The Sports Ministry Institute is a ministry of the
Grace Center for Spiritual Development
Our Vision
To develop spiritual leaders in every nation who can teach others about the love of Christ, a love that cannot be earned and cannot be lost.
The Sports Ministry Institute is designed to train and equip sportsĀ ministers to engage with athletes, coaches, and front office personnel. This will not only bring a biblical worldview to their profession but also set the example of Jesus Christ into their daily lives.
Certified Curriculum
Ongoing Training
Discipleship Groups for Athletes
Conference & Seminars
Placement Service for Trained Chaplains
Our Team
Dr. Mark Rae
Dr. Mark Rae holds an MA degree in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary, as well as a PhD and Master of Divinity degree from Grace School of Theology (GSOT). He spent half of his career in sales and marketing and the other half in church and parachurch ministry as an Associate Pastor, COO of an evangelistic ministry, Executive Director of a discipleship ministry, and Lead Minister.
Currently, he serves as Vice President of Community Development with Grace School of Theology and is Executive Director of Grace Center for Spiritual Development (GCSD). Mark is married to Melissa, and they have two grown children, Ryan and Sean, and five grandchildren.
Randy Youngling
Randy Youngling,Ā a former Division 1 basketball player after earning All-American status in high school, has spent years in pastoring churches, and now athletes, through his association with the Positive Coaching Alliance. He received his ThM through Dallas Theological Seminary. He has a heart to pastor sports chaplains and train new people who are interested in serving the athletes at multiple levels.
Katherine Barner
Katherine Barner is a known speaker, author, psychotherapist, and an active sexual abuse advocate. She is a licensed professional counselor with over 25 years of experience in the mental health field. Mental health is her first love, so she's a strong proponent of quality mental health treatment.
Jason Peters
As a lifelong learner with a deep passion to bring Godā€™s Word to life, Pastor Peters has earned a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theological Studies degree from Grace Biblical Seminary, a Master in New Testament Greek from Scofield Seminary and Bible Institute, and is currently finishing his Doctor of Ministry. He also has the heart to teach with his expertise in exegesis, hermeneutics, and biblical Greek and Hebrew. His passion lies in equipping local pastors and ministry leaders to disciple others effectively with the Word of God. Aside from these, he has been on 4 church planting teams and has served in the college, family, and discipleship ministries.
Grace Center for Spiritual Development is an extension of Grace School of Theology which is an evangelical Christian institution of higher learning and has as its purpose the offering of programs of study in an environment where academic excellence is emphasized and a biblically based perspective is maintained. Grace is committed to enriching its students spiritually, intellectually, and professionally, and to preparing students to serve God in a global and culturally diverse society. Find out more atĀ gsot.edu.
