The Christians in Sport Podcast: Recent Episodes

Christians in Sport

The podcast of Christians in Sport - the movement of competitors, coaches and officials which exists to reach the world of sport for Christ.

Featuring interviews with people from the world of elite sport - from Olympians to major golf winners, Premier League footballers to high level athletes - we seek to find out how they connect their sport and faith together.

We also deal with some of the key questions you might have as a Christian in the world of sport with #AskCIS.

'Dialogue dinners' or 'meals with a message', are a brilliant way to discuss and share faith with friends at university, yet it can feel intimidating inviting friends over to talk about Jesus. In this special podcast episode, Duncan chats with three students about their experience of sharing their faith at university.

0:00 Intro
1:27 The joys and challenges of university sport
7:37 What is it like to share Jesus in university sport?
17:32 What was it like running a dialogue dinner?
27:03 What was it like after running a dialogue dinner?
32:40 What advice would you give to someone looking to run a dialogue dinner?

Over 9 million people play sport each week and millions more watch and talk about sport regularly. At the start of one of the biggest sporting summers in history, we sit down with missiologist and evangelist Phil Knox, to discuss six ways people come to faith today, and how we can make the most of this summer of sport to share the good news of Jesus.

Thanks to the Evangelical Alliance for partnering with us to make this podcast, find out more about the Evangelical Alliance 👉 The Evangelical Alliance - https://www.eauk.org/

Download Our Sports Mission Pack 👉https://christiansinsport.org.uk/2024

Dive deeper into Phil's work 👇
Story Bearer:
How to share your faith with your friends: 👉 https://philknox.co.uk/story-bearer/

The Best of Friends:
A book about friendship and strengthening your relational muscles 👉 https://philknox.co.uk/best-of-friends/

The Best of Friends film series: 👉 https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/friendship/the-best-of-friends-video-series

(0:00 Intro
(4:25) Researching the state of evangelism
(5:26) A 'house' framework for coming to faith
(5:56) Digital outreach, 'the hallway'
(14:57) Friendship, 'the living room'
(21:40) Mercy ministry, 'the kitchen'
(26:00) Hospitality, 'the dining room'
(33:42) The Bible, 'the study'
(39:53) Dreams and experience, 'the garden'
(43:35) Summary and outro

This year's Mental Health Awareness Week is themed around movement, including sport and this week we have a special episode with Heather Lewis, project manager at the Mental Health Foundation. Alongside her work, Heather has a specific academic interest in elite sport, having completed a Master's at St. Mary's Twickenham on mental health within a Rugby World Cup context.

The Mental Health Foundation is there for people of all faiths and none, this conversation includes Heather's reflections on her personal faith and how that plays out in her work, sport and research.

Find out more about Mental Health Awareness Week 👉 https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week

Download the Sports Mission Pack 👉https://christiansinsport.org.uk/2024

(0:00) Intro and Heather's bio
(2:34) What is Mental Health Awareness Week all about?
(4:28) Moving more for mental health
(6:23) How did Heather come to work at the Mental Health Foundation?
(7:57) Why amateur sport can be so good for mental health
(12:14) How Heather's faith shapes her approach to work
(13:55) Researching mental health in elite sport
(16:52) What was surprising in your research?
(18:53) The tension between performance requirements and player care
(22:53) Key recommendations for performance
(26:34) What was the response to your research?
(28:50) How will your faith shape your actions based on your findings?
(30:28) What Heather learnt from years as a chaplain in elite sport
(32:38) What do you do now with elite athletes as a lifestyle advisor?
(35:46) How can we learn from this in amateur sport
(38:19) How does your faith shape what you long to see in your work?
(39:43) Outro

Jason Romano is the Director of Media with Sports Spectrum and the host of the popular Sports Spectrum Podcast – probably the most popular sports and faith podcast and blog globally.

For 17 years, he was an Emmy-Award winning Producer and Senior Manager at ESPN. He has created and produced content for shows such as SportsCenter, NFL LIVE, Mike and Mike in the Morning, Sunday NFL Countdown, College Gameday, Outside the Lines, MLB’s All Star Game and many more.

Listen for how Jason's reflections on thousands of conversations with top-level Christian athletes across many different sports.

(0:00) Intro and Jason's bio
(2:55) How did you get into sports broadcasting
(6:23) How did faith fit with a career in broadcasting at ESPN?
(10:53) How did you see sport and faith fitting together specifically?
(15:06) How hard was it to leave ESPN to work for Sports Spectrum?
(21:35) What do pro-athletes say when they speak of their faith?
(26:33) Is it becoming more acceptable to speak about faith for elite athletes now?
(31:08) What are your thoughts on the public witness of pro athletes on social media?
(36:01) How should we view Christian professional athletes with large public profiles?
(37:01) Outro

Gill's story as a Christian, mother and marathon runner is inspiring. Taking up marathon running in 2011, Gill progressed to a personal best of 2:53:22 in 2016, all while working and more recently becoming a mum.

Listen for how Gill's identity in Christ is game-changing for her sport, church, to family life.

(0:00) Intro and Jan's bio
(1:30) What does it mean to have your sport and faith connected?
(3:16) How Gill got into running marathons
(5:52) Running highlights, and challenges so far
(9:35) How does Gill balance running, work, church and family life?
(13:53) What's it like to share faith with other runners?
(17:21) Is it hard for people in church to understand your commitment to running?
(20:21) Positive changes and possible pitfalls for women's running as the sport evolves.
(26:33) Coming back to running after pregnancy
(30:51) Has running shaped your faith?
(33:57) Outro

On nights out the best opportunity to chat may well be outside in the smoking area, away from the noise and where it’s natural to have a deeper conversation.
So, should you smoke on a night out to have gospel conversations with your teammates?

(0:00) Intro
(0:22) Today's question
(0:53) We're called to share our faith
(1:40) Permittable vs beneficial
(2:42) Temple bodies
(3:19) Damaged bodies
(4:59) What can you do when the smoking conundrum arises?
(7:17) Conclusion

Jan is a former long track and marathon speed skater, now working for Next Move Sports Ministries in the Netherlands. Jan decided to retire from skating at 22 because he struggled to connect his Christian faith with his passion for sport, yet now he helps top-level athletes to think through how they can combine faith in Christ with competing at the top level of sport.

Listen to find out how Jan's perspective shifted as he worked through what it means to be a Christian and a sportsperson.

Find out more about Next Move Sports Ministries 👉 https://nextmovesport.nl/

(0:00) Intro and Jan's bio
(0:50) Refinding faith and retiring from professional sport
(5:24) What's it like to be a pro speed skater?
(7:00) The toughest speed skating race that almost never happens
(9:35) What changed that meant Jan finally connected sport and faith?
(14:27) Can church and elite sport really fit together?
(19:25) The biggest issues that face Christian elite athletes today
(20:49) Elite sport and fragile identity
(22:20) What does it like to live as a Christian in an individual sport
(24:25) Getting into ultra-running and discovering that sport can be worship
(26:13) Sharing faith in the ultra-running community

John Bostock debuted for Crystal Palace at just 15 years old, still their youngest-ever first-team player. He signed for Spurs a year later but his career wasn't straightforward, spending years on loan and playing abroad.

He came to faith as a teenager and, in 2015, founded Ballers in God, an organisation that aims to disciple professional football players and to make Jesus known in the world of football.

Danno caught up with John at Notts County's ground, Meadow Lane to talk to him about his career as a professional player, and his mission to share the good news of Jesus in the world of football through Ballers in God.

Find out more about Ballers in God 👉 https://ballersingod.com

(0:00) Intro
(2:55) How do you connect your sport and faith?
(4:35) How is normal for you to be a Christian and a pro football player?
(6:19) How did you become a Christian?
(7:54) How becoming a Christian quickly transformed John
(12:29) Growing in church and learning to love the Bible
(16:05) Moving to Spurs at 16, going on loan, and faith deepening through hardship
(23:09) Being rebuilt and moving to Belgium
(24:15) Christian mentors within football as a young player
(28:15) How Ballers in God came to be
(32:28) Managing time and the power of prayer
(35:20) Coping with 6 months without a contract in the UK
(36:28) Landing at Notts County and helping them back into the EFL
(41:05) What's the future for Ballers in God?

Jenny Tait is an Australian volleyball player, earning 66 caps for the Volleyroos indoor team as well as playing for Campbell University in the NCAA and at the top level in Europe. Jenny retired in 2020 and is now studying theology at Moore College in Sydney.

Danno caught up with Jenny to talk about her career in elite sport and her passion to continue working alongside Christian elite athletes now she's retired.

