Prayer as access for women in sports ministry

At the end of practice, fellow female football players gathered around me. I had sensed God call me to ask, “Would anyone like prayer?” It was a simple invitation. Many of these ladies were high school dropouts struggling in poverty and young motherhood, while chasing dreams of a better life through the sport. God created a doorway to the hearts of 30 broken young women and their small families through that after-practice prayer session. Through consistent football practices, I was able to integrate my life with theirs in home visits, times of prayer, and slowly sowing seed for the Kingdom.

Women are making disciples in the world of sport, fitness, and play using the disciple-making model founded on prayer. From this foundation, opportunities of access, finding a person of peace, discovering the Bible, and equipping others to multiply can emerge. Prayer is the bedrock of this transformation.

Professional basketballer Celia Asila has seen God’s hand in women’s sports ministry. She shares: “A revival for praying for sports people with a team of committed women has been happening and has resulted in stronger relationships among the women. Through this platform we have had opportunities to do ministry in schools together and also minister to athletes. As a result, we have witnessed God bringing some girls into the Kingdom. I personally have grown in the area of leadership and continue to trust God for his guidance.”

Lydiah Aswani received a vision for how to reach the youth in her community after a time of prayer. The Lord placed a jump rope in her hands and since then, this has birthed an entire ministry that is now heading towards 500 children in her area. Women in leadership have been integral. Lydiah shares: “There has been tremendous change, transformation, and soul-winning through women’s sports ministry. We’ve seen God elevating women in the world of sports in spaces where they are leading, they’re heard, they’re included in decision-making and in pointing others to Christ. God has continued to bless and multiply the number of women involved in sports ministry which has led to many young sports men and women athletes making a decision to follow Christ.”

Table tennis player Valerie Amele attests to the power of prayer in sports ministry as a member of intercessory teams praying daily in country rotations. She says: “God is really at work, because at the height of COVID, a community of 14 French-speaking countries was born. Also, a French translation team has finally been birthed after many years of struggling to access resources in English. We also celebrate God because families are now using Discovery Bible Study in their households. Mothers are doing Bible studies with their children and their spouses and we have testimonies that households are finding peace and being transformed. On Saturdays, mothers go out to play sports because they’ve understood that sport is powerful not just for physical fulfilment, but to pass on the message of love to a family, to a mother, to a brother, to a sister. We celebrate what God is continually doing among women.”

To access resources to make disciples in the world of sport, play, health and fitness, e-gaming, and more, log onto https://www.readysetgo.tools/en.

Amele Valerie ATTISSO is a professional athlete and table tennis coach as well as a member of the women leaders’ community in the sports movement. She uses sport and play to teach children and empower women across Africa.

Lydiah Aswani is a former national premier league football player who found her identity in Jesus and discovered the potential and power of sport in pointing athletes to Christ while treating them as God’s precious creation. She has dedicated her time to developing and equipping a young generation of sports coaches and leaders working in underprivileged communities in Kenya.