A Reluctant Leader with a Tennis Racquet

"Hey Bob, thanks for the Bible verse. It really helped today!"

The scene was the sacred grass of Wimbledon. These words were spoken by a professional tennis player after winning a match in one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world.

Bob Kraft, the founder of Tennis Ministry International, sends a text/email "Bible verse of the day" to hundreds of professional tennis players and coaches all over the world.

I have added Bob to my list of reluctant leaders. Here's why.

Many years ago Bob felt called to be a missionary to China, so he trained with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and moved to Hong Kong. After serving China's underground church for a few years, he got busted and decided that maybe ministry in China was over.

Rather than giving up on mission work, he, like Moses of old, thought about what was in his hand. For Moses it was a shepherd's staff. For Bob it was a tennis racquet.

What do you do when you feel called, but the door is slammed in your face? Quit and go home, or find another door? Bob found another door and another mission field. That same sense of calling that took him from Illinois to Hong Kong, now took him from the underground church in China to the tennis courts of Wimbledon. He is known by many players and coaches as the unofficial chaplan at the Grandslams and other professional tennis events.

Bob is spending a few days in Manila this week. I just had a lunch with him, along with Michael P and John S from our Every Nation missions department. We talked about how God is moving in Vietnam, Cambodia and Wimbledon.

During our talk I realized again that lost people are all the same, whether they are bald-headed rich & famous professional athletes or bald-headed orange-robed Buddhist monks - they are all in the same boat, and that boat is sinking. And we are called to help them.

Today's question for reluctant leaders everywhere: "What is in your hand?" 

Whatever it is, God can use it for His glory, if you will let Him.

Comments

[Thelma]

wow! he's sooo cool! i shoulda gotten his autograph. or had my picture taken next to him. =)

[marivic]

This blog is a conrimation of my prayers on how to back up our new ministry leader. I have a pen and computer. I will let Him use it for His glory.

[Bob Kraft]

Thank you very much I have very much enjoyed my time here and the wonderful people that I met. You all are a blessing.