(0:00) Intro
(2:20) How do you connect your sport and faith?
(2:55) What were your career highlights?
(4:05) How did you get into volleyball?
(5:19) How long did it take to start performing at an elite level?
(9:20) How did you become a Christian?
(13:11) What was church like as a new Christian and when you went home?
(14:50) How did faith in Christ change your sport?
(16:54) Identity, imposter syndrome, and the pressure of elite sport.
(23:48) Retiring and working to support athletes' mental health
(25:37) How has it been sharing faith in your sport?
(27:40) Moving on to theological college, and hopes for future ministry

Alison Nicholas is a British golfer who reached the pinnacle of the sport in a highly successful career as both a player and then later on as the captain of a victorious Solheim Cup winning team in 2011. In a fascinating interview with Graham Daniels, she talks about what it looks like to be a successful leader and coach in elite sport and how her faith has helped her throughout her golfing career.

(0:00) Intro
(1:09) How Alison got into golf
(3:00) Progressing and joining the ladies European tour
(4:32) The key influencers in Alison's life and golf at the top level
(5:55) Coming to Christ through golfers on the European tour
(18:36) Stepping up to join the LPGA tour and playing in the states
(11:01) Winning the US open
(13:30) Being ruthless in competition with dignity
(15:03) Captaining The Solheim Cup and tough decisions
(17:20) Captaining for the second time
(20:45) Rigorous leadership
(24:42) The contrast between leading and playing
(27:59) Winning the Solheim Cup
(29:25) Outro

Starting university is a really significant transition in life. It can be daunting, unpredictable and challenging as you move from home and look to join a new sports club. Here's six top tips to help you settle in well.

0:00 Intro

0:22 Today's question

0:48 Answer

1:14 Join a church

2:10 Follow Jesus from day one

2:50 Be committed to your sports club

3:32 Be ready for initiations and socials

4:35 Make disciples

5:10 Pray

As the 2023 Rugby World Cup kicks off we revisit a conversation with Garin Jenkins recorded in 2016. Garin is a former Welsh rugby union player capped 58 times by his country. He played in three World Cups and multiple Five and Six Nations tournaments.

In conversation with Graham Daniels, he tells us about his battle with misdirected passion and aggression on the rugby field and how his growing faith remained steady as he endured massive ups and downs both on the pitch and off it.

(00:00) Introduction

(01:54) How Garin found out he'd won his first international cap

(03:30) Making it to the international stage but feeling lost

(04:50) Misdirected passion on the field and the battle for discipline

(07:36) Garin's challenging upbringing and first steps of faith in God

(09:24) A family disaster at a huge match against Cardiff

(13:07) What it's like to realise you're playing at the top-level of sport

(16:27) Reflections from Graham Daniels on the interview.

As a Christian sportsperson, what should you prioritise as you leave university behind and join the world of work?

0:00 Intro

0:22 Today's question

00:38 A significant transition

1:02 Find a church

1:58 Find a club

2:49 Be bold

3:09 Team Up

3:34 Be patient

3:56 Pray

Bertie Kennedy is a top-level cricket analyst who has worked with numerous clubs and franchises across professional cricket, including conducting the inaugural Hundred draft for the Northern Superchargers. He consults for numerous sporting teams to help them make better data-driven decisions alongside lecturing on the MSc in Performance Analysis at the University of Gloucestershire.

We caught up with Bertie at his home in the southwest of England to talk about how his faith shapes the way he works in top-level sport.

(0:58) How do your sport and faith connect

(5:56) Getting in to the world of performance analysis

(9:56) What does performance analysis look like now?

(11:44) How do your faith and work go together?

(14:11) Why is integrity important as a Christian in the workplace?

(18:24) The influence of data in coaching elite players

(23:26) What does the relationship between analyst and coach look like?

(26:40) What soft skills do you need to be an analyst?

(28:13) Treating elite players with empathy when using data

(31:57) Common misconceptions about performance analysis

(34:30) Outro

Can a Christian really bring glory to God in combat sports like boxing or martial arts? In this episode of AskCIS we look at what the Bible has to say about the use of violence in sport, and ask if it's possible to glorify God if violence is part of your sport.

0:00 Intro

0:22 Today's question

1:06 What is God's glory?

2:21 Is violence inherently wrong in sport?

4:31 What do combat sports promote?

5:31 Creativity

6:52 Character

7:26 Conscience

Fanie Van De Merwe is a multiple Paralympic Champion in track sprinting, with three Gold medals to his name across a career that saw him make three Paralympic Games. Fanie grew up with cerebral palsy but competed alongside able-bodied athletes until a coach suggested he focus on disability sport when he was 17.

Fanie and his brother Chris now run a Christian non-profit called Inspired 2 Become, focusing on alternative action sports and athletes with disabilities and Fanie coaches visually and intellectually impaired children.

Danno caught up with Fanie at his home in South Africa to talk about his journey to faith alongside his long career at the top of Paralympic sprinting.

(01:07) How do your sport and faith connect?

(02:57) Competing with able-bodied children at school and discovering disability sport

(05:13) Athens 2004 and the start of Paralympic ambitions

(09:11) How did faith play out as you trained to win at Beijing 2008

(12:33) How did you come to faith?

(16:11) Seeing God as a father

(19:46) Winning Gold at Beijing 2008

(23:48) Defending Gold at London 2012 but facing disappointment in the 200m

(26:18) How identity in Christ shaped Fanie's perception of pressure & disappointment

(29:47) Rio 2016 and retirement

(34:34) Inspired to Become and supporting disabled young people

Issues around what women should wear for sport have been hotly debated in recent times, with plenty of opinions voiced about how much athletes should or shouldn't wear. Some sports even regulate the type of kit female athletes can wear whilst leaving male athletes to choose for themselves.

In this episode of AskCIS we look at biblical principles on clothing and how we can use these to think about how we dress to train and compete.

0:00 Intro
0:22 Today's question
0:30 Response
0:57 The context
3:42 Where is this an issue for you?
4:27 What does the Bible say?
7:22 What does this look like in sport?
9:20 Summary

Eating disorders are disproportionately common in sport, and can be hugely damaging to athletes' physical and mental health.

Jonny caught up with Rosie to talk about her experience of battling her eating disorder alongside playing Ultimate Frisbee for Great Britain, and how her faith shaped this struggle.

Read more about rosie's eating disorder
👉https://christiansinsport.org.uk/eatingdisorder

0:45 How do your sport and faith connect?
1:17 Rosie's journey to the top of her sport
4:04 What difference did it make to be a Christian in your sport?
5:46 Developing an eating disorder
9:11 The difference between healthy and unhealthy eating in sport
11:24 When Rosie realised she had an eating disorder
12:31 Dealing with the spiritual aspect of an eating disorder
16:57 Why is it that eating disorders are so prevalent in sport?
18:10 How can you help someone who might have an eating disorder?
20:41 Encouragements and challenges from the life of Jesus

How can you respond if someone says you shouldn't let your child compete on a Sunday? It's a big question that could come easily from another parent, a church leader, or a Christan friend.

In this episode of AskCIS we dig into this question by opening up the Bible to see how God's word might shape a response.

Read more about Sunday sport: https://christiansinsport.org.uk/academy/topic/church/

(0:00) Intro
(0:23) Today's question
(1:19) Decisions need to be made
(2:25) Be fully convinced
(4:24) Be open in your approach
(5:30) Principles for responding

For many the season is over, and Wednesdays are no longer taken up with BUCS fixtures. Then once exams are over everything can become a bit of a blur. But what about reaching the world of sport for Christ? How does that fit into the last month of university life?

(0:00) Intro
(0:22) Today's question
(0:48) Answer
(1:10) Circumstances change but the need for Jesus doesn't
(2:21) There's nothing to lose
(3:46) Four things you can do
(4:00) Pray
(4:08) Continue to share life
(4:37) Boldy proclaim before you go
(5:03) Revision break or post-exam event

Matthew Joseph is the man 'coaching the coaches' at Arsenal Football Club's Academy. Matthew played as an Arsenal and England youth team player, gaining an Arsenal pro contract at eighteen. However, at nineteen he was released by Arsenal, a decision that he says broke his heart. He went on to play over 400 games in English League Football for Cambridge United and Leyton Orient before retiring and becoming a coach at the FA. In 2022 Matthew completed a career circle, rejoining Arsenal to oversee the Academy Coaching staff.

Danno caught up with Matthew to talk about his playing career, his role now as Academy Coach Developer at Arsenal F.C. and what it looks like to live as a Christian in the high-pressure world that is professional football.

(1:15) How do your sport and faith connect?
(2:08) What's it like to be released from a Football Academy?
(8:27) Coping with being released.
(11:22) Identity in retirement and becoming a Christian
(15:33) Why do you want to be a coach?
(19:46) Arsenal's values and caring for young players
(23:07) How has the process of releasing academy players changed?
(27:00) Managing young players on a performance pathway
(28:10) What would you say to a parent of a player who's been released?
(31:32) Understanding your value in a world dominated by performance
(33:45) Being part of the Christians in Sport coaches network

What does it mean to play my sport for God’s glory? We often see people on social media talk about ‘playing for God’s glory’ and ‘all for His glory’ but what does this actually mean?

