zachharrod.com

#SurpriseUsin6 – “Why football?” pt. 2

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I was asked, “Why football?” During the start of our trip back and in my first post about this, I shared that I worshipped God through my work in the details as a coach and as a result that allows me to be fully present for my players and those in our organization. The other reason why I coach football is that through coaching I can show our guys God’s love in practical ways, which in a post-Christian society goes a long way.

Showing God’s love in practical ways comes in many different forms and it starts with stepping back and being very, very intentional. One of the ways we show this is radical generosity, which is a deep value of ours. Radical generosity means meals, creative opportunities for team building, donuts at practice and more! Generosity changes people.

Another way I show God’s love is through coaching differently, while I’m passionate and get excited, I strive to coach how I think Jesus would coach, and also be me in the process. I’m not Tony Dungy and I’m not Dabo Swinney, while I wouldn’t mind to have their success, I’m not them, I’m Zach Harrod and God wants to me to coach my guys and lead in the way he made me and ultimately in the way of Jesus. So for me, that means being quick to say, “I’m sorry” when I get too excited and need to repair a bridge. Being this type of coach is delicate balance between being a friend and also being an authority, which leads to those moments when I need to swallow my pride and pursue forgiveness. Also being this type of coach, and ultimately friend, means being honest and truthful, even if that isn’t the popular thing. I like how Brian Knight put it, “The simple skill of honesty is to tell the truth as you understand it, with love and purpose, in an effort to share something of value.”

“Why football?” Simply put, it allows me to bring value, love and purpose through relationship, which has led to character change and eternal change through a common language. While I’m still growing as a coach, leader and man, I’m humbled to see God move through the sport!

#SurpriseUsIn6 – “Why Football?”

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Recently someone asked me, “Why would you invest so much in football in Prague & not just be a pastor?” I wasn’t offended, I’ve been hearing something like this for years. The first reason is that I believe the Bible makes it clear that we can indeed worship God in the most mundane of things, that’s why Paul wrote this,

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31

I believe that doing my work well and unto the Lord is a spiritual act of worship, even though that might be watching hours of game film or putting together playbooks. It’s the priesthood of the believer (1 Peter 2:9), that Luther wrote so much about. I’ve always loved this quote from Luther,

“The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.”

I wonder how Luther would answer the gentleman who asked me about football, I think it would be something like, “The Christian football coach does his duty not by merely dropping, “Jesus” in every interview, but by being prepared, loving and listening to his players, by being fully present for his players and pushing them to be the best men on and off the field that they can be and is also ready to share the Good news when the Lord gives the opportunity.”

Wow. As I’m sitting here that got me more than a little fired up to do what I do, the way I do it, where I do it. There are more reasons to “WHY FOOTBALL?” that will follow in another posts, but I think that is sufficient for this moment. My question to you is,

How would Martin Luther’s quote about the shoemaker look in your context?

I’d love to see what you think. We hope and pray our #SurpriseUsIn6 posts are encouraging to you and challenge you in your own life. We also are still trusting God through many like you reading this to SURPRISE us in our last 6 weeks in the States and help us go back to Prague fully funded on February 12th! If you’d like to help you can CLICK HERE to give today!

Why I Invested in a European Football Team – A Guest Post by Sam Nichols

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For me, football has always been an integral part of my mission. Coaching, and more so the relationships I developed within the team, is where I have most clearly seen God use me to impact others positively. I know that I am not alone in this call as many coaches use their platform for the same reason and with the same goal.

This is where the Prague Lions come in.

10 years ago, I started a relationship with an American coach in Prague who was using his coaching role as a platform for ministry to the Czech people. When I learned about the history of the Czech Republic and that nearly 89% of the country claims to be atheist, I began to see the need for people like Zach to bring Christ to this beautiful country.

Over the part 10 years, Zach Harrod’s heart for the Word of God, love the people of Prague, and passion for the game of football have allowed him to build many fruitful relationships and to see God’s work be done in Prague. He and his wife Míša have been part of everything from planting a church and developing a missional communities to disciplining football players and reaching out to women in sex trafficking industry.

