Both sports and missions are in a unique moment in time. This is primarily due to the indigenous development of hundreds of sports ministries in 235 countries, islands, and territories initiated nearly 68 years ago.

Taylor University basketball coach Don Odle founded Venture for Victory in 1952. This was the predecessor to One Challenge International’s Sports Ambassadors. Together Coach Odle and One Challenge were pioneers of today’s evangelism hybrid, forever linking sports and missions. It started when Coach Odle took basketball teams to the Philippines and Taiwan to win hearts for Christ.

Soon thereafter, conferences for sports ministry training were developed around the globe in over 100 countries, including China, Argentina, Korea, Russia, and Austria. Professional players from the NFL, NBL, tennis, and golf were recruited for mission trips to India, China, Kenya, Korea, England, and Germany. In the United States, conferences to reach, disciple, and send pro athletes began in 1971. These mission trips kindled a the vision for local church leaders to begin indigenous sports ministries.

In 1998, sports ministry leaders from 10 countries met to discuss establishing a sports leadership training school. The impact of its three-month courses led to today’s programs, which include 33 regional training conferences that generally last 30 days. Each year 75,000-100,000 athletes are trained. This made it possible for mission strategies to rapidly expand. An example is Kids Games, a world-recognized event which has taken place in over 175 countries with several million children indicating decisions for Christ.

A large part of the global sports ministry follows these Heart Values.
• What we do: Proclaim the gospel; make disciples; obey the Bible.
• Where we serve: In and through the church; in sport and play; in every city and community.
• How we do it: As servants; in teams; by partnering.

ReadySetGO is the name of the global sports movement training. Over 500 leaders from 120 countries spent three years creating the content, available in 17 languages. Over 200 brief sports ministry training videos are open source and available to use without permission at their website, ReadySetGo.world. Programs focus on three needs:
• Go Sports – ministering to competitive athletes
• Go Play – ministering to children, teens, and recreational competitors
• Go Health and Fitness – serving the exploding global growth of health and fitness

When individuals come to faith in Christ, the sports movement prioritizes training disciples, who disciple others, who disciple others.

Recently a new model began in Eurasia: growing small, well-trained sports facilitation teams that provide ReadySetGO training and strategic planning locally. The development of these community sports teams is expanding worldwide. First Missions supports this exciting field of global sports evangelism and is partnering with organizations to promote the gospel through both sports mission training and outreaches.

by an anonymous Mission Partner