In this episode of AskCIS we seek to understand what it means to glorify God and how this might play out for Christian sportspeople.

(0:00) - Intro
(0:22) - Today's question
(0:34) - Answer
(0:55) - God's goal is to show off His Glory
(1:46) - But we often get this wrong
(3:50) - So, how can we glorify God in sport?
(4:21) - We glorify Him as we compete
(5:50) - We glorify God by declaring his greatness
(6:36) - Summary

Anastasia Chitty (Née Posner) represented Oxford University in five Boat Race crews as well as representing Great Britain at World Cups, World Championships and the World University Games. In 2020 Anastasia retired from rowing to complete her medical studies, giving up her opportunity to compete for a spot in the British Olympic team for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Danno caught up with Anastasia at her rowing club in Oxford to talk about her journey to faith and what it looked like to live as a Christian at the top-level of rowing.

(1:00) How do your sport and faith connect?
(1:51) How did you come to faith?
(2:50) Coming to Oxford and growing in faith
(4:45) The Boat Race
(6:52) Rowing in the first televised Women's Boat Race
(9:12) The transition from student-athlete to potential Olympian
(13:45) The pressure of competition to go to the Olympics
(15:16) Can you ever escape the pressure to perform?
(17:46) How did your faith develop during this period as a full-time athlete?
(21:30) What would have been different if you weren't a Christian?
(24:16) Four things in play for elite Christian athletes
(25:45) What did witness look like as a professional athlete?
(28:10) How hard was it to decide not to continue to Tokyo 2020?
(33:17)The role of Church for elite athletes
(35:16) Where did Christians in Sport fit in?
(38:32) Continuing rowing after stepping back

Fitness tracking and activity sharing apps have completely changed the landscape of athletic sports in recent years. In this episode of AskCIS we explore the benefits and potential pitfalls of Strava for the Christian athlete.

(0:00) - Intro
(0:22) - Today's question
(0:42) - Answer
(1:20) - Strava connects
(2:20) - Strava consumes
(3:26) - Strava constricts
(4:14) - Should you use strava?

Not making the team is a tough scenario for players and athletes, particularly professionals who are under contract and unable to seek any alternative competition to enjoy. So, how can you respond in worship when you're constantly left out of selection?

(0:00) - Intro
(0:22) - Today's Question
(0:46) - A common frustration for top-level players
(1:10) - Three principles
(2:09) - How do these play out?
(4:59) - Be bold & how to leave well

Steve Stenstrom is a former NFL quarterback who played six seasons with the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos. Steve was a standout quarterback at Stanford University before being drafted to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1995

This week Greg caught up with Steve ahead of Superbowl LVII to talk about his journey to Jesus, his NFL Draft experience, grieving the loss of his brother, playing in the NFL and how his identity was key in managing the pressure there.

Listen to the podcast👉http://link.chtbl.com/CISPod

(00:00) Intro
(01:38) What does it mean for you to have your sport and faith connected?
(3:30) How did you become a Christian?
(7:10) Being drafted to the NFL during difficult season for Steve's family
(14:20) Playing in the NFL and the challenge of living as a Christian in professional sport
(16:40) Steve's first NFL game and facing serious injury
(23:47) Dealing with retirement
(26:50) Supporting today's NFL players

Karen Kennedy is one of Irish Hockey's most experienced campaigners, with over a hundred international caps including playing in two World Cups. Having retired from the top level seven years ago Karen is now getting back into playing alongside navigating the challenges that come with being the mother of two young sportspeople.

Danno caught up with Karen in Belfast to talk about her hockey career - including two world cup tournaments - and what it looks like to live out faith in sport as both a top player and now a mother.

(00:00) Intro
(02:50) What does it mean to have your sport and faith connected?
(04:30) How were sport and faith separate as you grew up?
(7:02) How did your parents approach balancing between church and sport?
(8:32) Would you take the same approach as your parents with your kids?
(9:05) International debut in Italy and playing in the World Cup
(11:20) Adapting during the transition to top-level sport as a university student
(12:21) Did full-time study ease the pressure of playing at the highest level?
(15:20) The journey to a second World Cup in Australia
(17:45) How does faith in Christ shape your view of sporting disappointment
(19:16) How long did it take to work out your identity as a Christian in sport
(20:33) What was the transition like leaving top-level hockey
(23:12) What was it like starting to play again?
(25:40) How do you balance work, parenting, sport and life now?
(27:34) Playing in the same team as your child
(29:15) The opportunity of coaching

"I can do all things through the one who gives me strength." Really? Philippians 4:13 is a popular verse in the world of sport, and it's easy to see why - it sounds like the perfect motivation for sporting performance. But is that what the verse really means?

(0:00) - Intro
(0:22) - Today's Question
(0:45) - Sportspeople are driven people
(1:41) - Finding motivation in the Bible
(2:30) - Can Christians really do all things with the strength of God?
(3:15) - Why does Paul use these words?
(6:07) - What is Philippians 4:13 really about?

Christmas is a time when most of us stop playing, taking time off work or study and sport to be with family and friends. But what if you're a professional athlete? Christmas is one of the busiest periods for professional football and rugby players, as well as many in other sports. So how can you take time out to celebrate the wonder of Christmas during a busy playing and training schedule?

(0:00) - Intro
(0:22) - Today's Question
(0:40) - Missing out?
(1:49) - The first nativity
(3:12) - How did the shepherds & magi respond to Jesus?
(4:36) - How will you respond?
(5:09) - Four practical tips

Michael Johnson is an experienced player and respected coach within English Football. Having played for Birmingham City and Jamaica he moved into coaching after retiring. Since then roles have included coaching England's U21 team for two years and head coaching Guyana's national men's team.

Danno caught up with Michael at St. George's Park to chat to him about his coaching career and what it looks like to connect sport and faith at the top level of football.

(01:30) What does it mean to have your sport, work and faith connected?
(03:30) Mentoring for UEFA
(05:08) Progressing as a coach against the backdrop of racism in professional football
(08:44) What does it look like to mentor world-class players into coaching?
(10:28) Why do top pro footballers struggle with retirement?
(12:40) Facing retirement as a Christian
(14:44) Coming to faith as a professional footballer
(17:30) What does witness look like in top-level football
(20:15) Michael's current role at England Football
(26:38) Playing for Jamaica & the journey to head coaching Guyana
(29:00) How has your faith influenced your career?
(33:03) Peer support and mentoring other Christians within professional football
(38:31) Thoughts on the England team and their world cup campaign

The FIFA World Cup is well underway, yet the conversation around the tournament continues to be dominated by controversial issues off the field.

So how can a Christian respond to Qatar hosting the World Cup?

(0:00) - Intro

(0:23) - Today's Question

(0:32) - Response

(1:29) - Know who and where you are

(3:13) - We can make God known through both protest and engagement.

(4:52) - You could decide to boycott

(5:43) - You are called to pray

(7:23) - You can raise awareness and speak up about the issues

Fran Clarkson is the Women's Pathway Lead Physiotherapist at the English Football Association, and recently stepped in as the interim Lead Physio for the England Lionesses. She's an experienced practitioner in elite sport having worked with Derbyshire County Cricket Club, Trent Rockets, and the English Institute of Sport before moving to England Football. Join Danno as he chats to Fran about her career so far, and how her faith impacts her work alongside the world's best players.

(0:00) What does it mean to have your sport, work and faith connect?

(1:25) Making the jump from elite cricket to professional football

(5:29) Starting out as a physio in professional sport at Derbyshire Cricket

(7:46) Learning to integrate faith and work in elite sport

(10:04) Caring for world class players beyond on-field performance

(12:04) Working with England Women's senior team for the first time

(13:32) How did you first connect sport and faith as a young person?

(16:56) Is your faith respected at work?

(18:38) What is the importance of church for you?

(22:26) What are the challenges of living as a Christian in your role?

(25:32) Reflections on the privilege of working in elite sport as a Christian

Supporting a child in elite sport can be thrilling, but it can easily add strain to family relationships as the time and cost of supporting them becomes part of family life. So, how can you maintain healthy family relationships, and keep Christ at the centre of your family as you support a child in elite sport?

(0:00) - Intro

(0:23) - Today's Question

(1:09) - Response

(1:16) - Parenting children in elite sport is tough

(3:57) - How do we pursue healthy relationships

(4:12) - Communication

(5:45) - Pray

(6:19) - Ground yourself in gospel truths

In the last few years, we have received several similar questions from elite athletes, students and parents of young sportspeople. They can be summarised in a simple question: "Dear Christians in Sport, should I wear rainbow laces?"

(0:00) - Intro

(0:23) - Today's Question

(0:38) - Response

(0:48) - What is in the background?

(2:10) - What we can affirm

(4:36) - What we cannot affirm

(8:12) - So, what should we do?

In the last few years, we have received several similar questions from elite athletes, students and parents of young sportspeople. They can be summarised in a simple question: "Dear Christians in Sport, should I wear rainbow laces?"

