The world of sports may have shut down due to coronavirus, but the mission to reach sports people everywhere with the Gospel has not, says one evangelistic group that has just launched a new campaign to support outreach during this season of lockdown.

PraySTAYSay is a new initiative from Christians in Sport to reach the men and women whose careers have been put on indefinite hold due to the pandemic. 

For some of them, this will have serious financial implications, the ministry said. 

Even though many sporting events are cancelled for the timebeing, Christian sports people around the world are being asked to reach out to their non-believing friends in the sector and continue investing in their lives.

The heart of the campaign is a call to Christian sports people to remain faithful during this pause in play by staying prayerful for the world of sport and remaining intentional in sharing life with their sporting friends.  Finally, it asks that they remain focused on 'saying' by sharing the hope that they have in Jesus. 

Christians in Sport supports 500 top level sportspeople around the world.  Last week, the ministry held a Zoom Bible study with managers and coaches from across the UK's football leagues, including the Premier League, and others are planned for top level athletics, tennis and rugby. 

Despite the lockdown, Graham Daniels, General Director of Christians in Sport, said that coronavirus had created "more opportunities than ever".

"The work of Christians in Sport is more essential now than ever," he said. 

"Sports people - whether it's the 10 million amateurs who compete every week or those playing at an elite level - are in limbo, struggling with what's going on and asking big questions.

"For 40 years we have existed to reach the world of sport for Christ - equipping Christian sportspeople to live and speak for Jesus.

"Just because sport is off, the mission is not. We sense a real opportunity and a need for people to stick in the lives of their teammates."

Starting April 13, Christians in Sport will be launching online gatherings and resources around PraySTAYSay.

On April 17, the Big Sports Quiz joined by hundreds of sports clubs and churches each year will be held online via YouTube. 

Mr Daniels added: "We want to encourage as many Christian sportspeople as possible that this is an crucial time to share the hope, joy, meaning and purpose they have found in Christ with their colleagues and friends in sport."

Find out more about the PraySTAYSay campaign at christiansinsport.org.uk/praystaysay