As a football coach and a believer, you are in a key position that can change not just the trajectory of your team’s success but also their spiritual well-being. God can use you to be life-giving—to be the salt and light to restore the athletes, coaching staff, and others involved, pointing them to the ultimate light of the world, which is Christ (John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”).
Heavenly Father, help me witness Christ to the athletes I coach and to my colleagues so they will see Christ in how I live my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
The Power of Key Figures
You’ve likely heard many times from Christians that God reaches out to certain key people whenever they pray corporately. These key people truly can be key in ministering to others—if they are believers who are radical for the Gospel, they can help it hold a huge influence and potentially increase. Take, for example, the President. If the President were to be saved and live his life as a follower of Christ, imagine the impact it could bring to our nation and the expansion of God’s kingdom. That doesn’t mean, however, that God cannot use those who are not considered “key people.” God can use the weak to shame the strong and even a fool to shame the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.).
A Football Coach’s Prayer
A Football Coach’s Prayer
A Football Coach’s Prayer
So, how does this apply to being the coach of a football team? As a coach, you have a unique influence over the athletes and the staff with whom you work—you’re their “key person.” If coaches who are unbelievers can motivate and impact their teams’ lives, how much more could they accomplish as believers in Christ? As you lead and coach your team, you can use this influence not only to motivate them but also to preach the truth and present to them the good news of the Gospel. You have the privilege of guiding them not just in terms of football but also in their Christian walk, just as Paul instructed Timothy (2 Timothy 2:2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.).
A Football Coach’s Prayer
Clinging to Prayer
Being a coach allows you to reach out to athletes with a degree of privilege and opportunity, and prayer should not be left out. Why? Here are several reasons:
1. It is God who transforms hearts.
As you reach out to the athletes and your colleagues, never leave prayer out of the equation. When you preach the Gospel, it is not you who opens their spiritual eyes or changes their hearts—it is God (John 9:39; Ezekiel 36:26). Your job is to preach the Gospel to them and journey with them; it is God’s job to work in their hearts (Ephesians 2:1–9).
2. Praying for their salvation is the most important prayer you can pray.
Use the chance for prayer to pray for your team’s salvation. God uses both your preaching of the Gospel and your prayers for their salvation as a means for that which He has ordained. So, while indeed God is the One who sovereignly transforms their hardened hearts to hearts of flesh, your prayers are not useless! Far from it—this means you should pray all the more because God is sovereign.
3. We are called to make prayers and intercessions for all people.
In 1 Timothy 2:1, we are commanded to make supplications, prayers, and intercessions for all people. That includes the athletes we coach and our fellow colleagues. By praying for them, we are fulfilling God’s will and helping them at the same time. Of course, pray for their salvation—but you can also pray that your team will be in top condition for an upcoming game or championship, that no one will be injured, that everyone will do their best, and that you will win! You can also pray for productive training and even the relationships among team members.
A Football Coach’s Prayer
Putting It Into Prayer
As we’ve mentioned, by all means, you should pray for the salvation of your team members. Pray that they shall see Christ for who He is, repent, and believe Him. While this is the most important prayer you can make for them, you aren’t limited solely to praying for their salvation; you can also pray for other concerns that you may have for the team. Think about all the different areas, aspects, and concerns you have for them, and bring these things to God as you pray for the salvation of those who are lost.
Father in heaven, I pray for my athletes and colleagues who have not yet known Christ that I will have the opportunity to preach the Gospel to them. As they hear the Gospel, touch their hearts so that they will be humble to repent and believe it. I pray that we will be able to make good preparations for the upcoming league. May no injury happen during training, and may we be ready to face the competition. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Apart from prayer and preaching the Gospel, the way you live your life also matters in how your team sees Christ. Keep in mind that the first Bible they’ll read might not be the Bible itself, but you—so may you always reflect Christ to them in all of your ways and live in a manner that bears God’s image to them.