Tasha James, third from right, with Sports Reach team

Erskine Alumna Makes Coaching A Ministry

Erskine alumna and former Lady Fleet player Tasha James has more than basketball on her mind these days as she prepares for a May 16 trip to North Africa sponsored by Sports Reach, an organization dedicated to "Reaching the world through sports."

Globe-trotting is nothing new for James, a 2003 graduate from Inman who serves as assistant basketball coach at Erskine. She began traveling with Sports Reach three summers ago.

"One of my longtime mentors pulled me aside in church one day and asked me if I wanted to go on a trip, using basketball to be a light in a darkened world, so I said yes," James said.

James has journeyed with Sports Reach each summer since her mentor suggested the possibility of such a ministry. "Well, I love Jesus and I love basketball—there's no better recipe," she said.

This year, the recipe James prizes includes another ingredient: companionship. She spoke to a few Erskine students about working with Sports Reach and two of them, Christy Stowe and Lauren Elliotte, both juniors from Gastonia, N.C., agreed to go with her on the two-week trip.

"Tasha approached me with the idea of going this summer, and after some thought and seeing how it fit perfectly into my summer schedule, I said, 'Why not?'" said Stowe, who shares James' keen interest in basketball.

Looking forward to linking her sports enthusiasm with her faith, Stowe said, "Just to combine two major passions of mine and have the opportunity to share both of those was something that really interested me."

Elliotte's decision process was more complicated. She knew her summer job would last only six weeks and wanted to use some of her remaining time to go on a short-term mission trip, something she has done before. And she wanted to go to Africa.

But when James approached Elliotte about Sports Reach, the planned destination was China. "So I wasn't really interested, especially since I don't play basketball," Elliotte said. James had an idea for using Elliotte's musical ability, but that didn't change Elliotte's mind.

"Even though Tasha said that they wanted me to lead worship for them, it took a month of trying to talk God out of sending me to China before I finally gave in and realized I was supposed to be a part of this team," Elliotte said. "Little did I know that several weeks later our trip would be changed from China to Africa."

For Stowe, the international travel will be a new adventure. "I've never flown before or been out of the country, so to have this opportunity and to see God at work and saying to me, 'Just step out in faith,' has really been an incredible thing."

The Sports Reach commitment also represents a calling for James, as she leads two friends through what is by now familiar territory for her. She believes Christ's words in the Gospel of Matthew, "Go and make disciples of all nations" are for her, but "not so much behind a pulpit but in a setting where God can use me effectively to reach out to those who don't know Him."

For James, that setting is the basketball court. "Sports Reach's mission is twofold," she said. "To share the love of Christ through sports and to strengthen the walk of those on the teams."

Stowe is excited about what the Sports Reach team will be doing. "We will have a daily time of study and praise as a team, basketball games against various university teams, and 'English corners' where we could have the chance to meet with university students so they can practice their English," she said.

The team will also be working with children and youth. "We will be playing friendship games and conducting basketball clinics for the nationals wherever we go," James said. "Usually the love of Christ is shown through our conduct."

Elliotte's efforts will be centered on the Sports Reach team, which will include other volunteers the Erskine group has yet to meet. "As far as I know I will be leading worship for our team," she said. "This means that every morning we will get together and I will lead us in a few songs and then a time of prayer.

"Then in the evenings we will do the same before we end our day," she said. "It isn't really planned that I play for the people there, but I am going to take my guitar wherever I go, because you never know when an opportunity might arise with someone outside of our team."

James plans to watch for such opportunities. "We would like to draw some of the nationals through music, so that they are being fed outside of basketball as well," she said. "It will be a good way to earn the right to share the truth as well as build relationships with the nationals there."

The Sports Reach team will probably receive an itinerary of cities or areas to visit only upon their arrival in North Africa. "I have discovered from past trips that the schedule can change in an hour's time, so we learn to be flexible and have a sense a humor about it," James said.

The three women are still raising funds for their trip. James said, "If anyone has any questions or would be interested in getting involved or supporting this ministry, please contact me at my e-mail address."

tjames@erskine.edu