, pound for pound, this animal is the meanest and most ferocious game in Alaska. A wolverine has been known to stand off a full grown grizzly bear then make his way to safety with relative ease.

In my meager attempt to bag an add-on bonus to my moose hunt we beached our raft, scrambled up the side of the riverbank to reach the ridge line where we had last caught a glimpse of the wolverine just before his hasty retreat.

His fresh tracks in the snow were a dead give away to his location. We tracked him along the ridgeline and down the other side of the hill where his fresh tracks met up with a large spruce tree. It was there that even the freshest tracks would not help us. We knew that we were making progress and headed in the right direction and yet suddenly “Stopped dead in our own tracks”. We reduced the kill zone down to a single tree but our inexperience left us at a loss in trying to determine how this approximate forty five pound creature eluded two mostly intelligent human beings. The wily animal most likely back tracked on his trail in trying to confuse his pursuers.

Most sportsmen just need a “track to run on” in reaching their life goals. As a Christian sportsman my desire is to find out where God’s Spirit is moving in these last days then join with Him in fulfilling His purpose in bringing hope to a world in crisis. The Great Commission remains the ultimate goal based on the teachings of Jesus Christ referenced in Matthew Chapter 27. The question perplexing most men is, “Where do we start and how do we measure our progress in the discipleship process?”

Jesus taught principles and precepts using word pictures or what the Bible refers to as parables. It is commonly known that men usually prefer to navigate their way using “Truck Driver Maps” with all the streets drawn out and each intersection labeled along with the mileage inserted on each leg of the track. On the other hand, women like to have the directions written out in long hand with correct punctuation and grammar included. Maybe that’s why so many women find it more difficult to follow a driving route to their destination and often miscalculate distance. (I probably need to get back on track myself before I dig a deeper hole than I already have)

Jesus knew very well the art of communication and the need to paint “word pictures” for his followers by using parables. A similar approach is illustrated on the attached power point presentation to help sportsmen envision a mental picture of achieving four basic levels of accomplishment toward fulfilling the ultimate goal found in the Great Commission. The discipleship process is central to God’s plan in the development of high character as He desires that each of us become “Conformed to His Image”. (Romans 8:29)

Realizing that event-driven ministries are limited in their scope of effectiveness, many church fellowships continue to explore new ways to assist men within their church to follow a discipleship track and even begin training in the essential disciplines of the Christian faith. Events are only a means to an end and can present great forums for planting the seed of the gospel deep within the hearts and minds of men.

Most men can relate to a mountain climbing metaphor in realizing pre-determined levels of achievement. Why not follow a simple process of spiritual formation as diagrammed in the attached Power Point Presentation where projects, events and curriculum do not just become another program but rather a lifestyle for Christian living. Flexibility allows the participants to adapt any number of excellent discipleship training ideas within a customized church plan

Another great feature found in following a discipling track “word picture” is that both sportsmen and non-sportsmen alike can follow the same easily assimilated discipleship process. In transitioning from each camp while climbing “Legacy Mountain” the need may arise to travel back down the mountain to revisit any number of the four camps especially in mentoring new believers in their own journey.

Climbing Legacy Mountain
A Discipleship Track to Follow

                                                                          Assault Camp
                                                 Guide Camp
                      Equipping Camp
Base Camp 

The camps can involve events, projects, small group study, leadership training, mentoring, curriculum, etc.

Contact CSF Headquarters at 770.772.6749 to receive "Legacy Mountain" Power Point Presentation <Legacy Mountain>