Greetings

Do you think you would enjoy ministering to urban youth and their families? If so, consider volunteering your time, talents and spiritual gifts with King of the Court Tennis Ministry.

The mission of King of the Court Tennis Ministry is to glorify God through the game of tennis. We reach inner city families who have children between the ages of 5 and 17 and then provide FREE tennis instruction, equipment, refreshments and Bibles to the families.

Since 2005, we have sponsored 6 teams in league matches through Millbrook Tennis Exchange Center and have had over 50 children participate in our program. This year we are averaging 17 children in attendance each week.

We provide a safe environment on Saturday mornings where Christian fellowship can occur in an outdoor setting, friendships can be established and where families can be introduced to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and grow in their love and respect for God.

Volunteers are needed for the following areas: greeting and registering families, organizing worship music, teaching Bible lessons, coaching tennis, traveling with families to league tennis matches, picking up equipment and loving people.

A typical practice goes like this:

8:30 am-Volunteers arrive
9:00-9:15 Stretching to praise and worship music
9:15 Opening prayer
9:15 Tennis lesson/demonstration
9:30 Break off into groups for drills
10:00-10:20 Bible lesson/refreshments
10:20-10:45 Continued tennis instruction
10:45-10:55 Contests
11:00-Closing Prayer (Everyone goes home)

One volunteer said the following about the ministry:

"I helped John with his tennis ministry today and it was rewarding and fun. The kids are great. We had helpers from Providence Baptist Church, NCSU, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Colonial Baptist Church. We can use more help. It's 8:30-11 each Saturday and very, very rewarding. This is a great opportunity that anyone can be a part of regardless of tennis ability.

It's a great way to serve the LORD and help some children learn a sport while learning about God. John's goal is to be worry free of having enough volunteers he can count on (5-10 more people volunteering for 1 Saturday a month would take care of that) and he also wants to give a tennis racket to each of the children along with a Bible or New Testament at the end of the season. Kudos to Evelyn who donated a number of Bibles to the program a couple of years ago and anyone else in our class that helped with this ministry -- a good one indeed. Let's all pitch in and do our part. You don't have to be employed, rich, a great athlete or know anything at all about tennis....that's the neat part. If you can toss a tennis ball over the net or read a few questions at Bible study time and like kids, you're qualified. We'll even have you if all you can do is furnish snacks and/or drinks. We need you in any capacity!

I am on the Bible message team. We can use some more ladies in addition to the ones we have. Two will be gone next week (the rest of my Bible team). We would appreciate it and I'm quite sure that He would too!"

And after the disciples rebuked those who brought their children to Jesus,Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14 NIV)

If this opportunity interests you, please respond to kingofthecourttennisministry@yahoo.com with your Christian testimony, a description of your tennis and/or ministry experience, availability, and how you would like to volunteer.