Youth Basketball For God

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Enjoy it. Sure, but most of all, thank you for listening and for choosing The Truth Podcast Network. This is good Truth Network kingdom pursuits here from ordinary people instilled with an extraordinary passion together we explore the stories of men and women who take what they love and let God turn their passion into the kingdom pursuits now live from the truth.

Your host Robbie Gilmore while we are so blessed today as we were talking about potential and Christian Carter show the potential pursuits is outstanding because we have some amazing people with this Randy Shepherd and Jamie Johnson with crossfire basketball camps and as you might imagine, they're good friends with our fearless leader.

Stu Epperson knew himself loves basketball.

So Randy welcome back out with John before but it's been a number years opportunity appreciate his friendship yeah and so with you as you've got Jamie Johnson as well who have. I don't think I've talked to before their answer. Jamie let let's get a new perspective on crossfire for the people that are listening, how would you describe crossfire basketball camps will all is Randy and a lot bigger than basketball were not camps per se. We do a lot of things that under our umbrella. We are a sports ministry that rain and I came together in 19 X the night you darted implying for a while with express, Memphis, Tennessee, and Randy had been traveling the world blank copy. One thing like Colorado Colorado state Alabama Wake Forest across the country. Tennessee and Sherry Christ@and he was speaking on the prison trail the church trail the school trail everywhere you could find a basketball.

He was speaking and we came together in 1992 I moved to Memphis claimant Randy and he was not my opponent growing up in mental high school, college's name always beat me before I got smart I thought I would just join him if I could win and the girls barking together in 1993 and at what we have our number of things. We'll talk about today. We can share Christ about basketball and softball 68 country 46 states we been blanched. I got the best thing make the world ready just a credible athlete.

I feel people evenly work out on the spot. A quiet probably completed and sought with him in warm-ups thousand plus times.

I don't think I've ever beaten and maybe for Bob Lee. She very got into the rock. Jenny beats to three point shooter we never had any a contest but we played about 23 months ago and I'll speaking with sale of the John Perry and a couple other guys place of young God you would call it and we won every game over it.Pastor Dave voice chart is a great shooter though I'm the best thing about the love the Lord as well. Yes, he does so and you guys got some big events coming up that we got to let people know because my goodness what a difference this makes in young people's life because It's just you know it for my kids.

They lived almost for the summer camps where I grew up going to basketball camps outplayed high school ball with a gentleman by the name of Boz Peterson buzzes the general manager now of the Charlotte hornet, but Boz and I grew up in Nashville going to camps together and we went to Wake Forest camp and went to Clinton camp.

We had a unique experience when I was 16 and Boz was 17 we went to North Carolina basketball camp. The Tar Heels Dean Smith was coaching me and it we checked into the Granville Towers there in Chapel Hill were all water Day and we went. His two boys from the Asheville North Carolina buzz was probably the best player. Nashville did beat me every day and we were suite mates with two African-American guys Wilmington, North Carolina, and one of the guys knocked on the door became through, he stuck his hand down he was 17 and I was 16. He said I would introduce myself to you. My name is Mike Jordan today is Michael Jordan brother the Lord worked it out that week and I think God had a hand in it. We got on the same team and I tell kids in youth and adults.

When I speak at the Michael make me look good.

I was going the ball to them up around the round and he was dunking forward and backwards it goes a little assistant coach for the name of Roy Williams, that it just a couple years and and Roy was coming in the gym saying how we don't get this kid to play basketball in North Carolina for the rest is history with Michael. We know where he went, and the buzz it is about playing in North Carolina about the McCain roommates.

