FGA Sports Fellowship

At Christians in Sport we make no apologies for emphasising the basics. When we’re supporting young people, university students, adult sports men and women, international partners, or professional and elite sportspeople we stress the basics of Pray, Play, Say. At the beginning of the academic year 2008 it’s worth us reminding ourselves of what it means to ‘Make Sport Your Mission’ – Colossians 4:2-6.
 
Pray. ‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ for which I am in chains’. Being devoted means being totally committed such that if you take a cross section of your life and look at it, then like a stick of rock you’d see the word ‘prayer’ running through every part of it. We’re called to be devoted prayers, asking God for opportunities to tell those we play and train with, and those we come into contact with, about Christ when he gives us the opportunity.
 
Play. ‘Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders’ on and off the pitch play in a way that is so different and like Jesus that when others watch you they’ll start to ask; “What is it that she’s got that makes her live that way?” Of course you may never hear others say that, and you’ll be only too aware of your mistakes, but over time and with God’s help if you live differently it just looks so attractive to those that don’t know God.
 
Say. ‘Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone’. Speak graciously – that is in a caring and loving way, and let your conversation be seasoned with salt – so that it’s distinctive and enriching, and when the opportunity arises and in your own way say something of Christ. 
 
And so it is for us as Christian players, what Jesus asks us to do in taking the gospel to lost people isn’t complicated, but we need to keep focusing on the basics and making sure that every day as players we’re Pray, Play, Saying.