Northland International University

The following quotes are from missionaries and church planters on four different continents who have either hosted a Northland International University sports mission team or sent students to Northland because of the biblical philosophy and ministry focus of sports that is emphasized here.

Throughout our years of church planting ministry in Zambia, we have placed much emphasis on what we call sports evangelism. Each of our churches has developed sports fields in their respective communities—a place to connect with the community for the single purpose of evangelism and discipleship.  

Through the years we have seen many young people profess faith in Christ as a direct result of contacts made in this way. Many of the adult leaders who serve in our various ministries today actually came to Christ through our sports evangelism outreach.

—Phil Hunt, Missionary to Kitwe, Zambia, Africa 

When the Northland women’s soccer team was here on a sports ministry mission trip (2007), the Gospel was clearly presented in four different locations to nearly a hundred new contacts. For many of these contacts, it was the first time that they had ever heard the Good News. The players on these teams are people we see on a daily basis in and around the community. The seed has been very effectively planted as a result of just playing soccer. The follow-up work is ongoing.  

With the country of Uruguay sometimes being referred to as ‘the graveyard of missionaries,’ we have found two tools that are the most effective way to build long-term relationships for potential evangelism and discipleship. Those tools are camp ministry and sport ministry.  

The Northland men’s soccer team (2010) made a positive impact in the lives of both Christian and non-Christian young people. They were a testimony of service and faithfulness to the Christian teens and a godly testimony to the unsaved teens. Our family personally benefited from the team. Our children are at an impressionable age, and these are the type of young men that we would choose to have as role models. I would encourage other young people to take advantage of the opportunity to visit a foreign mission field. During my time at Northland, I had the opportunity to travel as well and that had a lasting impact on my life. I am thankful that Northland encourages and supports sports-related missions trips. It has opened many doors and is a good tool for the furtherance of the work of the Gospel.
—Dan Vallette, Missionary to Paysandu, Uruguay, South America 

The Northland men’s soccer team expressed real concern for the lost with whom they spoke and talked readily with strangers about the Gospel. They made plenty of contacts. Together with the people of our church they made complete gospel presentations to over a hundred people during their two weeks of ministry. The team is gone, but we continue to have first-time visitors as a result of this summer ministry.

—Jeff Brown, Missionary to Erlangen, Germany, Europe 

Probably one of the most active and high profile areas in a Mormon community is their schools. Anything to do with their kids, school, and particularly school sports is huge.  

God gave us two keys to open a community that doesn’t want us here. One was sports and coaching; the other was on the medical side of things as an EMT.  

Our goal was not to see all the athletes come into our church and teen programs (although we would welcome that if the Lord so chose to do it). We knew that the community (Mormon Church) would not allow it.  

We sought the Lord to build relationships and to build a solid testimony for His glory in the community. It was our goal to influence these young athletes so that when they grow up and leave the pressures of family and community, they might be open to visiting our church for themselves and their children. We are now seeing that happen.

—Pastor Keith South, Church Planter in Nephi, Utah, USA 

We have seen sports used as a tool for evangelism as well as for discipleship. We have seen souls saved at summer sports camps, through local church sports outreaches, and even after some game competition against secular colleges. The universal language of sports has opened many doors on our athletic team mission trips, and we have seen people trust Christ on the mission field.  

The mission trips have also been a tool for making an impact in the discipleship process of our own athletes. The sports mission trips have been life-changing and spiritually-challenging for every team member.  

Discipleship has also taken place during the season through practice sessions and game competition, team devotions and prayer time, ministry service opportunities as we travel, and in the one-on-one counseling opportunities a coach has with his or her team members.

—Dennis Scott, Director of Sports Ministries, Northland International University