There I wasn't good enough. Plan North Carolina played my four years at UNC Asheville, but when I got out of college brother the Lord. It got a hold of my life, my junior year I will say when I was nine, but I come back to the Lord in the UNC Asheville and the Lord I want have a basketball camp where we can teach everything that I always learned as a youngster at these major university camps but I want to share God's word and about Jesus because as you know, brother. You pay the secular Stuff to get those universities but not everybody there knows the Lord, and sometimes you hear the name of God or Jesus pigeon in a derogatory way that I want have a camp where the name of Jesus is lifted up so it's a real miracle to the Lord brother Jamie and I worked together. Dan he had graduated from Gardner Webb University where he played collegially and he played also in Montreat but is a great prayer request of the Lord. I will have this camp and I did have the name of Michael Jordan are brought JC Danner or Chris Paul busted Lord, if you want me to have this camp, you can provide some begin to pray and I was in full-time ministry at the time with the team that Jamie mentioned in the Memphis Tennessee spear express but after a support meeting. One night a businessman came up to me he said Randy I can help you financially with your support, but if you want have a camp you can use RGM Asheville Christian Academy will brother you didn't know this but I went to school there for 38 great wire transfer – the hot doctor that's an answer prayer and began another guy called. It was less than a week later brother if you ever want have a chance I want to help you with the printing already been watching your life and I appreciate what you're speaking to do for the Lord and he said the only donate 22 you will brother going to Lord. 30 years later he's probably given us 1/4 of $1 million worth of printing free exhausted. The Lord wants me to have this begin to pray the Lord of the Hunter boys come to the camp and one gives is like a Christly large basketball to be a success. We put the printing out the first summer 1990 all of the Western North Carolina hundred 75 boys signed up with 35 on the waiting list because the gym was big enough and we had over 100 and May 1 Congress is just a little of that summer and then some mama started calling it when you can have a girls camp pray about it and now the next summer Lord blessed with 65 girls, 240 boys that were bragging on Jesus now and not spell 31st summer but we stayed over 22,000 young people come to the Probably 14,000 are better, have made a first-time decision for the Lord so we can't take any credit brother. We give the Lord all the praise and glory and we do have our 31st annual Coming up and not. We appreciate your wanting to talk about that absolutely. So we how we got some as early in Nashville is June 21-25. Right.

So is like around the corner. You got have to cancel the camps overnight camps.

See you got a whole host of things to choose from and and a host of ages right from 6 to 14. Yes, once you give a rundown that Jamie and probably most people listing today would probably qualify for the overnight camp was driving all that Barbara happened a camp is probably not feasible, but if they want to they can they get a hotel they come. Go see the Biltmore house during the day. Drop the kids off with us but didn't explain what all we got going there brother. Sure, you might be as a listener today. You might have Randy in the Nashville area that you want to let them know about the camp and mine as well. The half-baked camps to begin June 21 the 25th at Haskell Christian Academy, Issac fails want to know what God and we have boys and girls aimed at forcing Monday rotting one and one learning something there. You Randy but we got a break that's coming up and so we also want to mention that Amy composted cures coming on today at 1 o'clock America to be talked about how to break away from people pleasing so this can be on that one and we got a lot more Randy Sheppard and crossfire persons you're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com. Welcome back to pursuits where we hear how God takes your passion and uses it to build the kingdom and were so blessed today to have with us Randy Sheppard and Jamie Johnson with crossfire ministries. But you know it is kingdom pursuits, and so it would only be appropriate that at some point in time we have Robbie's rental so speaking of basketball is ready for the song. So, do you know the difference and feel free Jamie or Randy if you know the answer, then these riddles jump on in their new mind because her basketball rental so you know the difference between being in prison and playing on the basketball team. Sean now so here you go you like this on a basketball team, your guards won't leave you hanging. Here's an oldie but I do love it every time, especially since we have a couple here. Why was Cinderella a lousy basketball player. I have no clue as to she had a pump and for.

I mean like it is. But you know when basketball stars die they don't pass away do know they do come on, you can get it the wrong path. I like that but the cross over dribbling to trick if you happen to be a guard, you know what I mean by crossover. But anyway, at the end of that you knew we would actually have a little more.

You can call it in Wednesday at 866-348-7884 866-34-TRUTH. All you have to do is call and tell us who in the Bible, crossed over 866-34-TRUTH 87884 to tell us who in the Bible, crossed over and if they do you want a T-shirt or something sure to so Chantel mother when already Robbie.

So forget that correct for our winters. We got a book called it's my turn now caregiving 101 recalled five more by God or person.

Her gutsy shirt.

It's your choice if you went to let us know if you want 866-34-TRUTH 87884 and all you have to do was tell us who in the Bible, crossed over.

