Youthwork Magazine Feature
PSALMS Minister Andy Harding was invited by Youthwork magazine to share his thoughts on running the Pulse Football Club in Stroud. Here you can read the full article...
What is the name of your youth project?
Pulse FC; “The Pulse” being the umbrella name for the wide range of youth clubs, events and sports ministries facilitated by the charity PSALMS (Painswick & Stroud Local Area Ministries).
What is your role in the project?
Strategic Youth & Sports Minister for Stroud & Beacon Benefice area.
Please describe the area the project is based, and the young people who attend the project.
The charity works across the Stroud district with a huge range of children and young people. Pulse FC, is arguably the toughest group in Stroud, many have been excluded from school.
What year was the project set up?
PSALMS – 2005
Pulse FC - 2009
How did the project come about?
PSALMS originated out of a need to reach young people “where they are at” and realising that many young people (especially boys) attended sports clubs on Sundays rather than church, we decided to prioritise sports ministry as a way of reaching them.
As part of my work at PSALMS I am doing an MA in Sports & Christian Outreach at the University of Gloucestershire. I decided to focus on this group of young men believing that Jesus would want to reach them and that if/ when they become followers of Jesus the impact it will have on the rest of Stroud will be phenomenal. It works in partnership with The Door (another youth project in Stroud). I work at the Whitminster pupil referral unit with students excluded from school where 10 students have near completed the ASDAN sports award. I have a relationship with many of the team from the work here.
Who runs the project? Is it a team or a one-man band?
Pulse FC is run by me and 3 other volunteers.
Why was the project set up? What is its purpose and aims?
PSALMS (Painswick & Stroud area Local Ministries) was established in 2005 with the intent of reaching young people by building relationships through sports - bridging the somewhat huge gulf between the local church and the local sports clubs. Nowadays it works with many churches across the Stroud region to encourage and engage them with mission towards children and young people. We work with various schools and organisations sharing the love of Jesus in a relevant, accessible way (often through sport) and disciple those young people who are keen to know more to seek, serve and share Jesus in their lifestyles.
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ROME isn’t built in day...
Drug-using, aggressive, hardened youth excluded from school do not always fit into the neat and tidy programmes and structures we attempt to place them in. The Pulse Football Club was set up to be dedicated to serving, loving and teaching such young men. We frequently attempt to formulate a programme or strategy to reach the lost and measure its effectiveness through results and particular targets, but discipleship cannot and should not be packaged.
Since starting the club 18 months ago we have been to court with three of the boys connected with assault, lost a team member due to a fatal car crash, witnessed fights, seen players leave due to bullying and repeatedly seen firsthand the negative effect of substance misuse. I have also been confronted by various members of society who have seen their mopeds ripping up lawns, abuse towards referees and other behaviour as completely unacceptable.
Discipleship can only be through meaningful, long-term and loving relationships. I am due to be married this summer and have invited the boys to this special day which has shocked some guests. But it seems to me that only through allowing them into our lives and accepting them as friends (John 15: 15) can we really develop meaningful, life-changing discipleship.
Although few (if any) of the football team would call themselves Christians it still seems appropriate to give them opportunities to lead, serve and undergo mission, despite their doubt and questioning. Recently I organised a family fun day for about 300 people, over half being children. One of the young men organised and ran a penalty shootout doing a fantastic job. He lived up to the level of faith and trust placed upon him.
The dominant peer influence within the group is the gang ring leader, with the other lads following his negative attitude and aggressive manner and with us coaches often feeling as if they barely realised we were there. However, through investing in his leadership and making him team captain we have seen the whole ethos shift, as he now leads the group in a (mostly) constructive and positive manner. We have worked with him and others to obtain their coaching badges encouraging their natural leadership gifting to be appropriately channelled.
From the outset we made it clear that we were Christian coaches endeavouring to model Christ-like behaviour and attitudes to them. We have played football matches against the police, the local churches and other teams trying to make it very clear what is acceptable, appropriate behaviour to these young players. We haven’t ignored their poor attitudes or behaviour, we have addressed it. Because of the love and grace we show them, they almost always respond and attempt to change upon being challenged.
Many of the lads on the team are marginalised because of behaviour, poverty, a lack of academic qualifications and numerous other factors. We are keen to empower the young people to dream and achieve in life, as sport is a great confidence builder. Many of these lads have little else on and have told me this is the highlight of their week. Through paid opportunities in the local primary schools to coach, a mini-tour, tournaments and much else we are rebuilding their lost confidence.
We have empowered boys to become men, drop-outs to become dreamers, and the forgotten to become family. This isn’t just in the football context but also in the broken family home, the hunt for employment or the local community they have isolated themselves from. They have started to discover Jesus, look like Jesus and act like Jesus... often unknowingly.
ROME isn’t built in a day! Is this discipleship?
ROME model:
- The Olympic Creed: "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well."
- The daily battle of life is far more important than the football itself. Football is merely a tool to engage and disciple young people.
- RELATIONSHIPS that are loving relationships and allow opportunities to share the gospel.
- OPPORTUNITIES for young people to grow through leading, serving and doing mission.
- MODELLING Christ-like character and encouraging young people to be good Christian role-models themselves!
- EMPOWERMENT for young people to achieve and dream through playing sport – particularly the marginalised and the vulnerable.