“Sports create an incredible platform in which the gospel can be shared.”

By Justine Carr
Special to Spur Ottawa

Athletes in Action (AIA) held their first ever Faith Day with the Ottawa Redblacks, August 30. Faith Day was a chance for the community to hear from some of the team’s Christian players about faith and football.

About 300 people attended the event, which took place after the Redblacks sold-out game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Faith Day included interviews with athletes, including former Ottawa Rough Riders player Gerry Organ, and a panel discussion with Redblacks team members Keith Shologan, Maurice Price, Brandyn Thompson, Rogers SirVincent, Jermaine Robinson, and Cameron Clemmons.

The Redblacks team chaplain, Paul Huggins, says the event was a chance to engage Ottawa’s Christian community with the team, as well as provide the players with a ministry opportunity that would be faith-challenging and “give them an understanding of the unique platform God has given them.”

Defensive lineman Keith Shologan says his faith in God has had an important impact on his athletic career.

“He put football in my path,” says Shologan. “Without God I wouldn’t be playing.”

Shologan says Faith Day gave him and his teammates a chance to live out their faith and share Jesus with others, adding “it’s important for us to express what we believe.”

Huggins, who has worked with AIA for nearly 20 years, says sports ministry is important for many reasons.

“Everything you experience in sports has a life application,” he explains. “God works in every aspect of people’s lives regardless of what their vocation is.”

Huggins says football players face a lot of unique challenges, as so much happens in their lives that is beyond their control. Whether it be an injury, moving to a new city, or media critique, everything happens in the public’s eye.

AIA provides Christian players with resources, like weekly Bible studies and pre-game chapels, which Huggins says are helpful, as players often find it difficult to engage in church-life due to their busy schedules.

“It’s so easy for an athlete to get self-consumed,” Shologan says. Ministries like AIA, help him stay focused and have perspective on what’s really important in life.

Despite the tough lifestyle, Huggins says “sports create an incredible platform in which the Gospel can be shared.”

He explains that while other ministries often have to find ways to engage people, with sports, the platform is already there and people are already engaged.

Faith Day also gave Redblacks players a chance to share some prayer requests with the community.

Shologan says he would like prayer that he would continue to be a good witness to both other players and the city.

Huggins also encourages the community to pray that the players continue to honour God with their lives, trust Him wholeheartedly, and have more opportunities in the future to glorify God in what they do.