Christ First Sports

Christ First Sports was formed in December 2007 by four guys (Meet the Team) as a direct result of a sermon by Francis Chan at Cornerstone Community Church discussing doing more within our community and around the world. At the time, we were meeting on a weekly basis to keep each other accountable in our marriages and being good fathers.  Not knowing what God had planned for the group, we committed to pray and ask for His leading. After a few weeks of prayer, Jack came home from the baseball season and we immediately talked about organizing a baseball camp benefitting the Children’s Hunger Fund. Bingo! The baseball camp seemed right up our alley (considering Jack’s profession), plus we all felt like we were being called to do more. Jack brought up the idea of starting a non-profit organization and it all started from there.  Not knowing what we should call the organization, we knew that we wanted people to know our vision just by seeing our name… and that is to put Christ First!

Christ First Sports is a Christ-centered ministry organized to raise money for various youth organizations world-wide. Our intention for this organization is to support youth by hosting different sporting events (baseball camps, golf tournaments, soccer camps, 5K walks, etc) and giving the money to churches in our community as well as different Christian-based organizations worldwide. Our vision is clear, and that is to reach more people for Christ and share the gospel with them while gaining monetary support for other organizations that are also working toward the same goal.

Christ First Sports runs on a volunteer basis for all officers and directors. None are compensated for what we do, the time we put into the camps, or even for writing this specific paragraph.

Donate now and help us send kids to camp

Click here to download our 501(c)(3) IRS Determination Letter.

Our Mission

“To glorify God and follow His leading by taking strategic action to reach others for Christ. To humbly follow His guidance by using the gifts and talents He’s given us, and utilizing them toward the expansion and impact of His kingdom.”

Sometimes, our mission to glorify God has nothing to do with sports:

Check out a helpful hands Christ First story to show you an example of what we are about.

Meet the Team

Our Christ First team consists of four guys who began this organization to do more to spread the word of God throughout the world. We were just four guys who attended church on a regular basis, had a relationship with Jesus Christ, and loved our family; but God had more in store for the group. We encourage you to take a few moments to meet the guys and let you see our vision of how we are going to put Christ First through this ministry.

Jack Wilson

Growing up in Southern California, I attended Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village. I went to Sunday school, participated in Christmas musicals, and was involved in youth group. I realized early in my teens that the reason I was so involved with the Church, was because my parents and grandparents wanted me too be. Not because of a love for Jesus. Bottom line was I didn’t have a relationship with Him and when it came time to make my own decisions, it was easy for me to bypass church. Sports became my main focus in life especially when the games and teams started to participate year round. Traveling soccer and baseball teams became my youth groups and professional athletes became my gods. My parents tried to reach out to me but I became the dreaded teenager you see in movies and wanted no part of hearing what my future held without purpose. That all changed when I was 20 and I met my future wife Julie. It’s always a girl isn’t it? God knows exactly what He’s doing doesn’t He! Anyways, Julie had a tough task on her hands because I was the ever so popular non Christian who had a question for everything the Bible says. It was frustrating for her but she loved me and refused to back down. It didn’t take long for me to realize all that I had been missing. All the accolades I had obtained, MVP’s, all-star teams, championships, full-ride scholarship, even getting drafted, still left me feeling empty. I gave my life to Jesus Christ and immediately felt His impact on my life. Professional baseball used to be such a heavy weight on my life. My attitude depended so much on how I was playing at the time and it was hurting my relationships with family and friends. No more of that. God was the centerpoint of my life and playing baseball for His glory became the goal. Money, fame, and all the trials and tribulations that came with being a professional athlete, God took with me in stride. Playing baseball is not who I am. It is what I do. Who I am is a child of Jesus Christ.

Tom Boen

I married my wife Jessica on September 16, 2000 and we have a son named Tyler. I came to Christ at a very young age and grew up in a Christian home. While I certainly gained the understanding through my weekly Sunday School sessions, I certainly was not the profile of one who walked with Jesus. In July 1995, I attended an Awana Scholarship Camp where I was challenged in a sermon to stand up, right then, and say that I was going to live for Jesus for the rest of my life. That day, I decided to dedicate my life to Jesus Christ! While the road has not been easy, it has certainly been rewarding! I have had the chance to tour the world and sing with the Continental Singers, and share this same testimony while helping lead others to Christ! I have seen how by simply putting Christ First in our lives, we can help change the world, one child at a time. I was a teenager when I dedicated my life to Christ and believe that these are pivotal years of truly understanding what Jesus Christ has done for them! I look forward to using the Christ First ministry to get to share with others the work Jesus has done through my life, and what he can do for them as long as they put Christ First in their lives too!

Dave Engfer