USA Missions Partners with Challenge Golf Association
Church of God USA Missions has formed a strategic ministry partnership with Challenge Golf Association, a Tennessee-based 501 (c) (3) association using the game of golf as a catalyst for relational evangelism. The partnership was endorsed in a recent meeting of the USA Missions Board.
Special services provided by CGA include the coordination of golf tournaments events, instructional clinics and guest speakers. The major function of CGA is to partner with local churches and other Christian organizations in a proven way to reach hundreds of unchurched individuals with the Gospel in a single pre-arranged meeting…AT THE GOLF COURSE!
Fifty million golfers comprise one of the largest people groups in the USA, and 15,000 golf courses make up one of the largest mission fields. In the typical golf tournament of 100 players, it is estimated that 27 suffer from alcohol or substance abuse, 29 are addicted to pornography, 32 are considering bankruptcy, 37 are alienated from their children, 43 are devastated by a failed marriage, and 1 is contemplating suicide.
Challenge Golf Association utilizes a tournament called “The Invitational” as an outreach tool. Each Christian golfer organizes a Foursome of unsaved friends who show up for the tournament to discover that the person who invited them is serving as their caddy. The tournament is provided free of charge to the players who interact for 18 or more holes with a Christian caddy, and then attend an awards ceremony where the guest speaker is an expert golfer—also a believer, who gives his story about Jesus Christ and His saving grace. Each tournament is funded by a local church or ministry, donations, and/or by benefactors. Each conversion commitment is followed up by a one-year discipleship training program, guiding new converts into the ministry of a local church and pastor.
Plans are underway for a local church “invitational” this spring sponsored by Pastor Mitch Maloney and the North Cleveland Church of God, and for a regional “invitational” sponsored by Administrative Bishop Jimmy Smith in Western North Carolina.
More information can be secured on CGA by logging on to www.challengegolf.org or by calling USA Missions at 423-478-7103.
Assistant General Overseer Wallace J. Sibley is the Executive Director, and Dr. James E. Cossey is the Administrative Coordinator of USA Missions.
