Mission of Riverbend Academy’s Athletic Program
The mission of the Riverbend Academy Athletics’ Program is to glorify God through the pursuit of athletic training and interscholastic competition, and to always point our student athletes towards Christ in all things. The reflection of Christ will be exemplified at every level of Riverbend Academy’s Athletics Program, to include the athletic department staff, coaches, student athletes, and even extends to parents.
Characteristics to Exemplify
Commitment to Christ: In Philippians 4:13, Paul states “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Through athletics, our student athletes are expected, in both victory and defeat, to compete in a way that honors Christ who gives us our physical abilities, and in a way that lifts up their fellow teammates and serves as a witness to others who may not know Him.
Discipline/Hard Work: Paul writes in I Corinthians 9:24-27 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” Through athletics, student athletes will be assisted by our coaches in learning the skills and facets of each respective sport, which will require discipline and hard work. While student athletes will compete for an earthly prize through scholastic competition, coaches will always point the student athletes towards Christ as He alone is worthy.
Excellence in Athletics and in Godliness: We are reminded in I Timothy 4:8 that “…while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” Student athletes will strive to pursue athletic excellence as competition in athletics provides life lessons that reach far beyond what can be learned in the classroom alone. Student athletes will learn to work hard, to face adversity, to play within the rules, to work well with their teammates, to win and lose graciously, and to respect authority given to us. While there is value in these things, the highest value we seek is to exemplify Christ.
Finishing Well: Paul also uses another athletic analogy in 2 Timothy 4:7 when referencing his walk with Christ, when he said “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Honoring Christ through scholastic competition does not require passiveness. On the contrary, it should be the desire of all student athletes to pursue excellence in athletics, to work hard at all times, and to be able to say at the end of competition that they finished well. Whether we win or lose, we will honor Christ in all things.