Youth Sports Summit

The Youth Sports Summit is a half-day gathering on May 2, from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, for teaching, training, and conversation, equipping Christian parents, church leaders, and coaches to faithfully engage with youth sports for the good of our communities and the flourishing of the people involved.

Speakers and panelists include:

• Paul Putz, director of the Faith & Sports Institute and author of the award-winning The Spirit of the Game: American Christianity and Big-Time Sports.
• Cali Werner, an athlete and clinician who holds a PhD in social work. Founder of Athlete Rising, which provides mental health services.
• Curtis Duncan, former pro football player with the Houston Oilers.

Coffee and snacks will be provided. Bring a friend! Share this invitation with anyone who might want to attend. 

Please RSVP at this link.

Why this event? 

Youth sports have become a $37 billion industry in the United States. For many families, these sports aren't just a pastime—they're a lifestyle. Schedules revolve around practices, budgets buckle under equipment costs, and identities feel intertwined with team colors and personalized bleacher seats.   

This athletic boom presents unique challenges for the church. How do families reconcile faith and regular church involvement with the pressures and priorities of the sports world? How do coaches and parents provide a space for young athletes to experience the joys and positive benefits of sports, while resisting the harmful excesses? How do pastors disciple youth sports parents in their congregation?

We believe churches have an opportunity to lead in this space, and we want to bring people together to share resources, ideas, and best practices so that Christians can make the most of the youth sports experience with and not against the church.