What Is Sports Ministry?
Laura Coulter | Content Writer at Upward Sports
Different churches have different ministries through which they serve their members, their community, and the world. Ministries can relate to many different areas of life—including sports and recreation. Perhaps a church in your neighborhood has a sports ministry and you’d like to learn more about what it is. Or maybe you’re thinking about starting a sports ministry at your church. The truth is that sports ministry can be quite valuable—both for the church and the community.
Sports ministry is a connection point.
In general, sports bring together individuals and families from different backgrounds who are all interested in participating in the same activity. Sports ministry does this in a church setting. Maybe a church is hosting a basketball league in their gym or a soccer league on their property. Maybe they are offering a summer camp for kids to learn how to play volleyball in a Christian environment. Maybe a church offers a variety of recreation-based activities throughout the year.
Regardless of the circumstances, sports ministry is about bringing people together. In an increasingly siloed and individualistic culture, participants, their families, volunteers, and church members can all enjoy time spent with one another.
Sports ministry is a community service.
As some youth sports trend toward expensive and time-consuming club and travel sports, many communities are losing out on less-intensive recreational youth sports programs. A church’s sports ministry can serve as a place for young people in the community to be active, learn new skills, and socialize with one another through leagues, camps, and other offerings.
At the same time, adults are also looking for opportunities to exercise, have fun, and connect with others. A church with a sports ministry might also offer activities for adults, such as a softball league, pickleball nights, or a running club.
A sports ministry can greatly benefit a community by promoting good health and strong social connections for all ages. It isn’t self-serving or inward-focused; it is a place for churches to put their best foot forward by getting to know their community and meeting their needs.
Sports ministry is an opportunity to share the gospel.
Churches have an important message to share: the good news of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Sports ministry provides an excellent avenue to share this message with a wider audience as people are present for games, practices, and other activities. At the same time, people are often curious to learn why a church would go to the effort to provide this service to their community.
This makes sports ministry a great opportunity to share about Jesus—through devotions, prayers, testimonies, and more. A pastor might share a message at a youth flag football game; a coach might share a devotion with their team at volleyball practice; or a group of friends who play pickleball might also study the Bible together. There are many creative ways that a church can incorporate spiritual teaching into a sports ministry.
The details about what sports and programs are offered will vary by church, but overall, sports ministry is a wonderful way for churches to connect with people, serve their community, and share the gospel.
For over 28 years, Upwards Sports has equipped churches with the tools for reaching their communities through sports ministry. Today, Upward Sports serves hundreds of thousands of participants annually through their leagues and camps, with the mission to promote the discovery of Jesus through sports. The organization is best known for providing first-class resources and support for youth basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball, and softball—and Upward has recently added resources for youth pickleball and adult running programs.
If you’re interested in finding a place for your child to participate in a youth sports ministry, you can find a league near you at play.upward.org.
If you’re a church leader interested in starting a sports ministry at your church, visit https://www.upward.org/church-leaders/
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