(0:00) - Intro

(0:23) - Today's Question

(0:38) - Response

(0:48) - What is in the background?

(2:10) - What we can affirm

(4:36) - What we cannot affirm

(8:12) - So, what should we do?

Nick Ferraby is a former professional and international cricketer who represented Jersey in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifiers in 2018. Nick is now an assistant pastor at Jersey Baptist Church. Join Danno as he chats to Nick about his cricketing career, including 18 international matches, his journey to faith in Christ and how he's connected sport and faith in his life.

(0:55) - How do your sport and faith connect?

(4:00) - University sport and journey to faith in Christ.

(10:40) - Faith bringing fulfilment not found in sport.

(13:47) - Security in Christ transforming sport

(19:16) - The challenge of living as a Christian in elite sport

(25:00) - Moving to Jersey and the T20 World Cup

(28:40) - The identity battle and disappointment in top-level sport

(32:22) - Sport and the school of discipleship

(34:56) - Authenticity in witness in elite sport

Nick Ferraby is a former professional and international cricketer who represented Jersey in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifiers in 2018. Nick is now an assistant pastor at Jersey Baptist Church. Join Danno as he chats to Nick about his cricketing career, including 18 international matches, his journey to faith in Christ and how he's connected sport and faith in his life.

(0:55) - How do your sport and faith connect?

(4:00) - University sport and journey to faith in Christ.

(10:40) - Faith bringing fulfilment not found in sport.

(13:47) - Security in Christ transforming sport

(19:16) - The challenge of living as a Christian in elite sport

(25:00) - Moving to Jersey and the T20 World Cup

(28:40) - The identity battle and disappointment in top-level sport

(32:22) - Sport and the school of discipleship

(34:56) - Authenticity in witness in elite sport

AskCIS is a new series where we think through the questions you send in to help you live and speak for Jesus in your sports club or team. Today we're answering a question from an elite athlete who's unsure about sports psychology. Join us as we look at what sports psychologists do and how they work before looking at what, if any, reservations Christian athletes should have about seeing sports psychologists.

AskCIS is a new series where we think through the questions you send in to help you live and speak for Jesus in your sports club or team. Today we're answering a question from an elite athlete who's unsure about sports psychology. Join us as we look at what sports psychologists do and how they work before looking at what, if any, reservations Christian athletes should have about seeing sports psychologists.

AskCIS is a new series where we think through the questions you send in to help you live and speak for Jesus in your sports club or team. Today we're looking at university sports team initiations or 'welcome socials.' Depending on the culture at your university sports club, the experience of welcome drinks or socials can be drastically different. Here's three tips to help you consider how you might approach your sports team initiation.

AskCIS is a new series where we think through the questions you send in to help you live and speak for Jesus in your sports club or team. Today we're looking at university sports team initiations or 'welcome socials.' Depending on the culture at your university sports club, the experience of welcome drinks or socials can be drastically different. Here's three tips to help you consider how you might approach your sports team initiation.

AskCIS is a new series where we think through the questions you send in to help you live and speak for Jesus in your sports club or team.

Today we're looking at how you can start well in a new sports club or team. Starting out in a new club or team isn't always easy, so we've put together four tips to help you get off to a good start as you look to share Jesus with your teammates.

AskCIS is a new series where we think through the questions you send in to help you live and speak for Jesus in your sports club or team.

Today we're looking at how you can start well in a new sports club or team. Starting out in a new club or team isn't always easy, so we've put together four tips to help you get off to a good start as you look to share Jesus with your teammates.

In the field of sports psychology, few have gained as much professional experience as Tom Bates. Tom cut his teeth working in professional football and, more recently, Tom coached a number of Olympic athletes to success. Join Danno for a fascinating insight into sports psychology as he chats with Tom about his professional career, and his faith in Christ.

Sport is brilliant, but it's not always straightforward, it can be challenging to live as a Christian within the world of sport. AskCIS is a new series where we think through the questions you send in to help you live and speak for Jesus in your sports club or team.

Competitive sport can't exist without winners and losers, but does God care about the outcome of a match or race? Let's look at what the Bible says about competition.

Competitive sport can't exist without winners and losers, but does God care about the outcome of a match or race? Let's look at what the Bible says about competition.

The Winter Olympics begin in Beijing on Friday under a mountain of controversy.Beijing 2022 is not the only event suffering from allegations of human rights abuses and questions about whether they should have been awarded a major sports event. The FIFA World Cup next year in Qatar has also had large voices of opposition due to the poor treatment of migrant workers building the stadiums and accusations of slave labour.

When a governing body chooses to compete however, is there anything an athlete should consider if they follow Jesus? Whilst it was definitely not the athlete’s choice to select Beijing to host the games, they are the ones now facing questions about whether it is right to compete there and what to do when they arrive if they do.

The letter of 1 Peter can help us think through how Christians should engage in our world as it was written to Christians feeling exiled and marginalised in the world and unsure how to act in it. Five truths from 1 Peter 2:9-17 can help us think through this issue.

At 19 years of age Jake threw in the towel. He gave up competing as a fighter, but this wasn’t the only life change that occurred during his late teens. Join Danno as he chats to Jake about discovering his gift as a young martial artist, becoming North American and European Champion in Muay Thai, and the compatibility of combat sports with faith in Christ.

Today's guest is Dr Suzanne Ferreira from Stellenbosch, South Africa.

She's won 70 plus medals, through the athletes she coaches, at the Paralympic Games, the World Championships, the All-Africa Games, the Commonwealth Games.

She's been at the Paralympics as a coach in Beijing 2008, London 2021, Rio 2016 and the International Paralympic Committee World Championships in 2006, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017.

She's been the the Western Cape coach of the year nearly every year since 2012 and finalist in the Coach of the Year for South Africa in 2008, 2016 and 2018.

Currently she's out in Tokyo coaching at the Paralympics.

In this episode, Graham Daniels speaks to her about her coaching philosophy and how her faith impacts how she trains elite athletes.

You can listen to our podcast here, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you get your podcasts from.

Find out more about the work of Christians in Sport at christiansinsport.org.uk

Danno sits down with Paralympic goal-ball player Anna Tipton (nee Sharkey).

She played in eight European Championships, two World Championships and also competed in the Paralympics at London 2012.

In this interview she speaks about how she got into goal-ball, the nature of elite sport and its challenges and how her faith shapes how she views her sport and her disability.

We all get disappointed in our sport don't we? Whether it's from injury, loss of form or not being renewed for another year, sport is full of lows, probably more often than the highs.

So we've got four-time Olympian Debbie Flood, and two-time Winter Olympian Adam Pengilly into to chat about their experiences of facing huge disappointments in their sports, and how they've come to process them and now help others do the same.

As it's the Christians in Sport podcast, our overarching question is how can we navigate disappointment as a Christian in the world of sport? What comfort does God offer to those struggling?

Listen in to this really useful interview for all sportspeople.

The CEO of Skateboard GB, James Hope-Gill joins us today, on the day Sky Brown won bronze at Tokyo 2020 to become the youngest ever British medallist.

In a fascinating short conversation, he explains the distinct culture that skateboarding has, how he's helped form a governing body from scratch and how his faith impacts his work.

The Rev’d Canon Dr. Ashley Null is an internationally respected scholar on the grace and gratitude theology of the English Reformation. He teaches regularly in seminaries and churches in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Australia.

Meanwhile, Ashley serves as a chaplain to elite athletes and coaches, helping them to integrate the Reformation’s emphasis on the unconditional love and grace of God with their vocation as professional sportspeople.

Ashley is a five-time Olympic chaplain, most recently at Rio 2016. As we record our conversation, Ashley is Omaha for the US Swimming Olympic Trials prior to the Tokyo Olympics.

Our conversation today concerns his approach to the pastoral care of elite athletes...and it is gold!

In this re-release from 2016 in Rio, ex-athletes Debbie Flood and Adam Pengilly tell us what it is like to compete at the games. Debbie won silver medals as a rower at Athens and Beijing and also reached the final in London. Adam raced skeleton bobsleigh at Turin and Vancouver, winning a world silver medal in between. Here the pair offer an insider’s view on the games and share how their Christian faith shaped their view of the Olympics.

Listen as Debbie and Adam talk about…

How they felt when they first got selected for the Olympics
How faith in Jesus gave them perspective during the highs and the lows
What it’s like to be in the Olympic Village
The emotions they experienced just before their races
The joys of hurtling down a mountain at 90mph

A brand new series for Tokyo 2020 as we speak to Olympians, chaplains and coaches about what it means to be a Christian in the pinnacle of all sport.

In this episode we speak with Christian Taylor, the two-time reigning Olympic and four-time reigning world triple-jump champion.

We speak about:

The impact of the pandemic on athletes
The forming of the Athletics Association to speak for track and field athletes
How his faith has led to and impacted the work of the newly formed association

Listen in and look out for further Tokyo 2020 episodes in weeks to come.

