What would it look like for you to join a Sports Society at Uni and see your rugby, dance, lacrosse, football teammates come to know Jesus? 

In Lincoln, students of the past are paving the way and inspiring students today to be bold in their faith all because of the encouraging stories that are being passed down by postgraduates. Stories of investing three years into sport at Uni but also investing three years into praying to see their Society come to know Jesus and consequently transform society outside of Uni.

Emma and Lauren are two Uni of Lincoln Alumni and their story of being involved in a sports society whilst at University is one of challenge and encouragement for all. 

"We decided to be different..."

It was in their second year of University that Emma and Lauren decided to begin ‘praying before playing’ in their Rugby fixtures. They had both been inspired by other Christians they had spoken to at camps over the summer- faithful students who were so for student mission within the Uni sporting world. As they continued to faithfully pray, other girls within the Rugby team began to notice and ask them questions. By the end of their second year fixtures season, it was the captain who then turned to Emma before their final game and asked her to pray for the whole team. They were able to pray with the whole team for protection over injuries for a fun game together and they thanked God for giving them the strength and skills to be able to play rugby.

By third year Emma and Lauren were inviting teammates to carol concerts and freshers events at their local church and they would lean on the support of other Christian friends to work together, pull one another up and encourage one another. They then ran a Rugby Alpha course and invited their whole team along. In telling this story to us Emma shared this:

"One of the biggest things we did is went out on socials with the team and decided to be different. We would go out, have fun with the girls and join in. We were different but we were there and they appreciated that."

Emma offered some more advice on how to build those real relationships with others and said: 

"Do life with them and talk about their problems whilst doing sport with them. Commit to a sport well. Put it high up on your priority list but don’t prioritise rugby or sport over your faith."

Flash forward to 2022 and Emma is inspiring Alice, a new Christian fresher on the lacrosse team at Uni of Lincoln. Since a conversation with Emma, Alice has decided to pray before her matches and has begun having conversations about faith on the coach to fixtures. This is just the beginning of this story but absolutely not the end. Keep your eyes peeled for part two- a story of this generation of students that is yet to unfold but is one that I believe with expectancy will come to fruition with God on the move in society and within societies.

What steps can I take if I want to see my Sports society explore faith and come to know Jesus?

Be there and be different 

Emma and Lauren decided to make Rugby one of their top priorities and so they turned up to as much as they could. This showed the team that they valued them and were committed and in turn the team then respected and valued Emma and Lauren’s commitment to their faith.

Invitation culture

Emma and Lauren would invite the whole team to carol concerts and freshers events at their local Church. If you invest in their lives and interests, chances are they’ll be willing to invest in yours.

Set your priorities 

Put your Society high up on your priority list, but don’t prioritise society culture over faith- commit to both but prioritise God first.

Pray before you play 

Don’t underestimate the power of prayer. Pray before fixtures and if you can find another Christian in your Society to pray with before each game then do it together.

Whilst at Uni you can be in the world of Societies and not of it. Of course, it is easy to make mistakes that are of the world but I wonder if an equally damaging prospect is not being in the world at all but instead comfortable in holy huddles that keep us from God’s mission field. Jesus invested and prioritised time with God and those he was discipling but equally invested in and did life alongside those who were yet to believe. 

Where can you invest time and who can you invest it in whilst at Uni?