"... let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another ... "
Hebrews 10:24-25

Christian Sports Fellowship

Who we are and what we are all about
(and answers to several Frequently Asked Questions)

What is your Ministry Purpose Statement?

The purpose of Christian Sports Fellowship is, first, to facilitate, by a variety of means, the gathering of Christian adults for fellowship in the context of athletic, outdoor and other activities. Second to provide information and links to other Christian ministries and activities for unmarried and married adults that will enrich their lives, further their maturation in Christ and help meet social/relational needs. And third to allow Christian members to invite guests to join in activities where Christian community can be experienced and they can see that Christians are also genuine, fun loving and adventurous people.
What are the essential Christian beliefs (short version)?

The central theme of the Bible is God's love for you and for all people. This love was revealed when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world as a human being, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Because Christ died, your sins can be forgiven by God's grace alone, and because He conquered death you can have eternal life. When you ask forgiveness for your sins and with a sincere heart acknowledge Jesus Christ as your savior and the Lord of your life you pass from death into life and thereafter cannot be taken from God's hand. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not persish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NASB)

What are the founder's and leadership's Christian Beliefs (long version)?

Under God, and subject to biblical authority, the founder and leadership of Christian Sports Fellowship bear concerted witness to the following articles, to which they subscribe, and which they hold to be essential to their life and ministry.

I. God has revealed himself to be the living and true God, perfect in love and righteous in all his ways; one in essence, existing eternally in the three persons of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

II. God, who discloses himself through his creation, has savingly spoken in the words and events of redemptive history. This history is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word, who is made known to us by the Holy Spirit in sacred Scripture.

III. Scripture is an essential part and trustworthy record of this divine self-disclosure. All the books of the Old and New Testaments, given by divine inspiration, are the written word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice. They are to be interpreted according to their context and purpose and in reverent obedience to the Lord who speaks through them in living power.

IV. God, by his Word and for his glory, freely created the world of nothing. He made man and woman in his own image, as the crown of creation, that they might have fellowship with him. Tempted by Satan, they rebelled against God. Being estranged from their Maker, yet responsible to him, they became subject to divine wrath, inwardly depraved, and, apart from grace, incapable of returning to God.

V. The only Mediator between God and humankind is Christ Jesus our Lord, God’s eternal Son, who, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, fully shared and fulfilled our humanity in a life of perfect obedience. By his death in our stead, he revealed the divine love and upheld divine justice, removing our guilt and reconciling us to God. Having redeemed us from sin, the third day he rose bodily from the grave, victorious over death and the powers of darkness. He ascended into heaven where, at God’s right hand, he intercedes for his people and rules as Lord over all.

VI. The Holy Spirit, through the proclamation of the gospel, renews our hearts, persuading us to repent of our sins and confess Jesus as Lord. By the same Spirit we are led to trust in divine mercy, whereby we are forgiven all our sins, justified by faith alone through the merit of Christ our Savior and granted the free gift of eternal life.

VII. God graciously adopts us into his family and enables us to call him Father. As we are led by the Spirit, we grow in the knowledge of the Lord, freely keeping his commandments and endeavoring so to live in the world that all may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven.

VIII. God, by his Word and Spirit, creates the one holy catholic and apostolic church, calling sinners out of the whole human race into the fellowship of Christ’s body. By the same Word and Spirit, he guides and preserves for eternity that new, redeemed humanity, which, being formed in every culture, is spiritually one with the people of God in all ages.

IX. The church is summoned by Christ to offer acceptable worship to God and to serve him by preaching the gospel and making disciples of all nations, by tending the flock through the ministry of the word and sacraments and through daily pastoral care, by striving for social justice and by relieving human distress and need.

X. God’s redemptive purpose will be consummated by the return of Christ to raise the dead, to judge all people according to the deeds done in the body and to establish his glorious kingdom. The wicked shall be separated from God’s presence, but the righteous, in glorious bodies, shall live and reign with him forever. Then shall the eager expectation of creation be fulfilled and the whole earth shall proclaim the glory of God who makes all things new.


Who is behind this ministry (also, who the heck is Ed)?

This web site is a ministry of Agape Christian Counseling in South Western Fairfield County, Ct. Agape Christian Counseling is the life's work of Ed Wheeler a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Psychology with a Masters of Science in Marriage & Family Therapy. He is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the State of Connecticut who ministers to both adults and adolescents in counseling as individuals, couples, families and groups. His vision for ministry and calling: To be an instrument of God’s healing, reconciliation and restoration (2 Cor 5:18&19; Gal 6:1,2). To help people draw closer to Christ in deeper relationship with Him and others through addressing and understanding problems, pain and other issues or circumstances that may hinder their personal and spiritual development, maturity and feeling of well-being. By God’s grace, mercy, wisdom and power to facilitate each Christian’s ability to experience God’s peace and love as fully as possible and manifest them in the world as a witness to His glory.


Who are we?

We are a network of Christian brothers and sisters (adults of all ages, but mostly late 20's to late 40's so far) who get together on weekends or other convenient times for outdoor and athletic activities. While our main purpose is to go out and have a good time, as a Christian group our hope is that friendships will develop so that we can support each other and grow in our faith and relationship with Christ. Additionally, there is certainly the possibility of being able to reach out and witness to other people.

So far, the main activities of the group have been skiing in the winter and hiking or biking the rest of the year. However, if a qualified leader or organization wants to plan something different (bicycling, canoeing, white water rafting, or something else) we'll put it on the schedule and hopefully a few people will join them so they can have fun together. Any activity with a qualified leader and willing participants is a go.

Most of our activities at the outset are in Lower New York State and Western Connecticut where the founder is based or in New England. The vision is for this ministry to reach throughout the North East and eventually the country with local Christian singles and adult ministies listing their activities. With enough interest multiday trips skiing, whitewater rafting, scuba diving and other special destination activities will be held to draw people from a wide area or accross the country.

This web site supplements the Christian Sports Fellowship electronic mailing list. To sign up to receive occasional (approximately weekly during the summer, less often at other times) email reminders of upcoming activites (if you aren't already receiving them) please request to be added to the email list.

For those who do not live in the region, in the near future we will be adding activities in other areas of the country. If you would like to be notified when these changes are made or add activities in your area please send us an e-mail. Be sure to add a comment that you do not want to be added to Christian Sports Fellowship email list but wish to be notified about activities in your area.

A few notes about the mailing list and future messages about activities:

Can I Bring My Children?

The reality today is that many of today's single adults have children, usually as a result of a marriage that ended with divorce. While some of our activities are not suitable for children we also desire to accommodate the single parents by organizing activities where their children are welcome.

If an activity does not explicitly state that children are not invited you can assume that you may bring your children. Please use common sense and do not bring children to activities where they will not be able to participate. Also be considerate of others who do not want to listen to whiny children while they are enjoying the outdoors. Parents (or guardians) are responsible for the children they bring.

Can I Bring My Dog?

Several people have asked if they can bring their dog (or dogs) along on a hike. Usually it will be fine. However, if your dog is a nuisance we will ask that you not bring it on future hikes. Also, dogs are not allowed on some trails and when we hike in wilderness areas where the group size is limited dogs may not be welcome.

Whether or not dogs would be welcomed on other activities depends on the activity. No dogs allowed when we are cross-country skiing as they damage the trails. It generally would not be appropriate to bring dogs when bicycling.

Do you have a question about this group that isn't answered here? If yes, then send your question to Ed and hopefully he will provide you with an answer.

Return to the Christian Sports Fellowship home page.