Christianity is among the largest religion in the world, with close to three billion believers. Christianity has seen various trends with major developments in Pentecostal churches across Africa. Accordingly, the revivalists in Africa have been characterized by institutional and doctrinal creativity that significantly draws the historical trajectory of Africa with its challenges of identity, economic nature, and sociocultural aspects. Ministry of sport refers to serving sport in Jesus’ name. Notably, the ministry aims at helping the elite sportspeople to undertake their sport Christianity appropriately. Several Africans have been necessitated to engage in the sports ministry and serve African society, given the numerous religious trends in Christianity.
Focusing on creation perceptions as a religious purpose for the sports ministry, Africans emphasize sports evangelism. To a large extent, sports are considered part of God’s creative plan so that people can glorify him through sports, as in all of His creation (Wilkins, 2018). To a lesser extent, people who pursue sports are considered made in God’s image, so the gift of sports is considered part of the person in charge of the images.
Based on Genesis 1:27, athletic prowess is highly valued as athletes can recognize that ‘they are uniquely made by their Creator, have moving genes, desire to compete, be natural, and be challenged by challenges.’ Wilkins (2018) also quotes Psalm 139: 13. ‘God made man in a certain way, created him to relish the gift of sports, and via the gift, to glorify God.’ Thus, involvement in sports has only been viewed as a reflection of the image of God and a measure of the dignity bestowed upon him to be the pinnacle of the creation of God.
In addition, the emphasis on religious freedom in the writings of modern sportswriters is based on 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23. As per the scripture, Paul absolves the various methods he used to reach individuals with the Gospel. Whether touching Jews, Gentiles, slaves, Greeks, or free people, the Believer would use a means appropriate for the people he wanted to touch. Wilkins (2018) applies the word ‘eligibility’ to define this approach to service.
He describes merit as ‘excellency over all things to attain to the utmost good’ Wilkins (2018). He argues that, as Paul used the best possible way to achieve great results, the congregation today needs to take up sports as one of the main means of evangelizing in today’s world. Wilkins (2018) calls this method the ‘goal of freedom.’ Consequently, God has offered Christians the freedom to determine the best ways to reach individuals with the Gospel.
Conclusively, many Africans have accepted Christianity due to extensive missionary works among the youths, especially in sports ministry. Notably, sport is an attractive and effective way of winning the attention of young individuals and offering a forum to share the Gospel and promote the prevention of de-stigmatization and advance imperative life skills.
The revivalists hold that the African church leaders’ acuities about the motivational aspects of a sports ministry in Africa could be utilized by other church leaders as guiding principles for scheming an effective approach to creating bearable sports in their churches. Africans have developed a tendency to link Christianity with rewards or fortunes; hence, they always strive to accept the doctrines that they deem fruitful based on their socio-economic expectations. Therefore, Africa has been the main focus for missionaries and missionary works, especially promoting sports to attract youth evangelism.
References
Wilkins, D. A. (2018). Sports evangelism: A new tool to minister to African American men in various communities. Drew University.
Psalm 139: 13.
Genesis 1:27.
1 Corinthians 9: 19-23.