Michael Johnson joins our podcast from St George's Park a few days after the Euro 2020 final.

Jonno is currently an England U21s coach, having held a number of other roles in football after a stellar playing career primarily with Notts County, Birmingham City and Derby County.

In this powerful interview we speak with him about:

Systemic racism in sport and society
The encouraging changes in the last 10 years at the FA with diversity
The leadership of Gareth Southgate around diversity
How he integrates his sport and faith in his various roles

It's a super interview with some real insight. Enjoy.

Before Euro 1992, Andy Sinton went from being dropped the week before the squad announcement, to becoming a father for the first time, to seeing John Barnes get injured and Sinton’s eventual call-up back to the team for the tournament in Sweden. This was to be the pinnacle of a stellar carrier spent in the Premier League with QPR and Tottenham and later in management.

Andy Sinton, in conversation with Graham Daniels, tells us about the mental toughness needed to be a top level sportsperson and how he came to faith in Jesus later in his career.

In a compelling 30 minute interview, Sinton shares about how at the height of his career he was playing for Tottenham, had England caps and was earning decent money, but still struggling to find happiness. It was in these moments that through his wife and neighbours, he came to faith. He then goes onto narrate the different pressures of being a Christian in a professional sports environment.

We sat down with Gavin Peacock, former professional footballer and pundit and now a pastor to discuss his story as he's just released his autobiography.

Reflecting on an 18-year career as a pro playing for QPR, Gillingham, Bournemouth, Newcastle and Chelsea he talks about:

Coming to faith as a young pro
Why he took a risk and dropped down the leagues
Playing for some of the greatest managers around
Navigating retirement with a new career with Sky and the BBC
Life now as a pastor in Canada

You can buy Gavin's book from all good bookshops including from his publisher Christian Focus here.

This week we partner with podcast Hit For Six as we listen into their interview with Rev. Andrew Wingfield Digby - our first director, a very good cricketer and a one-time England Cricket Chaplain.

Listen in as he speaks about:

His love for cricket from a young age
How he came to faith
Starting Christians in Sport
Controversy as captain of Dorset
And Becoming the “spiritual advisor” of the England cricket team

Enjoy!

Donnie Campbell joins us this week. He is a mountain and ultra runner who speaks about: ✅ How he keeps going when he wants to quit ✅ Coping with loneliness on week long runs ✅ Why he enjoys the pain of racing ✅ The Munro Challenge which lasted 31 days

...and more about what it means for him to be a Christian in his world of sport.

How on earth does a Christian navigate the hot topic of referees and officials? What does this look like at the top end of sport when everything is on the line?

Danno and Pete Browne join us with their stories and experiences from the world of professional football and rugby to chat:

Professional fouls and playing within the rules
What it looks like to respect the officials
What it looks like to be counter cultural as a Christian in this area

In 40 minutes full of stories and discussion, you'll hear some fascinating conversation about something every sportsperson needs to think about at some stage in their careers.

This week in the UK is Mental Health Awareness Week.

Last Autumn we recorded an episode looking at Mental Health in sport as part of our video series, More Than Sport. Broadcaster John-Paul Davies spoke with Michael Bennett, Director of Player Welfare at the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA).

John-Paul is then joined by Graham Daniels, a former player and current Director of League 2 Cambridge United and General Director of Christians in Sport. He has been involved in professional sport for forty years and speaks widely on sport, wellbeing and faith.

MentalHealth

How do we cope with pressure in sport?

In this episode we are joined by Alison Nicholas and Debbie Bruwer.

Ali was a British golfer who reached the pinnacle of the sport in a highly successful career as both a player and then later on as the captain of a victorious Solheim Cup winning team in 2011.

Debbie Bruwer (nee Flood) is a rower who was won medals at two Olympic games and won three World Championship gold medals.

In this episode they speak about how they coped with pressure during their careers. From leading the US Open to competing at a home Olympics, both have amazing stories and insight. As Christians they speak about what difference knowing Jesus made to them as they struggled with the inevitable nerves and pressure at the top end of sport.

ABOUT CHRISTIANS IN SPORT

Christians in Sport is a movement of competitors, coaches and officials.

We exist to reach the world of sport for Christ.

Amateur sport in the UK is back after 12 months of stop-start seasons.

In this podcast series opener we chat with Ian Lancaster about what we've missed and why and catch up with a couple of sports players about what it's like being back now.

Joe and Rhi join us to tell us all about their experiences of starting university as a Christian who loves sport.

We're joined by Stephen Liggins, author of 'The Good Sporting Life.'

Sport has the power to captivate the heart, inspire the imagination and even to shape nations. It is loved by billions of people around the planet—and Christians are no exception. But how should we think about sport Christianly? How can sport be a plus and not a minus for our spiritual lives and the kingdom of God?

In this book, author, pastor, sportsperson Stephen Liggins unpacks what it means to live the good sporting life.

Listen in on our interview and head to 10ofthose.com to buy his book.

Danno sits down with Pete Nicholas from Inspire Saint James in London to talk about identity formation in top level sport.

This podcast includes a Q+A with Danno after the interview.

Danno sits down with Bruce Dyer and Bobby Hassell as we speak about racism in professional football the proactive steps Barnsley Football Club have taken to address the issue.

Bruce Dyer was the first £1 million teenager when we moved from Watford to Crystal Palace and played 469 games from 1993-2008.

Bobby Hassell is the Academy Manager at Barnsley having played for 17 years at Mansfield, Barnsley and Bharat FC in India.

It's Mental Health Awareness Week and so in this episode we ask:

Why is the gospel good news for those in sport suffering with mental health concerns?Danno unpacks research around identity and community that can be a real help to elite and competitive sportspeople.

Every fortnight we've had hundreds of teams joining us for the Big Online Sports Quiz. But why are we doing it? How do you make the most of it if you're a Christian inviting your team?

Join Lancs, Danno and special guests as we chat about the Big Online Sports Quiz.

For more about the sports quiz visit christiansinsport.org.uk/bigquiz

Graham Daniels chats on Sunday Exclusive with Mark Saggers on TalkSport about the work of the Cambridge United Community Trust and Christians in Sport during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prayer is hard isn't it?

Join Lancs and Danno as they help us with some biblical truth, interviews and top tips to help us be a people who pray for our mates in the world of sport.

PrayStaySay

Lancs and Danno are back again as we ask how do we speak of Jesus during lockdown. Looking at 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 and speaking to special guests we explore this topic together.

Join us every Monday night at 8pm on YouTube and Facebook as we go live to look at what it means to #PrayStaySay at this time.

Lancs and Danno are back again as we continue to explore what it looks like to STAY in the lives of our sports mates at this time.

Missed the live show? Catch up here!

Join Graham Daniels and Ian Lancaster as we go LIVE for the first time to bring you a special announcement about a brand new campaign rolling out this week.

You can find all the information and sign up for events at christiansinsport.org.uk/praystaysay

Join us as we hear from three sportspeople about how they're doing in isolation as Christians in the world of sport.

We chat to Dave and Owen about some ideas of what it looks like to keep speaking of Jesus with our sports mates during this time.

Our mission is to reach the world of sport for Jesus and that hasn't changed!

Today we speak with Gaynor - a whole family of sporty children!

Last time she spoke about the time pressures of prioritising church, sport and family as a busy sporting family.

Today we’re diving into the relationships involved in being a parent of a sporty child - the coaches, the other parents, their child and the rest of their family as well.

Listen in as we discuss:

Conversations with coaches about faith
Forming relationships with other parents
Coping with the competitive environment of elite youth sport
Dealing with the jealousy of other parents
The danger of your child’s sport becoming an idol for you

Former rugby professional Peter Browne and badminton player Lisa Elliott join us to discuss pride as a sportsperson.

Listen in as we discuss:

The difference between pride and confidence
What true humility looks like
How grasping your identity helps you play with freedom
What it means to value others above ourselves
Practical tips to help keep pride in check

Check out the blog and bible study on our website.

Find more resources about life as a Christian in the world of sport at christiasninsport.org.uk/resources

Jonny Reid speaks with Paul Hammond on UCB Radio about an article recently published in the Daily Mail about mental health problems as athletes transition from Olympic sports.

Mike Harris chats with Libby, a university footballer, about why she's made made a habit of making food and inviting her teammates to come and hear about Jesus.

We then have a chat with Mike and break down how to run your own meal with your team-mates.

Can I be competitive and a Christian? Is competition wrong? What about wanting to win? Do you lose your competitive edge as a Christian?

We’ve been asked all these questions and more so Graham Daniels is in to help us get under the skin of some of them.

In this episode we’ll look at:

Competition in the Bible
The foundational nature of sport
What you should do if sport causes you to sin
If you should stop if sport ‘brings out the worst in you’
How sport and competition can make you more like Jesus.

Dave and Mike speak about the amazing story of what God did in one rugby club through a series of Bible studies which went viral around the team.

