If you haven’t had the chance, to see the movie, Woodlawn, I highly recommend it. It’s based on the true story of Tony Nathan an America football coach and former running back from Alabama who also played for the Miami Dolphins for eight years.
The year was 1973 in Birmingham, Alabama at the Woodlawn High School. Tony was a very gifted football player who with other students desegregated Woodlawn and suffered racial tensions. Tandy Gerelds was the head football coach and didn’t know how to handle the obvious divide between the black students and the white students.
The coach allows a gentleman, by the name of Hank, the opportunity to speak with the team. He spoke about how they could affect change, discover hope, and a better way through Jesus Christ. Almost the entire team accepted Christ into their lives. Change began to take hold, not only with the coach, but with the school and the community.
Years ago Rick Warren, author of “A Purpose Driven Life,” asked the question, “What is the purpose of life?” “Why am I here?” Warren said that God has five purposes for each of us:
- We are planned for God’s pleasure which is worship
- We are formed for God’s family which is fellowship
- We were created to become like Christ which is discipleship
- We were shaped for serving God which is serving
- We were made for a mission which is evangelism
Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV).
Jesus told his followers that their ministry is to go share the good news with the people in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
We have a purpose in life. You may have to work for a living or you may be retired, but at the end of the day God has created us for a purpose. Are you trying to position yourself for what you want or are you positioned for God’s purpose? That purpose is to go make disciples. Not only with your children, with your family members, but to all those you come in contact with. Hank in the movie Woodlawn was positioned for a specific time and purpose and God used him to help the players of Woodlawn High School realize their purpose.
Resource(s): Personal Bible study, The Story resources, Rick Warren, and the Bible (NIV)
