Illuminate — a focus on women’s ministry at PUC ...
When the rubber hits the floor
Rubbery squeaks and the bounce of a ball are sounds that echo off the walls and fill the air. Muscles flex and eyes dart as teams eye each other.
Welcome to a scene that could be taken from any afternoon at the Sport and Recreation Centre. This is a ministry run by Pittwater Uniting Church (PUC) and reaches over 1000 community players. In a sport- obsessed society, the centre is bringing God to an area that many thought would be out of reach.
In our culture, where sport is stereotypically a ‘male’ form of entertainment, you’d be forgiven for thinking a male would be heading up this amazing sport ministry at PUC but …
… meet Fiona Wheeler, the driven, dedicated and very much female director behind the Sport and Recreation Centre.
For Fiona, this was something she never thought she would be doing. She says, “I didn’t come with a ministry background, so it was a classic, ‘If you want to walk on water, you will need to get out of the boat’ scenario.” She says that although she came with no qualifications for the role, God has shown her all He asks for is a serving heart.
God has used a committed team of staff members and volunteers to explode the sport ministry onto the community of Pittwater. This well-oiled machine works not only among the teams, but also behind the scenes.
And these behind the scenes are buzzing with activity. There are many sports and competitions that the centre oversees. There is indoor soccer in both summer and winter and various school holiday programs for kids. But it is the women’s competitions that are their largest area of growth. This year’s competitions have almost tripled in size since last year.
Fiona says, “It seems that when we start something involving women, it very quickly turns to gold. We therefore continue to rack our poor hurting brains about what else we might bring the girls!”
One thing that the centre has brought to the girls is the Thursday morning women’s multi-sport competition. A different sport is played each week, including basketball, netball, volleyball or indoor soccer. It is impossible for a group to be good at all these things, so Fiona describes the mornings as a “fun, social time with an element of competition.”
An important part of this women’s group is the time to enjoy the company of other women, free from their duties as a wife, mother or daughter. Volunteers look after any preschool children so that Mum can enjoy social exercise and some valuable time out.
“Fun, friendship, and fitness” are the three words that Lisa Pazaky, a player in the multi-sport team, uses to describe what the team means to her. She adds that through playing with the team, she has found a new sense of confidence and enthusiasm, which has led her to zoom along on a racing bike with her husband!
This women’s group is one way the centre follows its mission statement, “Serving through Sport”.
1 Corinthians 9:25 is also part of the centre’s mission statement. It says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
The Sport and Recreation Centre not only runs successful sport competitions where there are earthly winners and losers, they run a heart ministry that is touching the lives of our society and creating more winners in the race for eternity.
This is shown when a family turns up to a Sunday service after being a part of the sport at the centre. Or when staff pray with children during the school holiday program after they have given their hearts to God. Or as Fiona puts it, when she sees people “coming into our midst, having fun and seeing that Christians like to have fun too and don’t have two heads!”
All women at PUC should continue to uphold Fiona and her staff at the centre for the important work they are doing each week.
Take a peek into many a neighbourhood street, school oval, or even third world community and you will see children laughing as they throw or kick a ball with one another. Through the Sport and Recreation Centre, God is using the worldwide language of sport to create a way into the hearts of His people, and Fiona’s willing heart has helped PUC be a part of His bigger picture.
If you are interested in being a part of the teams at the Sport and Recreation Centre, or if your heart is to help the centre continue their mission of “serving through sport” then please contact Fiona on 9997 2386.
