A summer of tennis is on its way and many Australians have a deep longing with tennis as it is one of the sports that has been ingrained into the Australian physie with so many famous champions.
One of these is Margaret Court, 1970 All Grand Slam winner and the tennis player who has won more Grand Slam titles than any other person in the history of tennis, and is Senior Pastor of Victory Life Centre with 2000 people in the congregation says that it's much easier to run this church than look after her 6 little grand children all under 7.
'Margaret Court Arena' in Melbourne is one of many accolades to tennis greatness and gave an interview with the Australian Missionary News IPTV not that long ago – it has been deemed one of her most insightful interviews.
Sensitive people
Margaret Court says sports champions are sensitive people, that as a child she always fought to win whether in tennis or athletics. She went to bible school, she was healed of a number of ailments and her life was changed. Her life was renewed by the Word of God, the Scriptures.
This determined look on Margaret Court's Australian Postage Stamp illustrates the same essence into her powerful preaching. Margaret explained that this attitude of focus has always been part of her life.
It comes with you wherever you go, and in her case, Margaret Court explained that it transfers across to Ministry, Preaching, Training, Discipline, Devotions, she is focused. Moreover it is the Grace of Christ that enhances that focus to way beyond she could have achieved herself.
Margaret Court says there is always drama as a tennis champion, an ordinary person in her position is not that easy, but the term Reverend brings with it a status of being 'something different' although the overseas media have no problem with this at all. Christianity for Margaret Court is part of everyday life. It is a reality within you.
Reflection time
She always knew her tennis was a gift from God. Life is a battle of the mind, and tennis was like this, as is her Christian life. Everything happens in the mind. Margaret Court said she would have won 6 Wimbledon Titles had she had the where-with-all of understanding the peace that Christ brings to one's mind. There is a strength and a power within the mind that Christ speaks into, it is the Heart of the Christian's armoury, Jesus Christ is the very Word of God.
In her early years after her elite tennis, she suffered from a torn heart valve, insomnia and depression, especially when her four children were tiny tots. It was the Word of God that she took into her heart that healed her, and Margaret Court quoted the Word: "As a man thinketh so is he". Jesus Christ proved a wonderful miracle into her heart.
Then, how does Margaret Court find her own respite? Simple, she has to make time, it becomes a deliberate decision. But in saying that, Margaret Court made the following points:
One, make the time
Two, she has trained up a wonderful group of people in the church
Three, She concentrates on pulpit preaching
Four, the Christian walk is so exciting – more than tennis
Five, it's different all the time, every day something new ...
Margaret and Barry have four adult children who have families of their own. And as a grand-ma of six little ones all under seven (when this interview was taken), who are teaching you all the time, it's a lot easier running the church than it is too be the grand-ma baby sitter of all six at once.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html