This past year, it became clear that for the team, and in turn Zach’s ministry to continue to grow the team needed new leadership. It needed to be owned by those who have given so much to grow it into a perennial power in the Czech league and by people who are invested in the work it does to help those in its community. As part of that process, my wife and I joined with 7 others in Prague to form a new ownership group. We believe that this will add further fuel to the fire of all the work that is already being done in the Lord’s name a country that finds God to be very distant.

So here is the point…

I did not share this today to build myself up, but instead to lift up Zach, Míša, and their ministry to those in my sphere of influence. Today is giving Tuesday and Zach and Míša are in need to raise additional support to fund the great work they do in Prague as well as their growing family. It is my prayer that they could grow their ministry through new relationships with American Football coaches.

Please consider contacting Zach to directly (zachharrod -at- gmail.com) or me (coachnichols -at- gmail.com). at to learn more about what they are doing and their current team and ministry needs.

Also please prayerfully consider joining Zach’s team of financial supporters. To learn more about this, click here.

NCCtakeover 2017

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NCCtakeover 2017 – BRAVE from Zach Harrod on Vimeo.

Wanna learn more about us, the Harrodovi? “Yes?!?” Here you go. This is part of NCC’s (National Community Church) sermon series, BRAVE, which you need to check out. So this is from our Instagram Story takeover, thus the 15-second clips, all put together. We hope you enjoy this.  If you want to give, CLICK HERE, if you want to learn more about our needs, CLICK HERE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!

COACHES TRIP 2014

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So another year is here and that means another COACHES TRIP. Coaches Trip 2014 has begun and we are in New Jersey until next Wednesday. Please pray the details of the trip will be worked out and that God would show up in this trip to allow Jakub, Ondra and Red to have an amazing experience, but moreover that their lives would be forever changed after this trip. You can follow along with us on Twitter, Instagram and/or Facebook by using this hashtag #CzechInvasion.

Here’s the tentative schedule for the coaches trip:
January 30. – Fly to Newark, NJ
January 31. – AIA Super Bowl Breakfast
February 1. – Super Bowl Experience
February 2. – Sharing at Jacob’s Well, Super Bowl Party
February 3. – Rob Smith (Offensive Coach from Clemson, Rutgers and others)
February 4 – Rutgers, AIA RUTGERS MEETING
February 5. – TRAVEL – Piscataway, NJ – Toledo, OH
February 6. – Michigan
February 7. – Michigan State
February 8. – Hope College
February 9. – Travel Day
February 10 – Visit Chicago
February 11. – morning – Wheaton College/afternoon – Elmhurst College
February 12. – University of Wisconsin – Madison
February 13. – University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
February 14. – Time in Lake Geneva, WI
February 15. – Leave Chicago for Prague.

Television “star”…?

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In the last couple years, I’ve been blown away by different opportunities I’ve had on the field and off the field. In the last 6 years, I’ve been blessed to be interviewed 6 times, or so, on Czech television. The two most recent interviews have been my favorite and the most recent of them was live! I realize most of you watching this might not speak Czech, but what’s cool is to think that on national television in one of the most atheistic nations this was aired! Television “star”…? Probably not. Take a look. Enjoy…!

ZACH HARROD INTERVIEW TOUCHDOWN 2012 from Zach Harrod on Vimeo.

ZACH HARROD INTERVIEW PROFIL 2013 from Zach Harrod on Vimeo.

On Television…?

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One of the things that I have not grown used to, is having television interviews in Czech, that is me speaking Czech in these interviews. I’m not sure how many I have done now, but with each interview I grow a bit more comfortable. However, every time I still find myself thinking something like this – “Is this really happening? Am I really going to be on national TV in this country? Am I really speaking this language?” Every time, questions like this have gone through my mind. The most recent interview was no exception, but I had an amazing time doing it. In about 45 minutes we covered from how I first got her to Czech, to why I do what I do, and why YOU, my ministry partners, partner with me to make a difference. I hope to have the interview with subtitles but until then I wanted to share the link with you.