In this episode they also give some helpful advice for anyone else looking to share the good news of Jesus in their sports clubs and teams through the simple act of getting God’s word open and letting God does his work through it.

You can read a blog and do a Bible study on this topic with the link below:

www.christiansinsport.org.uk/resources/speaking/why-should-i-read-the-bible-with-a-sports-friend/

Graham Daniels speaks at St Andrew the Great carols on 1 Timothy 1:12-17.

If you want an expert in dealing with the ups and downs of having children on elite performance pathways, here's your woman. Graham Daniels sits down with mother of four Sally to talk about:

Keeping things in perspective as a sporting family
Navigating disappointment with your children well
The demands and joys of being a busy Christian family
Maintaining a healthy relationship with your spouse
Prioritising your own relationship with Jesus as a parent

In response to your questions we have our first #AskCIS podcast. You asked “why don’t Christians in Sport put famous sportspeople in the public eye” and here’s your answer.

Jonny Reid interviews Graham Daniels, the General Director of Christians in Sport about the principles behind our decision and how that plays out in practice.

Graham Daniels and Jonny Reid look at why Christians in Sport exits, to reach the world of sport for Jesus, and what encouragement Jesus gives as we go and do it!

We sit down with Gaynor this week, a parent of top-level teenagers to chat about the wrestle she's had with her family on the issue of sport and church.

In an amazingly challenging and uplifting interview, we discuss the joy of spending quality time with her sporty kids, the importance of church and how conversations about priorities have led to wonderful opportunities to speak about Jesus.

We sit down with Rev. Pete Nicholas to discuss the question of Sunday sport and church in our latest podcast.

Listen in for discussion around:

The sabbath as taught in the Old and New Testaments.
The critical importance of meeting with other believers.
What rest looks like for Christians today
The distinction of corporate worship and all life worship
How churches can best support top level sports people who may compete in Sundays

Peter Browne played professional rugby for 12 years - starting out at Newcastle Falcons and finishing up in Ulster after a career including great success, first at Harlequins and then at London Welsh.

In October 2018, Pete announced his retirement from pro rugby due to medical reasons, involving multiple concussions.

In this chat with Graham Daniels he touches on:

The secrets of the success at Harlequins
The psychology of dealing with major repeated injuries
The freedom of having an identity in Jesus first and foremost
Making big decisions about moving clubs
How he dealt with not being selected in his last few years
His motivation for speaking of Jesus to his team-mates

This week we talk about socials. Sport is massively social as we hang out with people and get to know them on and off the pitch.

In this episode we chat to three former university students about:

Their experiences of team socials and initiations as a Christian
Why being at socials is a great thing
Some top tips for honouring Jesus at a social

Christians in Sport is a movement of competitors, coaches and officials.

We exist to reach the world of sport for Jesus.

Graham Daniels and Jonny Reid look at a very simple question - What does the bible actually have to say about sport?

Christians in Sport is a movement of competitors, coaches and officials.

We exist to reach the world of sport for Jesus.

“Somewhere God was tapping me on the shoulder saying, hey you aint clever enough to deal with this yourself…just ask me for a bit of help!”

Paul Brush has battled through a lot of adversity in his life and career - from serious injury, being dropped for the FA Cup final, to losing his wife through leukaemia, leaving him to raise a five-month old son. In the midst of it all he began to follow Jesus following a Billy Graham rally in the 1980s.

Paul was a professional footballer and now coach who played in the Football League for West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Southend United. He is best known for his time with West Ham United, for whom he played from 1976 until 1985.

In this interview with Graham Daniels we look at issues such as:

Battling injury
Hitting the wall as a top level player
Coming to faith later in life
How his faith informs his coaching

“When I got injured I found a faith and stability in God when times were tough, when I was literally out of work. He was faithful and he brought me through.”

These are the words of Steve Spooner, the third interview in our series looking at the ups and downs of professional football.

Spooner began his career with Derby County but got his breakthrough with Halifax Town. He then moved to Chesterfield where he won promotion in 1985, and then on to Hereford United, York City, Rotherham United, Mansfield Town and Blackpool before finishing his League career at Chesterfield. He then later went into non-League football and has since worked as a coach in numerous roles.

In this episode we look at issues such as:

Dealing with incredibly tough situations
Making his first team debut against World Cup superstars
Telling your teammates you’re a Christian for the first time
The difference between religion and a relationship with Jesus

When we say we have guests who have seen it all - we meant it - and with Bradford City Legend, Wayne Jacobs, we really do!

Wayne Jacobs has played in nearly every league in professional football in a 21 year career, defined by his time at Bradford City where he not only played for 11 years, but has also had stints managing them too. He also played in the Football League for West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City, Rotherham United and Halifax Town.

He is now Assistant Head Coach at West Brom, alongside running the charity One in a Million, which helps disadvantaged children in the city of Bradford.

In this episode we hear his story of coming to faith and look at issues like:

the influence of a Christian teammate in a heavy drinking culture
How becoming a Christian doesn’t make you soft on the pitch
What it looks like to lead with authenticity
The transforming nature of Jesus in the life of a tough man from Yorkshire

“Before I was a Christian football was my god so I was up and down according to how I played. When I came to know Jesus however, everything changed because Jesus is God and football was in its right place.”

These are the words of Gavin Peacock, the first interview in our new series looking at the ups and downs of professional football.

Gavin is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and striker from 1984 until 2002 notably in the Premier League for Newcastle United and Chelsea.

He also played in the Football League for Queens Park Rangers, Gillingham, Bournemouth and Charlton Athletic. He then worked in the media as a pundit, and in September 2008 relocated to Canada where he is currently a pastor at Calvary Grace Church in Calgary.

In this episode we look at issues such as:

How his faith influenced his view of his football
Leadership on and off the pitch
Speaking of Christ in the dressing-room
The importance of church

Welcome to the final episode of the Retirement Question - series four of The Christians in Sport Podcast. The finale sees Danno chatting to former rower Debbie Bruwer (née Flood), whose 15-year international career included two Olympic silver medals and three World titles.

As she prepared to hang up her oars after competing in her home Olympics, Debbie expected the transition to life after rowing to be a smooth process. But she tells Danno: “Before London 2012, I had already decided that, whatever the result, the next season of life was going to look different. It wasn’t going to be rowing full-time. I was going to do all the things that I wouldn’t normally be able to do as a full-time athlete….After the Games, I had a wobble because I thought ‘do I want to end on that [disappointing] result?’.”

Like all the former athletes we’ve featured in this series, retirement was far from a smooth process for Debbie. Listen in as she talks about:

How retirement was harder than she expected (0mins 40secs)

Being unsettled after experiencing disappointment at London 2012 (1.40)

Feeling like her life had been “chucked up into the air” (2.10)

Struggling without having a fixed routine (3.15)

Knowing her identity was secure in Jesus (7.00)

Trusting God with her future (8.40)

Missing the banter of being in a team (10.50)

Her advice for retiring athletes (12.20)

Being thankful for your sporting career (13.20)

And much more...

Episode 3 sees Danno chatting to former rugby wildman turned youth coach Chris Jones and ex-Winter Olympian Adam Pengilly. The pair enjoyed successful, but vastly different careers in top-level sport, with Adam a skeleton slider and Chris an uncompromising prop.

But both are only too aware of the challenges faced by elite sportspeople on retirement. Chris talks about trying to fill a void in his life left behind by rugby, while for Adam, it was easy to think that part of his identity had disappeared.

Chris and Adam’s accounts will resonate with many top-level sportspeople who are making the difficult transition to that next stage of life.

Listen in as they talk about

Struggling to keep playing due to injury (2mins 20secs)

The emotional impact of knowing you have to retire (2.55)

The lows of going through that transition (6.00)

Getting your head around no longer being an athlete (10.08)

Thinking part of you was now ‘gone’ (12.05)

Helping other sportspeople move on (15.15)

The impact Christian faith has had on all of this (17.20)

And much more..

Welcome back to the Retirement Question. We resume with Danno chatting to former professional golfer Alison Nicholas. The highlights of Alison’s 20 years at the pinnacle of golf included winning the 1997 US Open and captaining Europe to Solheim Cup victory in 2011.

Although she achieved great success on the course with 18 tournament wins, Alison found the transition to life after golf far harder than she expected. Danno asks her: “How on earth did you cope with retirement?” To which, Alison replies: “I’m not sure I did to be honest. I didn’t plan it, which was a real mistake looking back. I knew I didn’t want to play on the tour anymore. I was struggling with the lifestyle and not being able to play to the standard I wanted to.”

Now working to support Christian golfers on the Ladies European Tour, Alison’s story will resonate with many elite sportspeople dealing with the impact of retirement.

Listen in as Alison talks about

The huge impact retirement had on her (2mins 10secs)
Struggling with her self worth (3.20)
Knowing it was time to hang up her clubs (6.00)
How faith in Christ gave her perspective in all of this (7.00)
The vital support she received from Christian friends and family (12.00)
Her advice to sportspeople facing retirement (14.00)

And much more...

