The 13th African games for the gospel

In the vibrant and diverse landscape of Africa, sports hold a unique and powerful place. Recognizing this potential, the Ghana Sports Movement (GSM) and the Bible Society of Ghana launched the Much More Than Gold (MMTG) outreach initiative around the 13th African Games held in Accra, Ghana in March 2024. The outreach was inspired by the Games’ potential to rally together the Body of Christ in Ghana for impactful ministry.

Mobilization and funding
Preparations for the outreach began in December 2023 with a vision-casting gathering of church leaders and representatives from Christian organizations. This was followed by a mobilization of volunteers through WhatsApp message broadcasts, letters, visits, and announcements in churches. Over 500 people enlisted, and the planning team organized online and in-person trainings in different locations to equip them for the activities lined up for the outreach. Letters requesting support in cash and in kind were also delivered to churches and organizations.

Churches contributed money, offered their premises and logistics for meetings, and provided their buses for transporting volunteers. Companies donated food, water, and pharmaceutical items. A publishing house offered to print 200,000 gospel tracts. Scripture Union Ghana and the Bible Society supplied devotionals and Bibles for distribution, and one woman provided over 100 branded T-shirts for volunteers. Many individuals also gave various amounts. Some volunteers offered their expertise in media, photography, and catering at no cost. Michael Armah, a convenor for the GSM and member of the planning team shares that prior to the outreach, no money was available for any expense, but by stepping out in faith with prayer, diligence, and hard work, God provided abundant resources.

Prayer and chaplaincy
Prayer undergirded the MMTG initiative with members of the GSM meeting online to pray thrice weekly. Others went on prayer walks at all the official venues for the Games, and volunteers participated in an in-person prayer festival held in one of the partnering churches.

Before the games commenced, the planning team organized denominational church leaders to visit the Ghanaian athletes in camp to donate Bibles, devotionals, water, fruits, and to offer prayer support. They arranged for the athletes to fellowship with partnering churches and 70 athletes gave their lives to Christ.

A two-day sports chaplaincy training was also organized to equip participants in effective ways to provide spiritual support to athletes, coaches, and officials.

Multifaceted evangelism
On designated days throughout the competition, volunteers distributed sports-themed gospel tracts, displayed evangelistic placards, and engaged in one-on-one evangelism with motorists, pedestrians, street vendors, and households within the Games communities of Legon, Borteyman, Achimota, Accra, Bukom, and Korle-Bu. At the opening and closing ceremonies for the Games, the volunteers evangelized within and outside the stadia through creative arts and free face painting for spectators.

The MMTG outreach provided free medical care to the communities of Borteyman and Jamestown. Christian doctors offered their services, and together with volunteers, shared the gospel with those present.

KidsGames, a play and interactive evangelistic event was organized for the children in Somanya and Jamestown, reaching 1,600 and 1,000 kids respectively. Christian groups in both cities took responsibility for discipling the many children who gave their lives to Christ afterwards.

Unique Opportunities
Although the MMTG outreach faced logistical and coordination challenges, The African Games nevertheless provided a unique platform to reach a wide and diverse audience. With over 150,000 gospel tracts distributed, the Games allowed the Church to engage with individuals who might not attend traditional church services.

Believers and leaders from different churches also worked together with many witnessing first-hand the power of sports in advancing the Great Commission. To crown the outreach, a thanksgiving and appreciation event was held with citations, certificates, and souvenirs presented to partners, volunteers, and sponsors. After the Games ended, volunteers were taken through online trainings on how to follow-up on the people they had reached.

For churches and Christian groups looking to leverage major sports events for the Great Commission, Michael Armah says:
1. Start planning and mobilizing resources well in advance.
2. Collaborate with various churches, Christian organizations, and community groups to maximize impact.
3. Use creative and engaging methods to reach different audiences.
4. Constitute an effective core leadership team which, with the help of the Holy Spirit, creatively leads the outreach efforts.

Conclusion
The MMTG outreach at the 13th African Games in Accra showcased the transformative power of sports ministry. By combining faith, community service, and sports, the initiative made a significant impact on individuals and communities. It demonstrated that instead of seeing sports as a carnal entity, the global Christian community must see it as a redemptive tool which brings the Church up-close with the people for whom Jesus died and shed his blood. Sports remains a game-changer in missions and we must do all we can to continually redeem it and utilize the opportunities it offers to bring many to faith in Christ Jesus.