I would love to hear your only left her euro Jamie.

He was giving us a rundown the half-day camps are in Nashville coming up June 25 through 25th to have Jamie sure liked your Robbie, Sean, I will give an answer, but it Randy probably the same answer I will tell you later you ask. Yet, we were taught earlier for those to my 9 o'clock the earlier part with Randy explaining it is, can't we have is been going on for its 31st year. Now Randy began. It back in 1990 crossfire has been doing this for good boys and girls 86 to 18 22,000+ good layer 14,008 Randy bluntly startled us all by looking to Gannett Deanna Hart for Christ be honored, like all the basketball camps across without the big one, Wake Forest, Tennessee, you name it and he didn't hear conversation about Jesus Christ doesn't mean that he get basketball, but he wasn't hearing a lot about who Christ was. Randy want to start this in our goal to those listing mom's bad grandparents to ever we want your sons and daughters while they are low-level things never grumbled all they want the plant college and they're playing a higher-level ball. When I thanked them Robbie Sean from any of the front ballhandling shooting defense team play character being a team player. What ever we want them to get a goal experience of the half-day camps are listing you have friends in the Haskell area.

We give you a piece of the larger picture, where the overnight bull. They all mentioned as well gives you more time to work with the kids half-day is like an appetizer, but it's very effective.

I go to Growing up, Robbie, Sean, I didn't do that. Not that my parents sent me but I could be the result of what Randy did going to burst when I didn't have is that this can't when you drop off your son or daughter. Half-day bully overnight there to learn the fundamentals and Randy will tell you both okay. That will fight high school, college level, kids are not learning fundamental so it's what we teach and so when they come, but I can't pick and learn about ballhandling and things shooting defense to work on their skills that were far break bad habits that they develop some of the everyday to hear about Jesus Christ.

That first Half-day June 21 25 is Apple Christian Academy East out of town.

Ask books 10 area and will be from 1 to 430 every day, then you have another half-day on a different national interest built by July 5-9, ages 6 to 12.

The first was the fourth thing this one is fixed as well boys and girls. 1 to 430 Monday through Friday at first Baptist minister built with youth at church. Their first Baptist but yet because of the nice Kim control. It works well. They even have a ministry to kids after school program so it's very much a visible GM accessible van.

The last few options run the same leak July 18 going that funding with thirsty is the overnight portion which is that more deal University, north of Asheville about 20 minutes we been there for probably 20 years when user facility boys and girls ages 9 to 18 and we have some very good skills that there we have found our learning and some to play college ball the recess at the day the overnight Tuesday, the day at the cold night. The full day begins the following Monday, July 19 through the 22nd, ages 9 to 18 boys and girls and all the cost on the website across our ministry.com but that can't learn the fundamentals like the half-day because of more times. Sean Robbie they get the Bible to get a little more credibility of time because you got free sessions versus one is that we would always tell parents if you're looking for a good camp experience.

All of them are good and fine if you want to go to the half-day is a precursor. A month later, so the overnight run a full day and they get a bit more in that camp setting and ready you may want to add that yeah I think Robbie they can learn as much basketball as they could do Carolina forget yet Richmond coastal Carolina wherever your listing from were going to incorporate Christian principles in God's word we speak to get the best 2025 high school players in the high school division back Western North Carolina and then going to God, we probably have had campers come from 50 different state and 31 years and we had a few 11 camper came from Egypt. I've been speaking and she flew over to some relatives in Virginia, I came to the camp but she was living in Egypt. So where it had kids come from all over, and we know no half a day is going to be an option for Western North Carolina, but those are listing brother away going to be an option for old ale, but I can't Barfield a beautiful campus.

It's all-you-can-eat food and decapitated air-conditioned dormitories this year because of COBIT will be one camper to a room, but the girls are in one dorm. The boys are another dorm. The staff is made up of four Christian Division I and Division II NAIA players and Christian high school coaches that use that word Christian brother, you know, we have guys that can compete on that level but also know the Lord. That's the whole purpose of the camp is to teach the best basketball but more importantly, share the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because we tell the young people you know it. Realistically they got wind it up again. So what chance of making the MBA, but we're going to give of the things that once their career is over. If they don't play college ball or you'd be a ball.

