What Pastors Can Learn From Coach Prime’s Playbook
What do Deion Sanders and spiritual formation have in common?
More than you might think. As Sanders is affectionately called, Coach Prime turned around ailing college football programs with his unique leadership style, charisma, and vision. In a similar way, the church could take a leaf from his playbook, especially when it comes to transforming lives and communities that need it the most.
It might be time for us to throw away our discipleship playbook.
The Problem: A Lack of Vision for Transformation
"Our people perish for lack of knowledge," reads Hosea 4:6.
Biblical knowledge, doctrine, and spiritual passion are often dispensed from the pulpit, but black and brown churches, pastors, and ministers often lack a compelling vision for transformation.
Yes, we recommend regular church attendance and sharing biblical wisdom, but we lack a culture of transformation.
If resources for discipleship do exist, they often don’t resonate with the streets, appearing more as a luxury reserved for the affluent. (Hint Hint: That’s why we created some resources for you)
As a church planter and pastor in Baltimore, I am conflicted.
On the one hand, I want to dismantle the stereotype of discipleship in the minds of black churchgoers.
On the other hand, I want to expand their vision for spiritual formation that impacts their everyday lives.
I have encountered so much guilt and shame from congregants who feel bad because they feel like they should grow in their relationship with God. However, beyond coming to church and attending a weekly Bible study, they have no idea about spiritual disciplines that lead to transformation.
Here are some ways I have sought to dismantle the stereotype of discipleship in the minds of black churchgoers:
Talk about discipleship in a way that is relevant to their lives.
Show them how discipleship can lead to transformation.
Encourage them to take practical steps towards discipleship.
Here are some ways I have worked to expand their vision for spiritual formation that impacts their everyday lives:
Talk about spiritual formation in a way that is holistic and simple.
Show them how spiritual formation can impact their relationships, work, and community.
Create simple tools for how to practice spiritual disciplines.
The Coach Prime Effect: Transformative Leadership
Coach Prime is a change agent.
In his recent move to Colorado, Coach Prime transformed a one-win season team into a contender, selling out season tickets and causing merchandise sales to soar by 819%. Sanders said, "God wouldn't relocate me to something that was successful… He had to find the most disappointing and the most difficult task."
Sound familiar? It resonates with Jesus' ministry to seek and save the lost.
Moreover, Sanders inspired a roster overhaul, inviting athletes to find new schools and proclaiming, "My kids that play for me, they chose me. That's the difference."
Coach Prime is taking a cue from Coach Jesus. Jesus is masterful at taking no-win individuals and turning them into spiritual titans if they would just trust his program.
In John 15:16, Jesus says it plainly, “You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
Culturally-Informed Discipleship
“Give me my theme music!”
Deion Sanders took his coaching skills from Jackson, which is 83% Black, to Boulder, a predominantly white area. ‘
His leadership remained effective because he knew how to connect with people across cultural lines.
If the church wishes to be relevant in the lives of black and brown communities, it needs models for a culturally informed discipleship process.
We must adapt our methods to suit the people we are called to serve, just like Jesus did.
Too often, church leaders try a cookie-cutter, copy-and-paste approach to ministry. They assume that if it works for them across the country, it will surely work for us here. That could not be further from the truth.
I moved to Camden, NJ, in 2015 to complete my church planting residency, where I lived next door to Dr. Doug Logan, aka ‘Diddy.”
The year I moved to Camden, it was considered the “worst city in America,” and the state of New Jersey had fired the entire police force. In other words, Camden was effed up.
But Pastor Doug and his band of mighty men, Ernest, Trevor, Derrick, Josh, and many more, did things differently.
Instead of interest meetings, there were tattoo parties. Instead of Bible studies, there were cookouts. Instead of a food pantry, there was a Bully breeding business.
The rawness of Camden needed discipleship and formation that could meet it in the streets.
Camden did not need church as usual. As a matter of fact, there are lots of churches all over Camden.
Camden needed a Jesus that wears beef n’ broccoli Timbs and could speak the truth that burns like Hennesey when you drink it too fast.
Transformation: More Than Just Attendance
Ephesians 4:12 tells us that church leaders are given to equip the saints for the work of the ministry.
Simply filling pews isn’t enough. There must be a concerted effort to disciple individuals into a new way of being. Coach Prime once said, "I make folks nervous, man. I get folks moving in their seat." Similarly, our teachings and practices should push people to a transformative way of life.
When we planted Epiphany in Baltimore, I aimed to make church folks uncomfortable. We didn’t use a lot of church lingo. We didn’t dress so that ‘Sister Saved’ would feel like we were real pastors. In fact, we did the opposite so that the son she’s been praying for for decades would feel seen and know that Jesus is the way he’s been looking for.
Attendance doesn’t mean anything if the people aren’t being transformed.
Taking Notes and Making Plays
So, how can the church change the game?
Let's start by understanding the importance of creating a compelling vision that draws people beyond weekly attendance to a transformative way of life.
The people who enter churches week after week and encounter pastors and ministers on the street should be inspired that the vision of discipleship is for them to become just like Jesus with their unique culture, background, gender, and experiences. That’s crazy!
Let's also value culturally informed methods of discipleship that resonate with people from all walks of life.
In the words of Jay-Z, "I do this for my culture, to let ‘em know…how to move in a room full of vultures."
We must realize that the church's desire isn't just about maintaining the status quo.
It's about life-changing transformation.
Before You Leave The Huddle
Let's take some notes as we watch Coach Prime climb mountains in the sports world.
It's time the church begins to move people into a new way of being, just as Jesus taught us to do. Transformative discipleship isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity that could bring forth the change we wish to see in our communities.
Now is the time for action.
What plays will you call in your community to start this transformation?
