Billy Graham, the famous evangelist, is credited with saying, “A coach will impact more young people in a year than the average person does in a lifetime.” I’m not sure his statement was meant to be taken literally, but his hyperbolic emphasis is helpful. There is an intimate and powerful relationship that often takes place between an athlete and coach due to the amount of time spent together and the goals they both share.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then a UCLA freshman known as Lew Alcindor, formed such a bond with then-UCLA basketball coach John Wooden that he wrote about it in his book, Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-year Friendship On and Off the Court.

In the book, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer reflects on Wooden’s record 10 NCAA championships with UCLA, his famed Pyramid of Success, and how he helped Abdul-Jabbar develop his skyhook. But the most crucial part of his book details the close friendship with Wooden that lasted far beyond the game. Though they shared a different religion and politics, there was never any doubt about Wooden’s positive impact on his student.

Galatians 4 – Heart-to-Heart Relationship

Galatians 4:6-7 is a reminder that there is an intimate relationship between those who have been adopted as children of God. We have been called into an intimate relationship with the almighty God. Just as a player, because of his close relationship with his coach will often call him “Coach” for the rest of his life, so we are free to call God “Papa” or “Daddy.” This heart-to-heart relationship with God demands time to season and deepen.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete closely walk with God. They read His love letter the Bible, regularly; they listen to His Word so they might deepen their relationship with Him. They hunger to spend time with Him in prayer each day.

Bible Memory Verse – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control. Galatians 5:22-23a (LSB)