They're going to have a fundamental basis of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hopefully they'll come to know Christ that week if they already know Christ did, they'll grow in their relationship with the Lord in. We thought we got the best of both worlds offer, and again we take no credit we give the credit to the Lord. It would try to have a spirit of excellence. The camp thus the name crossfire. I mean, you can't help but love that name that name Robbie. We were praying we started the ministry in 1993 back he just had Charles family-owned on the commercial barrier between the spots there.

We were listed got bested by tall spelling it was talking about why God will spell it with his blessing that we got our salvation by the Holy Spirit and fire is also a basketball term. Barring that that we got the word crossfire and we use our life. First on the back of the church on 14th asked Jesus that I am the way, the truth of the life no man comes the father but through me.

And we also have basketball that we give the campers at the end of the week or they can purchase to help the ministry which have that burst on it. They get T-shirt free, but everything we do. One of put out the gospel brother is so awesome. Jim is young man young woman that stands out in your mind that you saw and knew just what you dishonor God show up in a phenomenal way is like a man got no wonder you got me doing these camps by John J. Bly sure John and Jeremy would yeah John Cannon is one of our players. Now he used fixed in about 75 played at University of Georgia and finished goods PA were Randy plated… Nor the basketball in the barnacle area love the Lord thanked him and gave his life to Christ. The young boy and came to a few All-Star games that we have talked about and really it's just been thought out. The Lord Christ in the Philippines, whether overseas probably have another time… 1015 20 pounds I gained the other night we were playing ball at our church.

My church p.m. and we were plan holder God replanting younger God and we meet again all over Her and John Locke for more harmony on yeah, that is. And that's just what an opportunity is so again. All this information is.com as well and we got a lot more with Randy Sheppard and Jamie Johnson crossfire basket you're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com back to fashion and to build the kingdom of passion sure that woman. They we have Randy Sheppard and Jamie Johnson with crossfire ministries so me different cool ways that they are reaching the world for Christ through their passion, which is basketball but right now we have Amy Carbo who is coming on at 1 o'clock today. Her show really great topic like how to say no. I was a song like that movie Oklahoma's I recall Amy Amy are you with me. I have all like that pain now better feeling Praxair maniac like had you mean Nelly be clear that it can't be slideshow with someone o'clock on the Truth Network and you got opportunity to call in so you know is you used to sing that song in the movie Oklahoma and I'm just a girl that can't say no to remember that song Amy. I hit my head again last but you know how I mean, how many times a ride done things to please somebody that I knew did not please God and mine. Wow, how how how can we find that place Amy so I'm really excited you're doing it showed like I so endorses their health. It would be the cure without Amy and Boris the 1 o'clock come up on the Truth Network. Thank you Amy God bless, sorry guys that I didn't mean to confuse you but we do have Randy and Jamie with crossfire ministries and so what we do when we left her here is your tell us about this young man and he came to Christ at your camp was a 610 when he came to the camp.

He was a nine-year-old and actually came to camp, but he also came to our big cross PFR ATC event which we do every year, we started playing the ACC All-Stars in 1994 when Grant Hill was a senior Duke players that work the camp and administer internationally with crossfire are former college university players not really any household names but of all, given the life to Christ maybe didn't have the opportunity to play big-time basketball. Although John did when he came to camp as a nine-year-old in our cross fight began. We play the likes of Grant Hill when he was it to Tim Duncan when he was at the Wake Forest tower Hansbrough music North Carolina JJ Reddick when he was at Duke. We still play those guys every year in a big game at UNC Asheville after March madness I will have about 4000 fans of UNC Asheville.

Jim sold out a minute halftime will bring an 8 foot crossed the bid court will have a testimony gospel presentation just like a Billy Graham Crusade. Invite people to come to Christ and boy to God above the Robbie probably 26, 27 years of the games we seen thousands come to the Lord will bring it people like yourself pursue our pastor a student pastor take these folks to a room and talk to them about the decision they just made and then a local church in Asheville will follow up on those decisions because many times those of us that are evangelist we get accused of just people making decisions and not being followed up on.

