Shaping Athletes into Godly Leaders
Kenny Dallas, Head Football Coach
“Where there is no vision, the people perish…" Proverbs 29:18
“CHARACTER! COURAGE!! FIGHT!!!” These words, which we have come to associate with Landmark's excellent football program, carry a message that is at the heart of all of Landmark athletics. While it is easy to think of this phrase as a chant or cheer, it is actually much more. It is the vision of Biblical leadership that we cast before our young athletes and the method by which we develop them.
CHARACTER! - Character is the opposite of image. Image is what people “think” you are, but character is who you actually are. We challenge our young athletes to develop their character by doing four things: rejecting spiritual and social passivity, accepting responsibility, being willing to lead courageously, and desiring the greater rewards of life.
COURAGE!! - Courage is not the absence of fear; but rather the overcoming of your fears. We challenge our young athletes to develop courage by knowing that God is in control. If a student knows that God is in control, then he/she is ready to live a life of faith.
FIGHT!!! - Fight is simply putting your body on the line. Young athletes need challenges that are demanding, difficult, and test their will. It is what we call “choosing the fire.” I Peter 1:7 says, "These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold."
Landmark athletics intentionally impacts students’ lives, shaping each into a Godly young leader who will be prepared to impact the world for Jesus Christ. This intention is lived out every day on Landmark's training ground. CHARACTER! COURAGE!! FIGHT!!!
This article was originally published in Landmark's January 2006 "LCS Connection."