Football Stars Share Their Faith During FIFA World Cup Campaign
(Photo: Instagram/YouVersion)
At the intersection of sports and spirituality, several Premier League footballers are leveraging the global stage of the FIFA World Cup to share their Christian faith. Their participation in a unique Bible campaign is drawing attention to the importance of Scripture in their lives.
YouVersion’s Mid-Year Bible Reading Challenge: World Cup Edition is the initiative at the heart of this movement. It encourages football fans worldwide to engage with the Bible for seven consecutive days, impacting their nation’s ranking on a global leaderboard and earning digital achievement badges.
Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix, Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi, Arsenal’s Michelle Agyemang, Manchester City’s Sam Coffey, and Newcastle United’s Morgan Gautrat are among the players sharing their testimonies. The campaign promises more insights from athletes as it progresses.
Through short online videos, these athletes reveal how specific Bible passages have influenced their journeys both on the field and in personal life, addressing faith, identity, and the demands of professional sports.
Maxence Lacroix, in an Instagram post, emphasized the significance of the Gospel of Matthew 28:19-20, also known as the Great Commission. He described it as a constant reminder of a purpose beyond football.
He shared that this passage inspires him to “get to know Him better so that I can reflect Him more fully,” noting that it provides confidence, even though he considers himself “not the best disciple,” as he continues to grow in faith.
“We still have something to do in this world, which is to speak out, to be a witness, to be able to show the character of Jesus,” Lacroix stated. “Everyday I wake up and give glory to the God that I exist, that I’m part of the Kingdom. I’m simply filled with a joy and peace that’s very hard to explain but which you really have to experience.”
In the caption of his video, Lacroix expressed that his mission extends beyond winning games to “share Jesus with others.”
Taiwo Awoniyi highlighted the influence of Ecclesiastes on his life, asserting that his faith forms the foundation of everything he does.
“My faith is not something I turn to only when life is difficult or only when everything is going well,” he explained. “It is the foundation of everything I do.”
Awoniyi reflected on his Christian upbringing, sharing that his understanding of God has deepened through Scripture, attributing his successes to divine grace.
He stated, “My greatest desire is to fear Him, keep His commandments, and live a life that honours Him. As Ecclesiastes reminds us, this is the whole duty of mankind.”
“After all is said and done, I am who I am because of God. God is the Greatest,” he concluded, hoping that his testimony might inspire others to trust God more fully.
The campaign also features 39 footballers from Brazil and Latin America, such as former Brazil international Kaká and Lucas Moura.
This initiative is part of a broader trend of increased visibility of Christian faith in professional sports, with numerous players using public platforms to discuss the role of their beliefs in their lives and careers.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
