Prior to the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Grace Extended Ministries (GEM) joined with the More Than Gold to prepare the Vanover region in prayer and evangelistic training. A large two-day prayer and evangelistic conference was held, where the Lord ordained meetings with Christian representatives from both Russia and Ukraine. Sports ministry with a foundation of prayer continues in both those countries as well as other countries in Africa.
Partnering again with More Than Gold, GEM worked in Kiev, Ukraine to establish an intercessory prayer base ahead of the 2012Eastern European Soccer Championships. Powerful prayer warriors have raised up several younger people who now are continuing that vison of prayer into today. While the sports ministry has diminished almost completely due to the war, we see those same people dedicated to prayer and leading by example by prayer.
In parts of Russia, GEM worked with prayer leaders ahead of the 2014winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2018 World Cup of Soccer. At the end of the summer in 2024, some of those same leaders’ sons held a sports-Christian outing “Ratoborets” (name from Jeremiah 20:11 describing God as a powerful or terrible warrior). Similar to Warrior outings in the west, there are long runs through hard terrain and mud. The goal of this camp was to show teenagers their strengths and weaknesses, and how they can achieve victory with God. With circumstances of today we cannot name names, but one of the original prayer warriors reports: “As a result, about 50 young guys prayer the prayer of repentance for the first time.” He sent a picture of one of his sons holding a Bible up for the camera in the middle of a long run with many of these students.
In a region of western Uganda, there is no value placed on the family. Most fathers have nothing to do with their children. This learned behavior passes from generation to generation. A GEM Timothy named Francis is enlisting adult men to work with young men in soccer (futbol) camps. A number of those absentee fathers are now working with their sons and other young men, and each day of the camp includes Francis teaching Biblical truth using GEM lessons. Many have learned what a true Father’s love means: “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16). Families have been blessed, and a good number are now saved through faith in Jesus Christ.
