By Tiffany Wessler, SF Zambia
‘How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”’ –Romans 10:14-15
I’m not one to take verses out of context or assign unintended meaning to them, but this passage from Romans has been on my mind as we’ve been sharing the Sports Friends vision lately. In many countries, church leaders may initially be opposed to the idea of using sports as an evangelism and discipleship tool (and may even consider it sinful), but in Zambia, pastors are asking why we didn’t tell them sooner.
“Why aren’t more churches using this?” One pastor asked as we wrapped up a recent presentation.
“You mean sports? Why aren’t they using sports to reach the kids?” We responded, to clarify.
“Exactly. It’s clearly a great idea.”
“Perhaps they just haven’t had the idea. No one has told them.”
Wow. 
The gospel is fairly widespread in Zambia, but like the fine layer of dust that washes off with the rainy season, it’s only lightly covering the surface of things. Churches are everywhere, yet leadership, discipleship, and true Christian living are hard to find. Everyone is in the choirs, but know more the dance moves than the meaning of the words. And church leaders – those few men dedicated to Christ’s Great Commision – are eager for new ways to reach their congregations and their communities.
At a second vision sharing last week in a rural community, pastors started telling us their concerns with the choices the youth make when not in school. Drinking. Lewd dancing. Vandalism. The list goes on – and the pastors have been wondering how to reach these kids and engage them. And can’t wait to see where a simple football will take them.
Turning that excitement into commitment may take time, as we’ve seen in our model teams, but word is spreading fast, and the vision is catching on. Will you pray with us that the vision of Sports Friends – the spark – will start a wildfire of change, growth, and revival in the Zambian churches? Will you pray that congregations (not just pastors) will see the dire need to invest in their future leaders as Zambia is becoming increasingly post-Christian and the youth are searching for meaning in Western pop-culture instead of Christ?
As we prepare for our first Basic Training in February, we are excited, hopeful, (a bit overwhelmed), and thankful for this opportunity to bring Sports Friends to the Zambian churches. And it seems Sports Friends is exactly what many of the churches have been waiting for!