on-field
“It Starts with a ball, a Board, a field, a court…”— Russ Carr, Founder
Why Sports?
It is no secret that sports provide a unique, all-terrain vehicle that is not only international in scope, and intercultural in appeal, but able to move swiftly through all races, religions, ages, and genders. At Sports Outreach, we believe that on-field activities which combine high-level athletic instruction with personal mentorship can be a part of opening almost any door at any level of society, and in so doing, restore hope and transform lives.
These are our primary sports used throughout our global ministry
SOCCER
BASKETBALL
BASEBALL
CHESS
FOOTBALL
SOCCER
The unique, all-terrain nature of sports, and soccer in particular, to cut across and open almost any door at any level of society, led to the creation of the original Good News Football Team – a handpicked team of Sports Outreach-trained and mentored players, tasked with competing at the highest local levels, while representing and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ among those against whom they compete. The vision of the original Good News Football Team in Uganda caught on and has now been replicated in India, where our in-country director is daily seeing those in the surrounding communities receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior in the context of soccer practices, matches and tournaments, among other things. Today, SOI uses soccer as a primary on-field vehicle for restoring hope and transforming lives in 6 of our 9 international mission fields.
BASKETBALL
Whether it’s the fast-paced action, high scoring nature of the game, or potential for amazing athletic feats, there’s no doubt that the sport of basketball possesses a global appeal. We happen to believe that when that appeal is partnered intentional coaching and spiritual formation, the ability to build relationships and connect with whole communities, the impact is unparalleled. This is particularly true in Kenya and Uganda where our basketball ministries are proving to be a valuable vehicle for connecting young folks to the life-changing, good news of Jesus.
BASEBALL
Outside of the United States the Dominican Republic is the most significant source of baseball talent, even producing Major League Baseball players at a rate five times higher than the USA, with Dominican-born baseball players accounting for nearly 10% of all MLB players. For this reason, we are excited to offer baseball ministries, for youth of all ages, in three of the most strategic cities of the Dominican Republic; San Juan, Santa Domingo, Jarabacoa. Seeing the impact of baseball in the DR also helped spur the launching of a softball ministry in our Croatian mission field.
CHESS
Did you know that Disney produced a multi-million dollar blockbuster film sharing the story of Sports Outreach? They did precisely because they understand the impact that teaching chess to those in impoverished communities can have on breaking cycles of poverty. Sports Outreach launched its first chess program, called the Pioneers, in the heart of Katwe slum, in Uganda. Since that original program, we’ve launched effective chess ministries in Kenya, the Dominican Republic, India and the United States, with US-based chess players being so inspired by the ability to use chess as a way to help others that we launched a Chess Advocacy Board in 2021. For us, chess is not a game; it’s a sport!
FOOTBALL
Football (the American style, not futbol) is one of our newer on-field sports ministries. The beauty of football is that it requires effective strength training to be successful. In Croatia, the development of a football ministry has grown into launching a fitness center that serves as a hub for relational connection and discipleship.