The Gospel in Sports
As the World Cup recently came to an end, we want to bring your attention and ask your prayers for one of our partners who disciples men and women involved in high level sports.
Holistic Sports is an association dedicated to serving sports professionals in France (elite athletes, coaches, physical education teachers, and others). Part of Global Sport Chaplaincy and Ready Set Go, they pursue a threefold mission to reach the French-speaking world of professional sports:
- Developing sports chaplaincies in French clubs and at major sporting events.
- Providing spiritual support to elite athletes (listening, mentoring, Bible studies, missions, etc.)
- Sharing the Christian faith through the creation of relevant resources (books, podcasts, videos) and the organization of conferences on sports and spirituality.
This week, Joel Thibault, the director of Holistic Sports, helps us reflect on the highlights of the World Cup and pray for the calling of all Christian athletes:
Beyond the results, there is one theme that will define this Football World Cup: several soccer players have publicly spoken about their faith in Jesus Christ. Some players, such as Germany’s Felix Nmecha, have even joyfully reaffirmed their hope in the glorious return of Jesus Christ!
French defender Maxence Lacroix, for his part, stated that his favorite verse was Matthew 28:19–20. He explains that this passage reminds him every day of the mission Jesus has entrusted to him: “Go, make disciples of all nations…”, as well as His promise: “I am with you always.”
In an age when success and trophies can become an end in themselves, these testimonies direct our gaze toward God’s plan. Their hope is the glorious return of Jesus Christ. Their desire is to glorify God in their calling and to fulfill the mission He has entrusted to them: to make disciples.
Jesus did not simply ask people to be converted; He commanded us to make disciples. The Church’s mission does not end with proclaiming the Gospel and baptizing; it consists of accompanying believers so that they may grow in obedience to Christ and, in turn, become disciples who make disciples.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Let us give thanks to God for the soccer players who had the courage to publicly share their faith during this World Cup. Let us pray that their testimonies will lead many people to Jesus Christ.
- Let us pray that Felix Nmecha, Maxence Lacroix, and all athletes who follow Jesus may fully live out Christ’s Great Commission by making disciples who will in turn make disciples.
- Let us pray for Holistic Sports and the launch and funding of their app called PlusQueSportifs. May it accompany many French-speaking athletes in their walk with Christ, providing biblical resources and a discipleship program tailored to their reality.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”— Matthew 28:19–20