Links Fellowships are the heart of what we do. But we don’t do it. You do! (Oh, don’t worry, we’re there to help.)
At more than 200 local clubs and courses across the country (and even in other parts of the world), men and women with a desire to deepen friendships and talk about their faith in Jesus with one another and others, too, have started Fellowships. Positioned in a place where there is already a sense of community, a Fellowship like this can literally change the conversation in the club by the way they interact with staff, other members, and the broader community. Doing things with Jesus in the mix is different in the way it looks and the way it sounds. It gets noticed. And soon the lives of men and women are changed by the way Jesus captures their heart and brings them into new life. “Salvation has come to this house today,” Jesus said after spending time with Zacchaeus. It can happen in your club, too!
What does it take?
A Links Fellowship gets started when three people of common mind agree to advance the five tenets of Links Players in their club: Love God and others, Integrate Christ’s reign and integrity into all of life, Network friends together in Christ, Kindle compassion for the poor and needy, Share Christ through the great game of golf. We call this the Links Player’s Mission, because it can be taken up personally by any golfer in the world.
The three initiators may be men, women, or a mixed group—just as the Fellowships themselves may be. But they don’t have to go it alone. Our regional and area staff are positioned as guides, and even if they don’t live near you, email and phones work well in allowing for the conversation that will ignite you and keep you on track.
In addition to these personal conversations, Links Players provides resources—nearly all of it free—to support your Fellowship. These include the Links Players Handbook, a great five-week study to get your Fellowship going. Beyond this, the Links Daily Devotional provides daily talking points for your participants. On Fridays, the devotion is accompanied by a Bible study and often an introductory video. As much as you want it to be, the content for your Fellowship’s discussions can be “plug and play.” You’ll also find topical Bible studies on our site, or you might choose curriculum of your own—anything that fits the five Links Players tenets.
There may be a Fellowship near you already that you can visit or join. If so, you’ll find it here. But if you’re ready to dive in and start a Fellowship at your club, we encourage you to visit our Start a Fellowship page.