First Baptist Church Pickleball Outreach: First Baptist Church in Kinston, North Carolina, used pickleball to connect with the local community and share the message of Jesus. As part of their ServeNC Week efforts, the church opened its gym last fall for public pickleball nights, including free childcare.
Meeting Community Needs with Purpose
Jon Hoover, senior pastor at First Baptist Kinston, worked with Dennis Conner, Great Commission Catalyst, to find ways the church could serve the community. They noticed many people enjoyed pickleball, but there weren’t enough courts in town.
The church teamed up with the Kinston Parks and Recreation Department. With the help of a church member, they turned their family life center into a pickleball space.
Sports Build Relationships
“What can churches do that add value to their community and also build relationships with people in the community? Pickleball was a vehicle for driving relationships.”(Jon Hoover)
A local professional tennis player promoted the pickleball nights and taught clinics at the church. After the program paused in winter, he began attending church services. Soon, both he and his wife became Christians and were baptized. They are now part of a connect group at the church.
“Pickleball may not have been forever, but it was meant for that time to bring him to Christ,” (Jon Hoover).
Sharing Faith Through Community
Other people who attended the pickleball events also built strong ties with the church. Jon Hoover said the sport helped create quick and meaningful relationships.
He encouraged churches to use what they already have.
“Use the skills, the time, the talent, the treasure that your church has, and let the Lord use that … and trust that He knows what He’s doing with it.”
“We often want to just present the gospel and go along our way and leave off relationships. I want to encourage churches: Think through how you can do ministry in such a way that is relational, that gives you opportunities to share the gospel.”(Jon Hoover)
News in Brief: First Baptist Church Pickleball Outreach
First Baptist Church in Kinston opened its gym for pickleball nights to connect with locals and share the gospel. A professional athlete came to faith, and several community members built lasting ties with the church. Pastor Jon Hoover says it shows how churches can use simple tools to build relationships and share hope.
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