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, strengthening churches, and helping young people encounter Christ through sports.
Then persecution and threats intensified. And eventually, the leader and his family were forced to flee. With no outside partners able to enter and the ministry under immense pressure, many feared the work would fade. So when our Sports Friends team was finally able to re-enter this closed nation earlier this year, they expected to find a fragile ministry barely surviving. Instead, they found something astonishing:
The ministry had not collapsed. It had grown.
God had preserved a faithful “remnant”—and through them, He restored and multiplied what seemed lost. Three key leaders—Jonas, Nico and Luca*—had quietly carried the ministry forward for more than seven years. No visitors. No training. No funding. No oversight. Only faithfulness and the God who redeems what persecution tries to destroy.
Jonas – The Overseer
A pastor overseeing multiple rural churches, Jonas refused to let sports ministry fade. Even with limited freedom and constant pressure, he continued to disciple young coaches, encourage existing teams and open new doors for outreach. Under his guidance, early teams have produced second and third generations of leaders—players who became coaches who now train others.
Nico – The Faithful Shepherd
Nico lives in a village with few resources but deep relational influence. Quietly and faithfully, he has shepherded five church-centered sports teams. Locals know them as “the Christian teams”—because of their integrity, compassion and unity. They travel long distances to tournaments with borrowed equipment and a single worn ball, yet their presence has sparked conversations about Christ in communities where believers represent only a tiny minority.
Luca – The Pastor
Luca, a participant in early Sports Friends trainings, now pastors a church in a major city. Recently, he relaunched a cricket ministry drawing youth from non-Christian backgrounds. His greatest joy? Seeing young players he once coached now stepping up as coaches themselves. Three of these young men recently secured government jobs, crediting their leadership development to Sports Friends. Their success now strengthens their church and supports Luca’s ministry.
Seven Years Without Support
This is exactly why Sports Friends trains and equips the local church—so the work belongs to them, not to us. When our team reconnected with these leaders, they simply said:
“Thank you for remembering us. We never stopped.”
Now, with renewed connection and access to Sports Friends’ online training resources in their own language, they are relaunching old teams, planting new ones, and equipping more leaders than ever before.
This is Isaiah 61, alive in South Asia.
“They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.”—Isaiah 61:4
*Names changed to protect their identities