Athletics
Basketball • Soccer • Baseball • Softball • Volleyball • Golf
The school seeks to maintain an emphasis on athletics for personal rejuvenation, with a healthy degree of competitiveness. Interscholastic athletics are provided for those who wish to excel in physical skills
Our school is a member of IHSAA with varsity teams in golf, volleyball, soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, and cheerleading. Many of these sports are also available to 5th – 8th graders. We compete in the Midwest Athletic Conference, and against public, private, and other Christian schools.
Christian Philosophy of Athletics
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The main approach to athletics must stem directly from the school's Christian philosophy of education since it is foundational to every part of the total school program. A brief philosophical statement of athletics is "to develop the athlete spiritually, mentally, and physically so that his spirit, mind, and body are directed and controlled by the Holy Spirit." (I Thessalonians 5:23)
I Corinthians 10:31 states, "Whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Therefore, the Christian athlete ought to strive for excellence because he is motivated by the desire to use his talents for "the glory of God." By using I Corinthians 10:31 as a biblical base, there are three basic facts that constitute the Christian Philosophy of Athletics.
First, athletics is a ministry. Lakewood Park Christian School seeks to minister to others. There are a number of methods of outreach in which the Panther athletes may be involved. These would include post-game entertainment, prayer, testimonies, one-on-one evangelism, and witnessing. Sportsmanship and appearance are also very important in helping the athletes realize their responsibility "to show forth Christ through sports."
Secondly, athletics is a method of achieving goals. Some of these goals should include showing school spirit, promoting LPCS, glorifying Christ, seeking God's best, and developing as a total person.
Thirdly, athletics is a means to an end. Each individual athlete must desire to excel for the glory of God. By doing so, he/she will tell the world that a Christian is capable of being competitive in sports as well as being totally dedicated to Christ. Athletics must be used as a tool to propagate the Gospel of Christ to unbelievers.
Like everything else in the Christian life, athletics must be kept in balance. As Paul reminds us in I Timothy 4:8, "bodily exercise profiteth little." In other words, we must strive to keep athletics at Lakewood Park Christian School in the proper perspective. Athletics are to be fun and helpful in the Christian life, and also to build the character of Christ in each athlete. Jesus Christ is alive! Let's make it known through sports at Lakewood Park Christian School!
Christian Philosophy of Coaching
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Coaches are stewards. They have been divinely placed in the coaching ministry to meet the spiritual, mental, and physical needs of the athlete. It is important then, that since they have been called into this position of authority and responsibility that they know how to carry out their duties biblically.
The Lakewood philosophy of coaching must stem directly from its educational philosophy. The major purpose is to cause Lakewood athletes to act and think like Jesus Christ. We want our athletes to possess positive Christ-like character qualities, and to express them openly through athletics. We are most interested in building external values in our athletes, and therefore need to stress attitudes and actions in relation to God's Word.
Lakewood coaches will be confronted with all types of life situations where they can teach biblical perspectives, including intensity, diligence, dependability, patience, and other Christ-like qualities.
The attitude and approach of the coach is crucial in Christian athletics because Luke 6:40 states, "The pupil is not above his teacher, but everyone that is perfect shall be as his teacher." Or, in the context of athletics, "When an athlete has been fully trained he will become like his coach." A coach in a Christian school is called to an important and influential position. He is an ambassador for Christ (II Corinthians 5:20).
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