{"id":1665,"date":"2025-05-01T08:46:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T06:46:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lovefrance.world\/?post_type=prayer-guide-2025&p=1665"},"modified":"2025-05-01T08:46:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T06:46:14","slug":"may-15-through-sport","status":"publish","type":"prayer-guide-2025","link":"https:\/\/www.lovefrance.world\/it\/prayer-guide-2025\/may-15-through-sport\/","title":{"rendered":"May 15 \u2013 Through Sport"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are beginning to pray through our 6th theme: SPREADING THE GOSPEL THROUGH SPORTS, MEDIA AND CULTURE.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sport et Foi (\u201cSports & Faith\u201d) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Represented by <\/strong>Couly Dieng<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sport et Foi Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes is a branch of Sport et Foi France. Our vision is to see those who love sports also love God. We are part of the Go+ France coalition of evangelical churches and charities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We coordinate four regional sports groups in Lyon, Saint-\u00c9tienne, Valence and Grenoble, cities with populations of between 130,000- 1.4 million. Our mission is to organize events with church youth, include local clubs, host \u201cMake Sports Your Ministry\u201d missionary teams and train Christian athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve assisted young Christians in soccer training centers by using friendly matches as opportunities to share the Gospel. We\u2019ve also supported refugees through sports, sharing the Gospel and offering them community assistance. Additionally, we encouraged church sports clubs to use sports as a means of discipleship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actions taken and results achieved in 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We toured the Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes region with Ensemble 2024 to encourage churches to organize projects for the Olympic Games. We celebrated the 10th anniversary of Sport and Faith: Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes, where the mayor of a local neighborhood heard the Gospel for the first time and requested a signed\/dedicated New Testament copy. To coincide with the Paralympics, we focused on raising disability awareness within churches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve seen growing church support for the vision of using sports to share the Gospel. We\u2019ve built strong relationships with clubs and local groups. What\u2019s more, our prayers for ministry servants in the sports world have been answered, and we\u2019re grateful for the addition of new leaders. In Grenoble, for example, under the leadership of Philippe Pinto, close to 60 people meet every week and share their testimonies, including 20 non-believers, and around 20 people referred to us by local churches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sport et Foi is an essential link in the chain of a church\u2019s various outreach activities. We have helped many non-believers discover a new life in Christ and our initiatives have enabled many Christians to give new meaning to their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One mom told us about her daughter, Elia, a very athletic girl who wanted nothing to do with church. However, after attending one of our multi-sport tournaments, she connected with a church youth group. A few months later, Elia was baptized and even met her future husband within the church community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Projects in 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We began moving the headquarters of Sport and Faith from Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes to Lyon to support the development of a sports ministry there, as we did in Grenoble. We\u2019re keen to find solutions for professional athletes, especially young athletes, whose schedules don\u2019t always allow them to attend church. We would like to train and accompany the athletes in our groups with the Stadium <\/em>book, which contains 24 Bible studies and a guide to helping a teammate discover Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prayer requests<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. <\/strong>Pray that hundreds of athletes come to Christ in the next 3 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.<\/strong> Pray that church leaders will embrace this vision of sports ministry so others will be equipped and sent to serve in this ministry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.<\/strong> Pray that we will be able to recruit several people dedicated to the world of sports, which touches over 70% of the general population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further information<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. <\/strong>Sport and Faith website: sportetfoifrance.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. <\/strong>Stadium<\/em>\u201d Bible study guide for athletes: www.readysetgo.tools\/en\/library\/readysetgo\/60144ec5-c542-4c3a-8f7e-d84a55581fca<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Issy-les-Moulineaux Evangelical Armenian Church youth group<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Issy-les-Moulineaux (92)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Represented by <\/strong>Jo\u00ebl Mikaelian and Alph\u00e9e Liadz\u00e9 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our church\u2019s youth group meets every Friday evening. We begin with a time of worship, led by our young people, then the pastor or a guest shares a message from God\u2019s Word and we close with a time of fellowship. We also organize special events, including outreach opportunities in our town. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actions taken and results in 2024\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A central activity in 2024 was a sports evangelism event during the Olympics, hosted in partnership with the city. The event was aimed at local and regional amateur athletes and consisted of a tournament featuring multiple sports, the screening of the film Carri di fuoco<\/em> and a worship service open to all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through this event and our organization, we saw God touch souls and transform hearts. We distributed Gospels tracts specially prepared for the athletes at the Olympics. Most of the athletes in attendance were not Christians, but they received the Word of God and heard the Good News. We were able to pray for several people, some of whom were positively impacted. We maintained a stand throughout the day, where missionaries were available to answer questions about God and share their testimonies of their lives in Christ. At the end of the day, we held an outdoor service in the neighborhood sports complex. Young people prepared the service, we offered praise to God, and all were able to utilize their talents in God\u2019s service, touching lives and furthering His Kingdom in our city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, our main achievement was the growth of our group through new members. Young people in our neighborhood are being reached and receiving the Word of God every week through our organization. We\u2019re striving to host more outreach opportunities including street evangelism events like our \u201cstreet caf\u00e9s,\u201d and we\u2019ve also distributed food to the homeless in the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The theme of this year\u2019s campaign, \u201cRegeneration,\u201d speaks volumes for our organization, as we are noticing an inner renewal among our young people. A revival is taking place, young people are being transformed and getting involved. Our vision is for young people to go further in their relationship with God, to take risks to grow in their faith. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many lives have been transformed through our ministry. One person in particular, was living far from God, lost and looking for happiness. She met Jesus, made a commitment to God, gave her life to Christ, renouncing her old life. Now, she uses her singing talent in God\u2019s service, leading times of praise and worship <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Projects in 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, we have a vision that God will continue to transform lives. We want to reach more people, be open to others, and share our faith with those in France. Our vision for the next five years includes group growth, street outreach, and God\u2019s confirmation of His Word through signs and wonders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


Prayer request<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pray that hearts will be ready to receive Christ\u2019s love. May people be renewed in their faith and prayer life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional information<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evangelical Armenian Church website: <\/strong>eeaissy.com\/wp<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Holistic Sports<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Mainly in Rennes (35), Mulhouse (68), Toulouse (31), Bordeaux (33), Paris region, Montpellier (34)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Represented by <\/strong>Jo\u00ebl Thibault<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current Context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holistic Sports France is a ministry dedicated to serving sports professionals and semi-professionals (top-level athletes, coaches, PE teachers, etc.). Its mission is to reach those in the French-speaking sports world, through three key objectives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n