Monthly column on student work

Footballing twins, Beth and Naomi Cutting, know what it means to put their faith into action on the football pitch. Both were given the opportunity to play for Leeds, Middlesborough and York.

They are now members of the university football teams at Loughborough and East Anglia (UEA) respectively. They are also involved in Christians in Sport (CIS) where they have found invaluable Christian support, and a base from which to reach out to their non-Christian team-mates. 'We both know that God has given us this gift of football. He could easily take it away, and so we need to use it for his glory and we are seeking to do that.'

Each week, CIS groups at Loughborough, UEA and 65 other universities around the country, meet to pray and read the Bible together. Meeting with others who also know the highs and lows of being serious about both sport and their personal relationship with Christ is often a lifeline for these students. CIS gives them an environment where they can think through issues such as playing on Sunday, a Christian approach to sportsmanship, and dealing with peer pressure.

Outreach

An intrinsic part of the CIS groups is arranging outreach events aimed at sharing the gospel with sportspeople at university. Each group must put on at least one evangelistic event a year for it to remain 'active'. Alex Harris, head of the student department at CIS, explains: 'These outreaches are aimed, not at anyone who happens to like sport, but at sportspeople - those for whom sport is a serious part of their lives, usually the university players'.

Outreach events range from a sports pub quiz to the popular sports dinner, each having a speaker explain the gospel to those who attend. Over the last three academic years, CIS groups have been more active in evangelism. In 2000-01, there were 19 CIS outreach events. Last year this had risen to 60. Alex Harris is thrilled with the increase, especially as he himself became a Christian while a student and rugby player at Lancaster University: 'We expect up to 3-4,000 students will hear the gospel each year through Christians in Sport student group evangelistic events. It is exciting to see so many Christians students being ambassadors for Christ to those around them, and their team mates coming to faith as a result.'

Standing together

For many Christian students who are serious about sport, standing up for what they believe can be very tough. Jason Robinson, the England Rugby player said recently in an interview for The Blurb student magazine: 'Christian students need to stick and stand together. I know there is huge pressure to conform and so many are stumbling.' This is not something he is a stranger to: 'The rugby culture is a drinking culture, and I have had to break free from that. It will take a strong person to say they are not going out on the drinking sessions every other night... We are called to stand up for what we believe and be different - and it worries me that so many Christian students are not strong enough to do this. It is a dead fish that goes with the flow.' The CIS website and groups look to address these issues head on and help Christian students in sport to be committed to excellence in their field, while at the same time keep living wholeheartedly for Christ as the priority.

Pressures & opportunities

Nigel Pollock, UCCF Director of Training and Development, himself a keen sportsman, said: 'Christians playing sport face particular pressures but also have unique opportunities to share faith with team mates, training partners and even opponents. The commitments of playing serious sport often lead to isolation and a lack of understanding from other believers. We always recommend that such Christian students get involved in Christians in Sport and have seen many benefit from the support, prayer and evangelistic heart which drives these groups.'

For more information on the student ministry of Christians in Sport, or to download resources for Christian sportspeople, see www.christiansinsport.org.uk

Students in sport

Outreach

Standing together

Pressures & opportunities

Emma Balch

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