CLICK HERE to watch the interview, then you can skip ahead to the 19:23 mark and watch the interview. While most of you reading this, will not be able to understand what I’m saying you can still appreciate the fact that we are getting what we are doing in front of many people in the Czech Republic. It’s very exciting, thank you for being part of it!

WE ARE IN PRINT!

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Have you seen, or read, the article about OUR ministry here in Prague and Czech?!?! I have heard some really, really good feedback from the article and I must thank my friends and coworkers with AIA back in Ohio, especially Tommy Young, for such a great article. It was such a HUGE blessing to have this story run and get out the word about things here in Prague! My question for you is, “Did you read the article?” If you have read the article please click “comment” below and let us know what you thought about it! IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE ARTICLE CLICK HERE!

Recently, a friend, and ministry partner, sent me a quick email to encourage me, that OUR ministry here in Prague is even encouraging those back all over the United States. Here’s what he wrote me,

A friend at work said something about giving 100% today and I said I always do, so he said I had to give 101% today and that reminded me of your 111% motto. I told him about that and about why you use it to inspire and about the culture’s apathy, etc. Well, he said that he had just read an article about a coach in an eastern block country and it turns out, it was the article about the Lions in Sports Spectrum. So he had already read about the 111% and had already known a little about Zach. Nice!

I love it, “he had just read an article about a coach in an eastern block country” and it just happened to be me! Crazy and very humbling. I love what God has called YOU and myself to here in Prague, Czech and Europe! Thank you for being part of it!

By the way, Lukas loved being in the magazine too! Thanks for being part of his life!

The Czech Takeover!

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So things are about to get CRAZY come this Monday! For the second time I will be flying three of my Czech guys over for the Second Czech Take Over America Tour! Each time it gets a little bit better! I’m so excited for Tomáš, Lukáš and Honza to get here Monday at 2:55 pm. “Why?” you ask. Well you can look at the map (I’m not overly excited about driving all that time, but I am excited to get tons of relationship time with my guys in the car.) and the schedule below to see why I’m amped for this trip. Is that not amazing? This time it is more geared towards helping these guys become better coaches as well as show them America, expose them to faith and more. While we are at each of these schools we will sit down with coaches for a few hours and get better at what we do – coach. It will be a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for them, and myself! I can’t wait to be in the midst of this all. Please pray that God would show up in many ways throughout the duration of our trip. By the way, America, ARE YOU READY FOR THE CZECH TAKEOVER?

Coaches Trip Schedule

January 30 – Monday – TRAVEL
January 31 – Tuesday – Elmhurst/Chicago
February 1 – Wednesday – Chicago
February 2 – Thursday – MSU/UM
February 3 – Friday – MSU/UM
February 4 – Saturday – Super Bowl Breakfast & AIA Dinner – Indianapolis
February 5 – Sunday am – AIA Chapel – Indianapolis
– Sunday pm – Super Bowl – Taylor, Upland, IN
February 6 – Monday – Taylor, Upland, IN
February 7 – Tuesday – Villanova
February 8 – Wednesday – Rutgers/NY
February 9 – Thursday – Rutgers/NY
February 10 – Friday – Rutgers/NY
February 11 – Saturday – AIA Northeast Winter Retreat
February 12 – Sunday – AIA Northeast Winter Retreat
February 13 – Monday – TRAVEL
February 14 – Tuesday – TRAVEL

the difference…

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…being made in Prague! Here’s another video for you all!

Micah, our newest STINTer (intern), wanted to share a few words with my ministry partners and my future ministry partners about what WE do in Prague!

Micah was on a 4 week summer project in 2009, so it’s fun to hear him talk about the change between then and now within our team! It get’s me fired up! Things are happening! WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

Thank you Micah! Thank you to tall those ministry partners that partner with me to make this possible! Be a Revolution!

If you want to join my team of ministry partners click here or on the SUPPORT link in the toolbar. You can always go directly to Cru’s online giving site by clicking HERE!

THANK YOU MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO!

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