Share this
Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
StumbleUpon
Slashdot
Furl
Yahoo
Technorati
Newsvine
Googlize this
Blinklist
Facebook
Wikio
Print
E-mail
Go anywhere near the Presbyterian Center in downtown Louisville and you’ll be amazed — at what’s happening next door. The Louisville Arena Association is building a $286 million basketball venue. If the name of Louisville’s NBA franchise is eluding you, relax. This 22,000 seat gymnasium (currently costing $1,000 a minute to build) is designed for use by the University of Louisville. The fifth largest collegiate arena in the nation is becoming a reality against all odds because a small group of local luminaries refused to give up on a dream. The PC(USA) — still the fifth largest denomination in the nation — owes a debt of gratitude to this over-the-top extravagance generated by the local love of hoops. The Louisville Arena Association is renting what had been the Congregational Ministries’ publishing and leadership development areas of the Presbyterian Center, helping keep our denomination afloat amid challenging economic times.
Presbyterians and basketball go way back. James Naismith, the creator of the game, was, among other things, trained in theology at Presbyterian College, McGill University. He invented basketball during the winter of 1891 with a soccer ball and two peach baskets, all in an effort to keep a rowdy gym class entertained. Naismith’s 13 simple rules still form the basis of the game that pays Shaq $20 million to show up and shoot.
Presbyterians and Christianity go back even further. The Creator of that game had only two simple rules: pour everything you have into loving God, and care more about your neighbor than you do about yourself. Granted, this manner of life is not a slam dunk. As G.K. Chesterton famously said, “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and not been tried.” But many people in the world who may never see a basketball palace are discovering the difference following Jesus makes in their life is worth any difficulty.
Ultimately, the success or failure of Coach Rick Petino’s collegiate round ball program in Louisville will have nothing to do with the pricey new home-to-be. Game after game, season after season, players are coached to simply show up, follow the rules of the game, and give it their all.
Ultimately, the success or failure of our Christian witness, our participation in God’s game plan, has nothing to do with what happens on the other side of the 2nd Street Bridge. Think about it. Our commission, given by Christ himself, is basically to show up, play by God’s rules, and give it all we’ve got.
A relatively small group gathered themselves around a dream to see a new arena built in Louisville, a dream of urban renewal and luxury sports boxes. What if there was another tenacious group of Presbyterians who had gathered around God’s dream, God’s mission of renewing not just a city or a denomination, but the world?
Fortunately, there is. It’s called PFR. Got a passion for God’s dream? We’re here for you!