For elite athletes, this is singularly the greatest issue. When you stop playing, you have no idea who you are, where you fit into society, what your future holds or how to conduct yourself. It’s a tremendous pressure on elite athletes and that’s why we’re looking at it.

In this first episode of a new series, Danno chats to former Premier League footballer Linvoy Primus. Having played more than 400 professional matches over a 17-year career, Linvoy shares some of the challenges he faced in making the transition to life after football and offers advice to elite athletes approaching retirement today.

Listen in as Linvoy talks about

Knowing it was time to retire (2mins)
When it finally sunk in that he was an ex-footballer (7.20)
The impact of a Bible verse given to him by a 15-year-old fan (14.20)
The fears retiring athletes have (20.45)
Trusting in God when you’re outside your comfort zone (22.00)

And much more…

Danno is in Australia as a chaplain at the Commonwealth Games.

We interviewed him to find out what he's up to and what he's saying to top level athletes in this high-pressured environment.

With the Winter Olympics about to start, Danno dives into the adrenaline-filled world of skeleton to meet Adam Pengilly. Hurtling down an icy track lying prone on a sled at speeds of over 80 mph would scare the life out of most people, but Adam, a world silver medallist in 2009, relished the experience.

In this gripping podcast, Adam shares the highs and lows of a career that saw him represent Team GB at Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010. He tells Danno how he got into the Winter Olympics the “wrong way around” and how he struggled to deal with disappointment. That changed was he was helped to see how his identity as a Christian could transform the way he competed.

Reflecting on his Olympic debut, Adam said: “I had a great chance of winning bronze and I wasn’t able to take it. Unfortunately, too much of my identity was caught up in my success.”

Listen in as Adam talks about

The difference between bobsleigh and skeleton (0mins 40secs)

How his natural attributes were suited tt skeleton (3.45)

How he ended up worshipping his sport (6.20)

Learning to give his all for God’s glory (11.05)

Realising that even a world medal didn’t really satisfy (17.35)

And much more…

Welcome back to the Leadership Files. This time, we head into the world of elite rowing as Danno catches up with double Olympic silver medallist and three-time world champion Debbie Flood. As well as her successful career on the water, Debbie’s leadership skills saw her become the first ever female captain of the world famous Leander Club.

Debbie shares how she strived to make the most of her own God-given gifts and talents while serving and supporting her teammates. She says: “I would always look at other athletes to see their huge capability and potential. Part of my motivation in leading others in the sports world was wanting them to achieve their potential as well.”

Debbie describes the difference her faith in Jesus made to her as a leader, how she looked to be an example to her teammates and the challenge to help others rather than tread them down in the cutthroat world of Olympic sport.

Listen in as Debbie talks about:

Teaming up with those she had competed against for selection (4mins 35secs)

Applying the Olympic motto ‘higher, faster, stronger (12.10)

Rowing without fear for the ‘Audience of One’ (16.00)

And much more…

Welcome back to the Leadership Files. This time, we return to the world of golf as Danno catches up with former US Open champion and victorious Solheim Cup captain Alison Nicholas. From the outset, Alison shares how Christian faith has shaped her leadership at the pinnacle of her sport. She says: “What would Christ do in this situation? That’s the question I ask myself.”

Alison talks about making tough selection calls as a captain, how she grew as a leader, sleepless nights and struggling with her identity.

Listen in as Alison talks about

Facing the flak from unpopular decisions (4mins 25secs) Managing different players and personalities (7.30) How the Bible shapes her life (18.10) And much more…

Welcome to the Leadership Files - series three of The Christians in Sport Podcast. We kick off with Danno catching up again with former rugby wildman turned youth coach Chris Jones. Recorded at the ‘House of Pain’ - the home of Pontypridd RFC, the podcast sees Chris share how he learned to coach in the hard but fair style that has brought his Rhondda Valley teams great success. He says: “Any side that I coach, they will be committed, they will be physically and mentally prepared, they will be tough, but they will play within the rules as well.”

Chris relates how his Christian faith has shaped him as a leader, why he is still hungry to follow the calling God has given him and where he finds solace in tough times.

Listen in as Chris talks about

Why you have to be passionate as a coach (5mins 30secs) What’s most important to him as he coaches (12.00) Why coaching is so worthwhile (19.30) And much more…

Why should Christian athletes at the top level get stuck into church? That’s the question we’re tackling on the latest Christians in Sport Podcast.

Having met a series of elite sportspeople over the course of the year, we now discuss another key issue that comes out of many of the interviews. The Bible tells us that followers of Jesus should prioritise meeting together (Hebrews 10 v 25), but that can be really hard for elite athletes who spend much of the season away from home and are often viewed as celebrities when they are there. Despite this, our panellists, former Olympic rower Debbie Flood and ex-Premier League footballer Linvoy Primus, found church to a vital encouragement as they looked to follow Jesus at the highest level of sport.

In this podcast, they tell Danno why that was the case and the vital difference being part of supportive church families made to them. To get the ball rolling, we hear clips from previous interviews with Paralympic sprinter Niel Louw, ex-England women’s hooker Ann O’Flynn and former West Bromwich Albion defender Darren Moore, which Debbie and Linvoy expand on.

Listen to this fascinating podcast as the panel talk about: - The feeling of finally belonging somewhere (3mins 40secs) - Being cared for and supported by a church family and the wonder of normality (6.00) - The importance of good Bible teaching in applying faith to professional sport (8.30) - Prioritising meeting with other Christians (13.40) - Still going to church when your bad performance was shown on Match of the Day (16.45) - Being supported and prayed for while on training camps and away competing (21.30) - The importance of midweek fellowship groups (22.30) - Advice to church leaders if elite sportspeople join their church (23.40) - Why every follower of Jesus needs to be encouraged (26.00) - And much more…

A special roundtable podcast with Graham Daniels interviewing Olympian Debbie Flood and footballer Linvoy Primus about what its like being a Christian and a top-level athlete and if the two can go together.

We move into the world of coaching for our latest podcast as Danno crosses the Pond to meet Val Gin. A professor of kinesiology at Gordon College, Massachusetts, Val was a successful women’s volleyball and softball coach for 13 years before changing her focus to training coaches of the future. Val’s Christian faith is integral to this work as she seeks to combine physical training and training in godliness with those she mentors.

She is also the co-author of the novel When Girls Became Lions which looks at the legacy of Title IX – a famous 1972 US law. This gave girls the same education opportunities as boys and was crucial in opening up the world of sport to them. You can buy a copy of the book here. A beneficiary of Title IX as a young volleyball player, Val tells Danno there is still more to be done to make sport a level playing field regardless of gender.

From childhood, sport and faith have been a huge part of Val’s life. She said: “Early on, I knew that God shaped me and formed me in my mother’s womb. I happened to be a competitive person, wired for sport and always have been since day one.” Val is now looking to use the role God has given her to make an impact for His kingdom. What she says will have particular resonance with sportswomen and coaches, but will challenge us all.

Listen to this fascinating podcast as Val talks about: - Her struggle to convince publishers that a book on women’s sport would sell - Her own experience as a young volleyballer having to play second fiddle to the men’s teams - The importance of being ‘at your best’ in how you play and coach - God’s call for her to mentor coaches - Having joy in her work and witnessing to other coaches - What it looks like to be a Christian coach - How we can love our opponents - The challenge to make coaching not simply about winning

And much more…

With the RBS 6 Nations in full flow, we return to the rugby field for this month’s Christians in Sport Podcast with former England international Ann O'Flynn.

Listen to this absorbing podcast as Ann talks about:

- Being an “anomaly” as a girl playing rugby (2 mins 30 sec) - Setting up a women’s rugby club at Liverpool University so she didn’t have to play for their rivals (7.00) - Plotting her path to play for England (8.30) - How her family fitted rugby around church (13.05) - Becoming “more unmanageable” during the summer when she couldn’t play rugby (13.50) - Making her England debut in oversized kit (17.45) - Prioritising rugby over beer as a student (19.00) - Switching from the backs hooker (21.30) - Mixed emotions at the 2002 World Cup (25.30) - Feeling distraught at missing out on the 2006 World Cup due to injury (28.25) - Becoming a referee (33.00) and dealing with sceptical male players (35.20) - Worshipping God and her role as a chaplain (36.40)

And much more…

rugby #sixnations #womenssport #iwd

We are marking the return of the Six Nations with a foray into the world of rugby union for the latest Christians in Sport podcast, but this month’s interviewee has a far from conventional tale to tell.

Danno meets wildman turned inspirational youth coach Chris Jones. Although a Welsh junior international, Chris was soon far better known for his violent antics on off the field, which earned him the dubious honour of being banned for life twice.

