In Ukraine, there are still many children who have never truly heard the Gospel in their lives. Sports offer a great opportunity to engage children and youth, build relationships with them, and share the Good News.

By attending a Christian sports club, boys and girls can satisfy their physical and social interests; at the same time, they open up their inner selves and become more receptive to spiritual instruction. They come to realize that there is another dimension to life—the spiritual one—and begin to reflect on their own spiritual state.

Sports ministry is a key area of focus for the Christian mission Hope to People, an initiative they have been involved in for over twenty years. For the past decade, a floorball ministry has been actively developing in Rivne and the Rivne region.

At the start of the 2014–2015 academic year, a group of young men and women from the Community of the Good Shepherd church in Rivne—all students at the Institute of Inductive Bible Studies—received permission from the city’s Department of Education to teach a single spiritual and educational lesson in all the city’s schools. Following this event, the administration of one school invited the leader of the group, Vitaliy Bakunets, to teach a similar Bible-based lesson on a weekly basis. Before long, he had established connections with students who were interested in maintaining the relationships. Then the idea came up to engage the children in an activity while simultaneously studying the Scriptures. God revealed that a team sport like floorball (floor hockey) could serve as an effective medium for this outreach.

Consequently, in 2015, we launched a new evangelistic project called “The Gospel Through Floorball.” Using this modern sport as a foundation, we connect with children and young people (aged 7 to 20) and introduce them to biblical teaching.

Through these lessons, more than 400 children have heard the Gospel for the first time in their lives. Seven teams have been formed, training at three schools within the city. At every practice, the children and teenagers hear about Christ and learn that their greatest need in life is salvation.

Sports camps are held for these young floorball players, allowing them to engage in more intensive Scripture study alongside their athletic training. Regular competitions are also held, which help foster team unity and teach the participants to trust in God.

In short, the floorball club’s activities encompass prayer, training, Bible lessons, games, fellowship, birthday celebrations, group outings, and travel to tournaments and Christian camps.

With God’s blessing and thanks to the prayers and support of the Community of the Good Shepherd Bible Mission Church and our partners, this ministry continues to grow. During this time, 11 young men and women have come to faith and been baptized; they now assist in working with the children themselves. Some members of the senior team coach younger children, which provides a great opportunity to talk to them even more about Jesus.

Goals of the SKY Christian Floorball Club ministry:

  • to be transformed into the image of Christ;
  • to strengthen the team and develop the floorball ministry;
  • to lead people to Christ using all the means that God provides;
  • to pass on knowledge and experience to others, so that the Kingdom of God may expand.