Manchester churches connect people through sport

As the kick off for the World Cup 2010 has begun, churches in Greater Manchester are connecting through sports based activities with their communities.

Churches are engaging their communities with football tournaments, family fun days, schools programmes, sports quizzes, large screen showings and tracts.

The Methodist Church in Bolton has converted the Victorian hall into a mission room with exciting sections for the whole family, such as a WAGS room, a penalty shoot area, a hall of fame which features different footballers and a video room with testimonies by famous Christian players in the Wold Cup whose passion for football is superseded by a bigger passion for Christ.

The Methodist church is partnering with Bolton Wanderers and Ambassadors in Sports.

Phil Mason, chaplain of Bolton Wanderers, says: "I am passionate about football and faith. Football is a good tool of communicating faith in exciting ways. This is a great time to engage people of all ages with Jesus Christ and his team."

Large screen showings of the matches are taking place not only in pubs but also in church venues.

Anthony Delaney, pastor of Ivy Manchester Church, says: "It's no good trying to get people interested in what we're interested in, if we don't engage with what 99 per cent of the population are enthusiastic about."

Dave Oakley, CEO of Ambassadors in Sports, says: "The World Cup engages people of all nationalities and ages. My hope is that we make the most of the World Cup season at the start of a 'Golden Decade of Sport'."

Not merely in the UK, but also in South Africa, churches and mission organisations are tapping into the outreach possibilities.

Ambassadors in Sport have trained hundreds of Christian coaches to reach out to soccer mad and often desperately poor young people with the Gospel and to address issues such as HIV/AIDS and human trafficking.

"Many South African churches, Christian organisations and individuals will seek to maximise the opportunities to share Christ both within their communities and with the visiting fans from around the world. Christian players will utilise their platform, overseas mission teams will use the bridge of sport, Christian radio stations will run special sporting programmes and local churches will put on fun events so as to share the Gospel," adds Oakley.

"The churches aim to help restore vulnerable broken lives through the Gospel and football by leaving a legacy beyond the event."