The Christians in Sport Podcast Christians in Sport

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