Over 75,000 people took part in online sports quizzes run by Christians in Sport from April to June as most competitive and elite level sport stopped.
Teams would take part in four rounds of creative sports questions and then hear a short gospel talk from either Graham Daniels or Ian Lancaster, with Christian team-mates given follow-up questions to work through with their teams.
Starting fortnightly from 17 April, nearly 400 teams took part each time, gathering together on video calls to discuss the answers and listen to the talk. With most clubs and teams not able to train or play, these quizzes were key times to help sportspeople stay in the lives of their teammates during lockdown. They also helped reach athletes who may not normally attend one of the hundreds of quizzes that would be run in sports clubs and churches every year.
As well as thousands of people in the UK, teams also took part from all around the world, with 94 countries accessing the quiz and entering teams. In each of the five quizzes, teams from India, Holland, Spain, Tanzania, America and New Zealand were logging on (and complaining about any cricket questions) amongst those from other countries.
Graham Daniels, General Director of Christians in Sport, commented: ‘The work of Christians in Sport is more essential now than ever. Sportspeople – whether it’s the 10 million amateurs who compete every week or those playing at an elite level – have been 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 different, the mission is not. We sense a real opportunity and a need for people to stick in the lives of their team-mates. The quiz provided a great opportunity to do that, as well as give people a chance to invite their friends to hear something of the gospel message at this time.’
Alongside the quizzes, Christians in Sport have seen their work amongst elite athletes go from strength to strength as players and coaches have engaged with Bible studies each week.
Daniels continues: ‘In light of the coronavirus we have had more opportunities than ever. Recently we had a Zoom Bible study with 20 top-level (Premiership down) football managers and coaches and the same is happening in top-level athletics, tennis and rugby. We want to encourage as many Christian sportspeople as possible that this is a crucial time to share the hope, joy, meaning and purpose they have found in Christ with their colleagues and friends in sport.’
With the sporting landscape still unclear for many going into the Autumn, these studies, as well as a new series of quizzes, will continue alongside the ongoing work with young sportspeople and students, to equip them to share their faith within their clubs and teams.
