It is playoff time in the National Football League. I am like a kid in a candy store! I love watching football, especially the NFL. Evidently, I am not alone. Each weekend fans jam stadiums by the tens of thousands to watch their favorite team. The average cost of a ticket in 2023 was $377. The games can last 3+ hours.
You will notice that these teams spend a lot of time in the huddle. They gather together and talk about the upcoming play—what to do and who to do it. The huddle is very important. It is the place of command and communication and chemistry. Some teams even hold hands in the huddle to show togetherness and team spirit. But one thing is for sure. 60,000 fans don’t spend $377 and three hours to watch a huddle. 60,000 fans spend $300+ and three hours to see what difference the huddle makes. They want to know if the play called in private will work in public. The huddle doesn’t win games. The action out of the huddle wins games.
Please don’t forget. The job of the church is not to impact the church. We are too often content in our huddle; hugging, and talking about faith, and feeling good about our team spirit. But when Sunday is over and the huddle breaks, folks watching in the world want to know if our plays will help them gain ground in their lives.
John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world…”
2024 is upon us. By all means huddle often. Check the playbook. Give directions. Motivate players. Then go into the world God loves and live out your huddle hopes. The world needs you. The world needs your church.
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Glenn Howell
Director of Development
United Methodist Foundation of Indiana
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