NOVEMBER 2018 EDITION Planet Sport Rugby Podcast Launched LIAM FLINT, producer Planet Sport Rugby Podcast

At Passion For Sport we are always searching for new ways to engage sports fans through media as we seek to introduce them to Jesus. As a result in August we launched our newest programme, the Planet Sport Rugby Podcast. Podcasts are ever-growing in popularity and we recognised the opportunity was 2015 Rugby World Cup, Samoa v South Africa (© Enigma Sports) there to get involved ourselves and reach people through a different The podcast airs on alternate Tuesdays and is available form of media aside from our across multiple platforms online including our own traditional radio programmes. website www.planetsport.tv and via the free Planet Sport Rugby Podcast app. Bryan Habana, a South African icon, was our first guest and we have followed that with Australian Chris Lawther, trustee, writes: internationals Joe Tomane and Will As a rugby fan since an early age Skelton and from women’s rugby (see left!), I was thrilled when Liam Liam in Japan Jasmine Joyce who played for Wales launched Passion for Sport’s first at the Commonwealth Games in rugby podcast a few weeks ago. I April. What makes the show unique is the time spent by have really enjoyed listening to the Christian players discussing their faith in Jesus and what increasing range of professional that means to them, which isn’t something widely spoken players he’s been talking to and about in the rugby culture. getting their insights into the The podcast is designed for rugby fans who have no sport, alongside varied comments knowledge of or interest in the Christian faith and our on their relationship with Jesus. prayer is that through providing powerful stories of what The quick-fire ‘short answers’ Jesus is doing in rugby, listeners would grow in curiosity section has been great fun, too, towards faith in Christ as well as in their love for the game. adding humour and lightness to Five episodes in and our listenership is on the rise, as the podcast; I get the feeling the more people are finding us and giving the show a listen. players enjoy it too! With the Making the podcast is massively enjoyable and the fruit Rugby World Cup fast approaching is always in seeing regular sports fans plug in! This is one there should be plenty of news, for anyone who loves rugby, whether commuting, being views and interesting material to explore in the months on the move, or sat at home with a cuppa, we want ahead. I look forward to further development of the people to see a different side to the pros that they see on rugby aspect of Passion for Sport’s ministry, and will be their TV screens. listening in regularly!

passionate about sport · passionate about jesus MAJOR EVENTS 2019 IRB Rugby World Cup 20 September – 2 November 2019, Japan

As a team we are really great for those fans who would excited to be getting in on rather read than listen to a the Rugby World Cup programme. Naturally this also action next year in Japan! fits in perfectly with the Rugby Podcast, so we are also hoping We are planning to be there on to record a daily programme the ground at rugby’s biggest from Tokyo to event and we see this as a great provide listeners opportunity to put our stamp on with a taste of the the occasion. atmosphere and Our purpose in reporting at the real-time World Cup is two-fold. As developments always at major events, we aim throughout the to interview competing athletes competition. about their sport, and their faith PHOTOS: Top, RWC banner in Jesus. Stories that we capture on street in Tokyo; can now be transcribed and Right, Samoa v South Africa featured on our new website, (© Enigma Sports)

successful ministry. Passion for them, and share our passion for Renewed Sport have adopted this model and sport and the gospel. spent time recently discerning our Looking ahead to 2019, there are a vision – focusing on how we can best host of major sporting events Vision continue to develop content that occurring involving athletics, cricket, encourages conversations about Jesus, