This summer, the world’s attention will turn towards football (soccer, in North America) and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With Atlanta being the site of several matches, including a semi-final, Georgia Baptists are among those looking to take advantage of the excitement around the event, using it as an opportunity to reach their communities with the gospel.
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Mission Georgia is partnering with churches statewide to equip them to reach the diverse ethnic and national groups already living in their communities. The goal is to build relationships, find ways to serve their communities, and ultimately to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Having the games in Atlanta doesn’t mean the rest of the state can’t get involved. “Do you have to be in Atlanta to do World Cup ministry? No. You can be anywhere in our state,” said Beth Ann Williams, Lead Strategist for Georgia Baptist Women/Mission Georgia. “The nations are here, in your neighborhoods.”
In many cultures, soccer is much more than a pastime. Fans follow their favorite teams and players with a passion that can be hard for non-fans to grasp. Williams said that passion and shared enthusiasm create natural opportunities for hospitality, conversation and ultimately, gospel witness.
Ministry opportunity
According to The Immigration Project, the U.S. foreign-born population grew to a record 44.8 million people in 2018 and now accounts for 13.7% of the population. More than one million immigrants arrive each year, and immigrants and their descendants are projected to account for 88% of U.S. population growth through 2065. Eighty-five percent of immigrants to the United States have never been invited into an American home.
Williams said those figures highlight both the need and the responsibility before churches.
“There’s something special about that time when everybody’s focus, their energy, their excitement is on the games,” Williams said. “We have an opportunity to step into that conversation, meet people where they are, build relationships, and share about Jesus.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Henry Durand and originally published by the Christian Index.
