On weekends, Lake Deaton United Methodist Church is a bustling chapel filled with hundreds of worshippers, but after the final Sunday service the chapel transforms into an unofficial gym, with sports taking center stage during the week.
“We sometimes joke that the chapel is a permanent athletic center that churches rent on weekends,” said St. Catherine Village President Bob Smith, “and here at The Villages, that combination works perfectly.”
When you think of church ministries, Bible studies and prayer meetings might be the first thing that comes to mind, but in Florida’s friendliest hometown, where pickleball courts, golf courses and recreation centers are just steps away, local churches offer sports outreach programs to add fun and fellowship.
Lake Deaton UMC has a lot of weekday sports going on, with friendly pickleball matches on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
“We have mixed-gender, women’s and advanced beginner matches on Tuesdays, and then we have mixed-gender matches on Thursday nights and Friday mornings,” said Susan Kozmai, a Lake Deaton Village resident who runs an advanced beginner pickleball program at her church. “There’s something for everyone to enjoy, no matter what skill level you are.”
Pickleball games are also quite popular: Smith said the church has about 150 active members, with at least 20 participating in each session.
“We usually have four or five new members join each week,” he says, “and the games are open to everyone, so we get to meet people who have never set foot in Lake Deaton UMC before.”
“And oftentimes, these newcomers attend our services and then go on to participate in other churches’ programs,” Kosmai added.
If you stop by Burnsed Recreation on a Sunday afternoon, you might find members of Live Oaks Community Church’s pickleball outreach program there, learning about their faith while enjoying the game they love.
Steve Eaton of Fernandina Village is leading the effort.
“We tend to run one pod for a two-hour session, so that’s about six courts,” he said.
Eaton said it’s normal for there to be more than 30 people on a Sunday afternoon during snowbird season, but attendance drops off a bit in the summer.
“We invite people of all levels to come play and make friends,” he said.
Eaton describes himself as an outreach guide. Occasionally, visitors approach him and ask about Live Oaks. In several cases, villagers who tell Eaton about the church end up becoming regular believers.
“When visitors ask, we talk about the church, we talk about Christ,” he said.
In addition to pickleball, several churches in the area offer men’s and women’s golf outings throughout the year, and at least two area churches (New Covenant United Methodist Church and Hope Lutheran Church) regularly host bridge meetups for women.
Patsy Hagadorn of Bonnybrook Village leads Hope Lutheran Church’s Ladies Bridge group, which typically meets monthly during “snowbird season” at the church’s central campus in The Villages.
“We’re a great group of girls who play bridge, but we’re by no means champions,” she said with a laugh.
Hagadorn described the Ladies Bridge group as a “Lutheran group,” but one that is not closed to outsiders.
“We enjoy meeting new people and having fun in a Christian way,” she said. “We’re always open to new people who want to get together. All it takes is four people to start a game of bridge.”
And Hagadorn emphasizes that the ladies’ bridge group is more than just a card game.
“It’s about enjoying each other’s company, learning about each other and finding allies in the faith,” she said.
Sports and recreational activities are a big part of Lake Deaton UMC, and in a community where staying healthy and taking care of oneself is important, the Rev. Jim Devine, co-senior pastor at the church, stresses the importance of taking care of both mental and physical health.
“You can honor God by eating healthy, getting plenty of rest and exercising,” he said. “Keeping your body healthy will allow you to move around and fulfill your purpose in life, including God’s work.”
In addition to pickleball, Lake Deaton UMC also offers a variety of golf events during the week and a “Bone Builders” strength and weight program, and cardio drumming is held at the sanctuary on Mondays and Tuesdays.
On July 1, over 50 people gathered for the first cardio drumming session of the month. For an hour, participants listened to upbeat music while banging drumsticks on exercise balls placed over a bucket.
“It’s a fun form of exercise that anyone can do,” said Jan Betts of the Village of Lake Deaton. “We’ve had cardio drumming events with hundreds of people gathering in and around the village.”
Similar to the pickleball group, Betts has seen several cardio drummers be introduced to Lake Deaton UMC and eventually start attending services there.
“It’s a church outreach program that introduces Lake Deaton UMC to visitors,” she said, “and we’ve had several people who have expressed interest in the church and come to us with questions about the church after attending one or two classes.”
Senior writer James Dinan can be contacted at 352-753-1119, extension 5302, or james.dinan@thevillagesmedia.com.
