Those of you know me know how passionate I am about the game of basketball. I love to watch football but the sport I enjoy playing the most has always been basketball. My favorite basketball player growing up was none other than #32, Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers. While most of my school friends were infatuated with a guy by the name of Mike, I stayed true to the Magic Man. Back then, I would argue back and forth with my playmates that Magic was better than Jordan. Of course, that was before the tongue-waving, nike-wearing Jordan went on to win more titles than Magic.
I always liked Magic because he constantly exuberated a smile, truly loved the game, worked harder than everyone else, got his teammates involved, made everyone around him better, and was the on and off court leader of the team. People gravitated to Magic. It wasn’t just because he had an infectious smile that could light up a room or because he made passing en vogue and contagious with all the assists he dished out. It was because people genuinely felt he had their interests at heart. Philippians 2:3–4 speaks to this Christ-like attribute called humility.
Now granted, Magic had his faults and we are all aware of his licentious lifestyle, but on the court, Magic was a sight to behold. His dazzling array of passes, change of pace tempo, and unparalleled vision with eyes in the back of his head made Showtime run! All the Hollywood stars and all of LA lined up nightly to see this new kid on the block — and from his first game in 1979 to the very end of his career — the fans never left disappointed. The fans were guaranteed a show and the fans always got their money’s worth.
What does Magic Johnson have to do with next generation ministry? Well, there’s always a rising star in the background who seemingly follows in the footsteps of those who came before them (the next generation). This past Saturday, I watched a kid by the name of Lorenzo Ball play a college basketball game against Ohio St. Lorenzo plays for the UCLA Bruins (what are the chances its in LA again) and has been compared to Magic. UCLA is now undefeated at 12-0 and everyone knew this player and his team were special after they won at Kentucky in the famous Rupp Arena.
Lorenzo is like Magic in that he makes the game fun for his teammates, is a humble kid, and is an unselfish pass-first point guard. But what you do not understand about Lorenzo and what you may not understand about Magic is the quality that makes players like these great. It’s the same quality found in guys like Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. It is the insatiable desire and will to win at all costs. Winning drives these men. Winning can always be taken too far, but for these guys, the refusal to lose is at the core of their being. What makes us want to watch guys like these bounce a ball up and down a court like a puppet on a string is one simple fact: They are winners!
Don’t miss this! Don’t just skim over the word winner without giving thought to what it takes to win. All the sweat, blood, and tears that one exerts to make themselves great while no one else is looking. All the sacrifices and suffering incurred that end up making the difference between a win and a loss.
I think Donald Trump, who “wants to make America great again,” was right when he said in his campaign that America doesn’t win anymore. We’ve forgotten how to win. What made America great in the past was its wins! USA didn’t play games. If American went to war, they won. As a nation, we were feared. Of course, back then we knew our strength came from the Lord and not from our military. Our trust was in God’s might more than man’s strength and we knew He was sovereign in all affairs.
I recently heard that John Lennon once said, “win the children, win the country.” I have not been able to find the quote, but I do agree with it! Next generation ministry is about winning the children of this country to Christ so we can win the world to Christ. We have to figure out how to win again — in basketball, in this country, and in ministry. I am convinced we can!