Scripture Union's Sports Ministry | Meeting Young People where they already are

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Did you know that more than 75% of children and young people in England are physically active every single day*? For Gen Z, movement isn’t just exercise – it’s expression, belonging, identity and connection. They meet friends on pitches, in parks and on playgrounds long before they’d ever think of walking into a church building. 

At Scripture Union, we believe this is an extraordinary opportunity. 

Young people are already in motion. 
So what if mission moved with them? 
 

Why sport speaks Gen Z’s language 

Sport, games and physical activity break down walls in a way few things can. They create instant common ground, open natural conversations and build trust at a pace Gen Z understands. 

Our sports ministry approach is shaped by the Revealing Jesus Framework, which follows four key faith-journey stages – Connect, Explore, Respond and Grow. Every young person moves through these steps differently, but sport gives them a comfortable, familiar space to begin. 

That’s why our team has developed two brand-new programmes intentionally crafted for young people who aren’t connected to church – resources that meet them where they already spend their time. 
 

Holy Ground – Turning everyday play spaces into encounters with God 

Most communities across England and Wales have two things: 
✔ a local church 
✔ and a place to play 

Holy Ground takes that reality seriously. 

It’s a simple, powerful idea: 
What if a church adopted a local park, MUGA (Multi-Use Games Areas), bit of grass or playground for just one hour a week – and turned it into a place where young people could experience warmth, welcome and ultimately, the love of God? 

Holy Ground equips churches with a digital kit bag filled with ready-to-run session plans, templates and best-practice guidance. We also offer bespoke training so teams can create fun, safe, sustainable sessions that build trust and spark curiosity about faith. 

And the young people love it – because they’re met on their turf, not ours. 
 

Half Time – Exploring Mark’s gospel through games, play and story 

Once relationships are formed, it becomes natural to invite young people into something deeper. 

Half Time, our video-led resource, helps churches unpack the whole of Mark’s Gospel in 36 fun, bite-sized sessions. Each session includes: 

  • A choice of two videos – engaging animations for ages 5–10 or live-action sport stories for ages 11–18 

  • Three simple, high-energy games linked to a theme from the passage 

  • Discussion prompts that help young people process, question and explore 

  • Progressive opportunities for response, culminating in an invitation to follow Jesus 

It’s Bible exploration in a format Gen Z actually enjoys. 


A Growing Movement 

During our pilot phase, we’ve already seen churches move from Holy Ground to Half Time, forming real relationships and walking with young people towards faith in Jesus. And this is only the beginning. 

If your heart is for the next generation, especially those on the margins of church life, we’d love to help you join this movement. 
 

To learn more or start your journey, contact Mark Oliver, SU Sports Team Lead or visit su.org.uk/sport 

 

* ‎Sport England Active Lives Survey Dec 2024