We have a local church here in Asheville that follows up on all those decisions within two weeks I give them an opportunity to get involved in a bodily church so John was a product of that we got finished playing basketball at University of Georgia for three years and that he played his last year. You have the Asheville became to us and said wow I really like to do something like what you guys are doing with little brother your answer prayer. We pray for godly players. But when you can get a godly fix can player classic product stand completely really deep so that's that's beyond collision or another young man that stands out, that you dislike man God. The kingdom is is growing as a result of the vision that he gave you guys sure about Jeremy Woods. Would you go to share with initially Randy back and fill that story to tell about his father being disabled all that great story, but his dad was a preacher up toward Burnsville, North Carolina which is just north of where we have the overnight camp at Marshall University at unfortunately when Jeremy was in high school he was driving his dad somewhere and got hit by a car and brother Woods was paralyzed and he's a paraplegic now, but Jeremy and his brother John had come to our camp from a very young age and both of them are in full-time ministry now.

Jeremy is the pastor just took a pastorate at a church in Myrtle Beach Conway area where I think this program could be going out as well, but Jeremy was on staff at Biltmore church. Asheville for many years.

This was a Southern Baptist Church and he recently took a position in Myrtle Beach as the satellite pastor there, but he grew up coming our camp be played by for college which is not far from Winston-Salem and then now he's a pastor, reaching hundreds for Christ so that's Jeremy and his little brother John is a student pastor here. The Asheville area as to wonderful testimonies.

Glory to God of young men that came to camp it and now are in full-time ministry. Wow, if I was understanding the story that when they apparently you knew the young man from being at the camps and then the accident happens. Did you know it at the time that this it happened to your players yeah well we had preached in his daddy's church. We also speak in churches if there's any pastors listing we come to a crossfire service for you will be challenge your church on with our testimonies or we can challenge your church on the soul winning in evangelism. Dr. Graham once said that he believed Billy Graham that 95% of Christians don't share their faith and I was in that category for way too long. The sin of silence until God gave me a burden to witness and now we try to witness where we go. But yes, we had preached for his daddy's church near Barnstable and they were little boys man coming to camp and then when they were in high school still coming to camp. They had an accident where the dad was injured pastor and he became a paraplegic and he had to step down the pastorate, but now he does paintings with his teeth, which are remarkable and he still alive is his sweet wife takes care of a obviously Jeremy and John are probably close to 30 years old.

Now there full-time ministry there sales but it was a very difficult story that God used in their high school years and now is really turning around for the glory of God and not amazing how God allows you to as you stepped in the faith, because you know when you start out that the whole idea of starting these camps on receipt you love the game you love the Lord, and he gave you away to work within your calling is really beautiful amazing thing on this bit bit bit bit that you continue to see so are there some exciting younger players we need to be looking out for that.

You guys been working with. We get an opportunity. Every summer before COBIT we would get 500 campers a summer half-day full day and overnight and we given the best basketball there some that have gone all matter playing college basketball now we don't have any household names as of yet, back way back the kid plated North Carolina name was Sean McCants came to our camp when he was young and the shot went on to play in the NBA is out of the league.

Now, but he did come to camp and we had a chance to minister to him. So Robbie whether their household names, whether they play on a small Christian school team very important to God and therefore if they never make their high school team.

Just come to camp to be a player and have fun learn the frilled hang out with us. That's what counts is how I couldn't agree more. So, my son, who played on the all the way. The Division I basketball that the secret of the whole thing is to have fun and really so when we come back with Ellen Morrison with Randy Sheppard and Jamie Johnson crossfire ministries you can find out all about it, allregistrations all the your listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com. Welcome back to where we hear God takes your passion and uses it to build the kingdom which were so blessed today to have Jamie Johnson and Randy Sheppard here with cross fire ministries.

