Still in the Game for the Gospel
At 74 years old, most people are slowing down. But Coach Blake is launching a new sports ministry, rallying volunteers, and introducing people to the love of Christ through basketball, pickleball, badminton, and table tennis. After attending a Level 1 Sports Friends...
The Remnant That Refused to Quit
More than a decade ago, Sports Friends began partnering with a courageous believer in a region of South Asia where following Jesus often brings suspicion and hostility. For several years, this dedicated leader faithfully nurtured the ministry—training coaches,...
From Farasi to Faith
How Sports Ministry Is Redeeming a Coastal Village in Kenya. Once a waypoint for Arabian horses and a dark hub of the East African slave trade, the village of Farasi—Swahili for “horse”—is now witnessing a transformation of a very different kind. Where shackles once...
Meet Coach Flora
Six years ago, few people would have imagined that Flora would one day be leading a growing sports ministry—guiding young people, teaching Scripture, and pointing others to Christ. But God was at work. Coach Flora’s journey is a powerful reminder that building people...
Lidia’s Game-Changing Mission in Malawi
In Malawi, Sports Friends is transforming communities through the dedication of over 1,300 coaches — men and women who use sports as a platform to share the gospel and disciple youth. Among them, Coach Lidia stands out as a trailblazer.Traditionally, football (soccer)...
The Power of Showing Up
Every Saturday, a field in Thailand comes alive—not just with the sound of footballs being kicked, but with laughter, stories, and the quiet work of transformation. For Coach Bass, it’s never been just about the game. It’s about being there. In a village where many...
From Backyard Teams to a National Movement
A Spark in Blantyre In June 2011, a young missionary family arrived in Malawi with a toddler, a few suitcases, and a simple prayer inspired by Luke 9:10-17: “Lord, we bring you the little we’ve got. Please change our lives and the lives of those around us to love...
Young Retirees Find New Ministry in Soccer Coaching
In Waterloo, Ontario, Gary and Jo-Anne, a "young" retired couple, have embarked on a new career as soccer coaches. Every Tuesday evening from early June to late August, they train neighborhood kids on their church grounds with the help of volunteers. On Wednesdays,...
The Hard Road to Hope
In recent years the industrialized world has sought to recover from a devastating global pandemic. It was a disaster that had separated people from those they loved, confined families to small spaces and robbed their freedom to pursue life, work, and relationships...
Taking it to the Next Level
Ben Wildman is full of energy, an insightful communicator, and a bold bringer of new ideas. I had the chance to chat with him about how he’s implemented innovation in the training of Sports Friends’ coaches – what he calls the “bread and butter” of the...