Have you ever considered being required to give an account to the Lord for how you stewarded the players under your care as you coached and guided them? A pastor must give an account for the flock entrusted to him (Heb 13:17). Husbands must give an account for the wife entrusted to him (Eph 5:25–27). So too it is with coaches over their players. 

How is that? Consider the parable of the talents from Matthew 25:14–30. The master gave his servants a certain proportion of money according to each servant’s capacity and ability to grow it for the master. After leaving the servants for some while, the master returned to settle his accounts. The servants who had made a return on their master’s money, even a small return, received commendation. The servant who decided to take the money and hold it, and simply pass it back when the master returned was rebuked.

The point of the parable was not about developing financial literacy or wise business acumen. The point was that the master’s servants who could be trusted to be productive with the master’s investment would be rewarded. The servants who doubted the master’s motives or cared little of his investment would be rebuked. Dear coach, your players are the master’s investment given to you for a short time. How are you thinking through this opportunity for stewarding their souls and preparing for his return? 

Stewarding Souls is Pastoral Work

Not every spiritual leader is a pastor, but every spiritual leader will engage in pastoral work. Stewarding souls is much more than getting people to the point of conversion, though this is the most important step. Conversion, however, only begins the process for the pastoral work necessary in a young Christian’s soul.

Pastor Albert Martin, described the work of discipleship this way:

“God does not automatically implant in them with their new birth those things that are generally described as ‘life skills.’ Therefore, when such people are converted and brought into our churches, we must not only teach them how to no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, but we also must instruct them in basic life skills which in other generations were absorbed in the home and from society at large. Metaphorically speaking, we must start by teaching them how to bring their food to their mouth and not to their noses or their ears. We must teach them how to tie their spiritual shoes. We must train them concerning how they are to behave with their newly acquired spiritual siblings…[in addition to solid teaching in the church] they will also need hours of patient, passionate, loving, specific, hands-on pastoral interaction with you or with other competent and mature men and women who can mentor these converts in these practical areas.”

Is Martin referring to the work of the pastor? Yes. Is he only referring to the work of the pastor? No. Pastoral work can be enhanced through the mentoring relationships Christians have with other mature Christians. Pastoral work is teamwork.

Are You a Steward of Souls?

The temptation is two-fold: (1) to focus solely on helping an athlete succeed physically in their sport or, (2) in character formation, but to only focus on building the externals like manners, interpersonal conduct, and time management. There is a place for these things and they are good. What we know from Scripture, however, is that true lasting change comes from a spiritual renewal of one’s thinking and beliefs about Christ (Rom 12:2).

Intentional discipleship will look different for every soul entrusted to your care. Some will be more receptive. Some will be further along in their growth and may grow at quicker rates. Some may not be receptive at all and your efforts will need to be mostly evangelistic. Whatever the case for any specific player, consider returning the investment given to you from your master having stewarded it faithfully. Will Christ return and commend you for your faithfulness with the souls entrusted to you, or will the commendation be reserved for others? What a privilege and a joy to consider your work as soul-work, as pastoral work, as eternal work!

1. Albert N. Martin, The Man of God: His Shepherding, Evangelizing, and Counseling Labors, vol. 3, Pastoral Theology (Montville, NJ: Trinity Pulpit Press, 2020), 624-25.