Chris, whose story has been well-chronicled in print, was renowned for carrying an axe in his kitbag and prided himself in being among the hardest men in the Rhondda Valley. Here he speaks of how the culture he grew up in led to him seeking to earn admiration in the best way he knew how – as a thug. Chris’ behaviour came to ahead at the most unlikely of places – the Brecon Jazz Festival – after which his life was turned upside down when he came to faith in Jesus.

After his first life ban, a journalist put it to Chris that his influence on the young people of the Rhondda Valley was terrible. Chris’ reply at the time was “I don’t care”. Decades later, he is having a very different impact as he puts his faith into action as Rhondda’s rugby development officer. On becoming a Christian, Chris initially felt rugby was his problem and that he needed to abandon the sport, but then he came to realise how God could use him in the world he once terrorised.

Listen to this fascinating podcast as Chris talks about:

Why he carried the axe in his kit bag (1 min 40 secs)
How he looked to earn the respect of his peers (3.45)
His numerous sending-offs and brushes with officialdom (7.20)
The unlikely turning point in his life (13.00)
The influence of a Christian work colleague and his great reaction when Chris came to faith

(17.30)

His doubts about getting back involved in rugby as a new Christian (22.30)
The doubts school teachers had when he became the local rugby development officer

(25.00)

What he loves most about his coaching role (27.40)
His regrets at not coming to faith earlier (30.00)

And much more…

sixnations #rugby #wales #danno #grahamdaniels

We kick off the new year on the Christians in Sport podcast with a trip to the Hawthorns – home of West Bromwich Albion. Here Danno meets former West Brom, Derby and Portsmouth defender Darren Moore, who is now First Team Coach of West Brom.

Listen to this absorbing podcast as Darren talks about:

The last-minute call up that saw him make his first-team debut at 17 (4mins 20secs)
The gut-wrenching experience of not getting to play in the Premier League after winning promotion with Bradford City (6.30)
The influence Bradford teammate Wayne Jacobs had on his Christian faith (9.20)
How he felt when he understood he could trust God and not be fearful (11.30)
The chances he had to share his faith in Jesus with teammates at Portsmouth (14.40)
His friendship with Linvoy Primus, who also became a Christian (18.40)
The rollercoaster experience of yo-yoing between the Championship and the Premier League with West Brom (19.40)
Winning the Championship Play-off Final with Derby against West Brom (22.50)
Helping current footballers look to Christ (25.00)
The assurance of his secure status as a child of God (28.45)
Being part of a fellowship group for Christian footballers in the Midlands (31.50)
And much more…

Paralympian Niel Louw has an amazing story.

Listen to the podcast as Niel talks about

The freak accident that should have killed him (2mins 20secs)
The great opportunity God gave him as a disabled athlete (5.10)
Winning his first Paralympic medal in the 200m final at Barcelona 1992 (9.40)
Finally beating his rival, the world-record holding Nigerian sprinter Adeoye Ajibola (11.55)
Having his hopes of victory at Sydney 2000 ended by a hamstring tear (14.00)
Sharing his faith in Jesus as an athlete (17.15)
The importance of church in his life (20.38)
The vision of All Ability Ministry (21.50)
How disability sport has changed since he first competed (24.40)
Helping disabled athletes share their faith (26.00)
His inspiring motto (28.50)
And much more…

paralympian #paralympics #athlete #sprinter #southafrica

Jane Powell is now involved with her fourth different international sport in an illustrious career as a player and now a coach.

Listen to as Jane talks about: - Choosing which sports to play (1min 43secs) - Her ambitions growing up (4.35) - Leading England out for the World Cup final in Melbourne (8.05) - How she became a Christian (12.48) - Coaching hockey in Iran (24.10) and at London 2012 (18.36) - Representing Jesus throughout her sporting career (27.03) - And much more…

Buckle up as we begin series two of the Christians in Sport Podcast with a visit to the high-speed world of motorsport.

Seeking career advice from an ex-Formula 1 driver proved a life-changing experience for Adriano Medeiros.

Hoping for some help to fulfil his dream of making it in the world of motor racing, the Brazilian instead began a journey of faith that is still shaping his exploits on the track today. Adriano thought Alex Dias Ribeiro might point him in the right direction to drive professionally overseas, but was told “I can help you meet Jesus Christ”.

Ribeiro was renowned for having ‘Jesus saves’ displayed on his car during his F1 races in the late 1970s. His meeting with Adriano prompted the younger man to look into this Jesus in the Bible and put his trust in Him.

Some 20 years later, Adriano is himself racing with his own ‘Jesus Saves’ team in the UK in the Classic Formula Ford Championship. Having grown up as a motor racing mad youngster near the Interlagos track in Sao Paolo, he is now looking to use the sporting gifts he has been given to make Jesus known.

Listen as Adriano talks about…

How he went from being “very against church” to finding faith in Jesus
His financial struggles as he sought to make it in motor racing
Racing hard and competing fairly as a follower of Jesus
The opportunities he has to share his faith
Bunking off school to watch the cars at Interlagos

And much more….

Produced by Effie Productions

As the Rio Olympics get under way, ex-athletes Debbie Flood and Adam Pengilly tell us what it is like to compete at the games. Debbie won silver medals as a rower at Athens and Beijing and also reached the final in London. Adam raced skeleton bobsleigh at Turin and Vancouver, winning a world silver medal in between. Here the pair offer an insider’s view on the games and share how their Christian faith shaped their view of the Olympics.

An audio extract of an article written about doping and what the Christian faith has to say about it. To read the full article go to christiansinsport.org.uk/losing

PARYS Edwards has competed at the top level in two different sports over a 20-year career that is still going strong. Starting off as junior hockey international in her native Zimbabwe, she then represented South Africa at under 21 and student level.

A move to England saw her win three national titles with Leicester before a new challenge dawned.

Parys took up triathlon aged 30 after being prompted by a housemate in London and was soon winning global amateur titles. Then aged 37 in 2014, she turned professional to race in the half ironman discipline.

Faith has played a role in her life since she and twin sister Dallah went away to boarding school aged 12, but her Christian journey has been far from plain sailing.

In this podcast, Parys talks to Graham Daniels about her highs and lows in sport and how she realised she can honour God by the way she competes.

Listen in to hear Parys speak about: • Juggling hockey, partying and studying at university • The pain of being dropped from the South Africa squad before she could win a full cap • The influence of her sister and how her witness helped Parys fully commit to God • Tactics for a night out with her teammates • The difference committing her sport to God has made • And much more…

Produced with Effie Productions

An audio extract of an article written about doping and what the Christian faith has to say about it. To read the full article go to christiansinsport.org.uk/doping

Andy Sinton is a former professional footballer with 12 England caps to his name, including appearance a Euro 1992. He made over 650 professional appearances with the bulk of his time spent playing in the Premier League for QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Tottenham Hotspur. He later went onto manage Fleet Town and AFC Telford United in the Conference. In conversation with Graham Daniels, he tells us about how we got selected for Euro 1992 and what it’s like being a Christian in the dressing room and also as a manager.

In this episode we look at:

The mental toughness needed to be a top level sportsperson

What it’s like to get selected for your country at a major tournament

How to represent Christ as a player and manager in the dressing-room

The importance of the local church to the life of a Christian

and much more…including some pre-Euro 2016 predictions!

Produced with Effie Productions

Alison Nicholas is a British golfer who reached the pinnacle of the sport in a highly successful career as both a player and then later on as the captain of a victorious Solheim Cup winning team in 2011. In a fascinating interview with Graham Daniels, she talks about what it looks like to be a successful leader and coach in elite sport and how her faith has helped her throughout her golfing career.

In this episode we look at:

Dealing with nerves at the US Open in 1997

What it takes to be a leader in elite sport

Motivating a team to play to their potential

Dealing with difficult situations on and off the course

The impact of Alison’s Christian faith throughout her career

…and much more.

Linvoy Primus played professional football for 16 years including nine years for Portsmouth where he became a cult hero.

In a wide ranging conversation with Graham Daniels, he talks about the uncertainty he felt as he started out his career before dwelling on the fear that plagues you as a professional footballer as well as the isolation and loneliness they can feel. Finally he talks about how his Christian faith impacted how he looked at his career and how it affected the way he played.

Produced by Effie Productions

Garin Jenkins is a former Welsh rugby union player capped 58 times by his country. He played in three World Cups and multiple Five and Six Nations tournaments.

In conversation with Graham Daniels, he tells us about his battle with misdirected passion and aggression on the rugby field and how is growing faith remained steady in some massive ups and downs.

Produced with Effie Productions.

Debbie Flood is a rower who was won medals at two Olympic games and won three World Championship gold medals. In a wide-ranging interview with Graham Daniels, she narrates her unlikely start in sport and how her faith has fundamentally impacted her life in a career full of highs and lows.

Produced with Effie Productions.

Cyrille Regis is a former international footballer and FA Cup winner. In conversation with Graham Daniels, he reflects on a professional career spanning 19 years and shares how his faith has influenced his career and life.

Produced with Effie Productions.