Sport. Faith. Life.

Bob Dyer and Bob Schindler have formed an amazing partnership. Both are men of God who love people and know how to use the universal language of sport to point people to Jesus and toward engagement with their local churches.  We talk with both Bobs about CEDE Sports, a sports chaplaincy organization and network now […]

The 3rd Global Congress on Christianity and Sport is set for August 18-21, 2022 in Cambridge, UK. SportFaithLife will interview all of the scheduled keynote speakers.  Today’s episode features Dr. Steven Waller, professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

As a boy, professor and author Matt Hoven attended an Edmonton Oilers hockey game and saw a sign that read, On the 8th day, God created Gretzky. This memory prompted Matt and his two colleagues to write a book on a Catholic theology of sport, aptly titled, On the 8th Day. The book explores unique […]

Training the body is and essential part of both sport and of faith, seeking a harmonious balance between body, mind, and spirit. We explore this concept with David Torevell, Associate Professor in Theology and Education at Liverpool Hope University in the UK. Dr. Torevell is an editor and author for new book on sport and […]

You may remember the film Terminator about a machine built to look like a human with superhuman capabilities. It may have been futuristic, but human enhancement technologies like biohacking and artificial intelligence are playing an increased role in life and sport, raising many ethical and spiritual questions. We explore this fascinating topic with ethicist Dr. Tracy […]

It’s a regular practice to highlight and celebrate strength in sports, but could we be missing something? Perhaps, says Kristin Graff-Kallevåg, an associate professor at the Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, where among other things, she studies intersections between vulnerability, faith, and sport, suggesting we may actually find strength in being vulnerable in […]

After getting cut from every team early in high school, Brian Smith found his sport in track and cross-country and became a successful student athlete at Wake Forest University.  Soon after, he joined the staff at Athletes in Action where has been for the past fifteen years.  A few years ago Brian authored The Assist, […]

Melvin ‘Sugar’ Mcaughin earned his nickname by being one best long-range shooters the game of basketball has ever seen, with a silky sweet shot, long before the invention of the three-pointer.  Author Vern Wendt tells his story in a new book titled Sweet Shot: The Basketball Life and Legacy of Melvin ‘Sugar’ Mcaughin. The The […]

It’s a special day on the SportFaithLife podcast, one with a big announcement!  The Third Global Congress on Sport and Christianity is set for August 18-21 this year in Cambridge England, and Professor Andy Parker joins us to announce the plans to hold the conference in person!  We are so thrilled to partner with Andy […]

Rasheed Flowers play two sports at the NCAA Division I level, so it’s no surprise that he found his identity in sport and sport performance. But early on, due to his Christian faith and connection with sport ministry organizations like AIA and FCA, Rasheed knew identity in sport was a losing proposition. Now a doctoral […]

Dr. Clement Fasan, a sport management teacher, researcher and man of deep faith is convening The Africa Conference on Christianity and Sport at Lagos State University in Nigeria, February 1-5.  We talk with Dr. Fasan about this conference and invite all to join the conference online through the link on the SFL website.

Ever wonder if Jesus played sports?  Well, we do too. In these episodes, Brian and Chad play with the idea of Jesus playing sports.  We picked 6 sports to explore one at time, asking ourselves what about the sport speaks to humanity in unique ways?  What are the goods inherent in the sport? We do […]

Ever wonder if Jesus played sports?  Well, we do too. In these episodes, Brian and Chad play with the idea of Jesus playing sports.  We picked 6 sports to explore one at time, asking ourselves what about the sport speaks to humanity in unique ways?  What are the goods inherent in the sport? We do […]

Ever wonder if Jesus played sports?  Well, we do too. In these episodes, Brian and Chad play with the idea of Jesus playing sports.  We picked 6 sports to explore one at time, asking ourselves what about the sport speaks to humanity in unique ways?  What are the goods inherent in the sport? We do […]

Ever wonder if Jesus played sports?  Well, we do too. In these episodes, Brian and Chad play with the idea of Jesus playing sports.  We picked 6 sports to explore one at time, asking ourselves what about the sport speaks to humanity in unique ways?  What are the goods inherent in the sport? We do […]

Ever wonder if Jesus played sports?  Well, we do too. In these episodes, Brian and Chad play with the idea of Jesus playing sports.  We picked 6 sports to explore one at time, asking ourselves what about the sport speaks to humanity in unique ways?  What are the goods inherent in the sport? We do […]

Ever wonder if Jesus played sports?  Well, we do too. In these episodes, Brian and Chad play with the idea of Jesus playing sports.  We picked 6 sports to explore one at time, asking ourselves what about the sport speaks to humanity in unique ways?  What are the goods inherent in the sport? We do […]

Would you like your athletes to be more resilient, on and off the field?  Grit Leadership teachers leaders to communicate in better ways, focusing on process over outcome, and delivering feedback with high expectations, yet in a warm, relationship-focused way. Grit Leadership coach and Christian school athletic director Kevin Broene shares how Grit leadership has […]

How does a catholic church historian get interested in sport?  Much like many of us Dries Vanysacker grew up riding his bike and playing games with a ball. This boyhood love, together with is academic training as a church historian, has formed a line of work which documents and investigates sport and the catholic church, […]

Injuries happen to all of us, sometimes in sports. Sport psychologists like Diane Wiese-Bjornstal have studied the social factors that relate to physical activity injury risk and recovery for years, but now her research is focused on something from her own Christian faith and athletic experience, something called religiosity. Diane shares her in-depth knowledge of […]

There’s nothing quite like living in community. With his wife and children, Will Whitmore lives chaplaincy from sun up to sundown at Mercersburg Academy, a boarding school in Southern Pennsylvania, USA. The immersive experience allows pastor Whitmore to connect with high school age students in all areas of life, including sports. While Will serves as […]

Michael Jones felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit. In response, he finished his doctoral degree, kept coaching basketball, and wrote a book.  The book explores the symbolic connection between the sport of basketball and faith. Michael is a practitioner, on the court every day, trying to better understand both his sport and faith, and […]

Chaplaincy has become part of the DNA of UK sports. Chaplains are now part of clubs at every level, for players with all abilities, in every sport. Growing this mission are pastors and chaplaincy experts Warren Evans and Matt Baker who serve as senior leaders for Sports Chaplaincy UK. Together they are expanding the reach […]

A young athlete sat on a bus in England and dared to tell a younger athlete that he followed Jesus, and that made all the difference. That young listener was Graham Daniels, who since has done it all in UK football.  He’s played professionally,  been a coach and manager, and was a broadcaster for BBC […]

Though most will say that sport builds character, the evidence is far more mixed. Professor Sarah Schnitker of Baylor University studies personality and social psychology, focusing on how things like religion and even sport facilitate or hinder human character. Sarah shares the results of her research thus far, and dives deeply into the rarely studied […]