Sport Faith Life

During the 2026 Football World Cup, we are running a series of articles exploring how The Salvation Army’s work connects with the world of sport to support individuals and communities in many different ways. 

In this piece, The Salvation Army’s Youth and Children’s Specialist, Kevyn Oliver, reflects on a training weekend he attended in June called: Sport Faith Life. The Salvation Army, Scripture Union and the Church of England came together to consider how to integrate sport into Christian ministry through participation, fellowship and shared experience. The weekend also gave him an opportunity to reflect on his own experiences of sports ministry during the 2014 football world cup when he was working in Brazil.

‘But we wanted to give you a model you could follow, to lay a path of footprints for you to walk in’
(2 Thessalonians 3:9)

During the weekend of 20-21 June 2026, I had the privilege of attending the Sport Faith Life collaborative sport mission training weekend. This gathering, a collaboration between The Salvation Army (United Kingdom and Ireland Territory), Scripture Union and the Church of England was on a personal level a very challenging encounter. God spoke clearly to me about the importance of looking after my own physical and mental health.

However, it was also a very refreshing weekend from a ministerial perspective. I was constantly reminded and encouraged through the teaching, sport interaction and fellowship that sport is definitely a valuable asset for developing ministry.

Groups engaged with communities during the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 – through evangelism and bringing awareness around human trafficking.

2014 World Cup

It took me back to 2014 when I was in Brazil and was leading the sports ministry at my church during the 2014 world cup in Brazil. My church was the nearest to the football stadium in Sao Paulo where some of the games were being held. 

During this time, we hosted a mission team and engaged with other churches in the area through evangelism and bringing awareness around human trafficking. We actively developed sports ministry in our church encouraging members to look after their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. This also created the opportunity to reach out to people that had never been to a church but through sport felt an open door to come into our space.

Nations coming together

Once again, the world cup is happening and there has been a great highlight, at least over social media platforms, on the increase of players praying together, sharing their faith while celebrating a goal and speaking about Jesus in interviews. The unity of supporters from different nations before and after games has been highlighted many times over. 

I think you will agree with me that there was a lot of scepticism around the 2026 World Cup being hosted in the USA, but we have seen a growing unity amongst players and fans, and even in difficult circumstances we have seen God at work during this period.

A moment of personal connection and celebration at the Homeless World Cup in Norway

There are many Salvation Army churches and community programmes that have sport as part of their activities. Through the ministry of sport they can share God’s love with people that otherwise may not even seek God in a church service.

A different way of sharing God’s love

These three words, sport, faith and life are so distinct but also so connected. There are many Salvation Army churches and community programmes that have sport as part of their activities. Through the ministry of sport they can share God’s love with people that otherwise may not even seek God in a church service. They are also spaces of fellowship and building relationships, something so important to every human being and so essential to a life following Jesus.

So, I would like to challenge readers about how we can use sport as a tool for ministry in our local community? Connecting your faith with sport or physical activity of some kind can enhance and enrich our lives and the lives of others: practically and spiritually.