They have a lot of stuff going on and find out about them this but do you know this your last segment. If you want to win today. You know you had to do was tell us who crossed over in the Bible 866-34-TRUTH 8788 forts on a trick question really is 866-34-TRUTH 87884 so Randy you guys if you've got the basketball stuff but your your talk about you. You've got other things you got softball to tell us what else is available. Had it up are so preached churches reduced it around as we play in presence of amicable idea that brother was sure you know, let me just give you a quick backdrop, but my father was a pastor I buried him two years ago. He was my hero. He went to Wake Forest University business major turn pastor terminating love kingdom or understood of the pastor, the need to disciple to reap the community. When I left the business for ongoing Randy and moved to Memphis thinking back to asphalt. He understood the very thing of what you found this program doing your passion to build the kingdom pain with the pastor that there are people not coming to church on Sunday. Reality is America on Sunday. People are not at the church there at home, at the golf course on the grass there watching whatever and that's what lost people do. That's what I would do so. Dad realized that the Randy and myself and crossfire. We were asked that to him as a pastor and many patches realized that one of Brett were not replacing the church we are the church and so what we get the daily use different platforms and outreaches to connect the world the body of Christ because I'm not going to church. We bring Christ to them that camp. Ideally steer this one.

The ACP ballgame is one but then we have other things well softball ministry we go to tournaments replying across the Southeast before act against we share our testimony with the gospel. Players wasting hundreds every year. Grown men you don't like the Christ prison ministry we been imprisoned across the stopping when there you might think I'm a Bible study. You might get 5% out from the study. You tell them you got income again. My basketball they come out of the cellblock but hear the gospel they love again in the ghetto like right church standing as ready mentioned, we like to come to the church Tuesday preached true, the love, the body of Christ and to maybe get them creative ideas of the spirit leads how we can share the gospel of Jesus Christ is Randy's right.

What Graham said he is most people probably don't share their faith. And that's a lot because they're afraid to leave their number spell and show them how we can challenge the church encouraged him not become up about creative ways to share your faith, from God's word we going to school sometime that the FDA was a capricious napping telegram or it could be a Bible study great or could be some kind of family set up, but I got people coming in to be at our family programs are yet Christian school or otherwise, and we share Christ abandoned reach out to kids around. You might want to add that I just echoed that brother as an evangelist, you know, unfortunately, brother.

You probably would realize this evangelist is kind of become extinct in our world and it's definitely not extinct in the book of back then I would encourage pastors to use evangelist to come and have a gifting or calling it would. Billy Graham gave the gospel people came forward and I wasn't because the Billy Graham was was manipulating the because he had an warning of an evangelist and how to explain the gospel and then when someone makes a decision for Christ.

The pastor the student pastor comes in just the name of that person, hopefully get them in a Bible believing church where they can grow in Christ were not against friendship evangelism brother but we read the book of back that I believe we believe, like Bill Bryden was a campus Crusade for Christ like Dr. Reagan Rogers, who was one of our mentor said not every Christian has the gift of evangelism but every Christian should be an evangelist, took your plumber a doctor allow your Christian radio, basketball, baseball, football, God is putting people in your past that if you ask him for the words to say you learn the Roman road you write your testimony down to three minutes God will give you opportunities to share the gospel.

That is the Holy Spirit that doesn't work, but if we don't share were guilty of the sin of violence that I was guilty of that for way too long though God brings us into churches. Pastor might have us preach a Sunday morning.

We preach on fishing for man. We give examples we challenge the church and give them an opportunity to say God can use me at Western auto God can use me at Walmart or God use me and my job Job influence people for Christ that my pastor for a well-known evangelist might not ever reach so that's what were trying to do all the different areas of crossfire brother so awesome and I'm sure should listing right now like me links where I send my grandkids were cussing my kids not only get the basketball fundamentals and let them an end in the summer they have fun playing the game where he doesn't beat down their throats.

You know that that there actually is is got Christian values to it. You can hear these guys hearts. Or maybe you're like okay we get this like this would be the place is called crossfire ministers course if you go to kingdom pursuits.com universities.com you can see there how to register the front of the front page of their website, which is just crossfire is.orgy crossfire.com call at 28559111282559111.com brother Robbie here today doing all that is very fun.

Great fun. Thank you again Jamie was great having you on as well. Now everybody gets what, that's on the Truth Network conference up next. This is the Truth Network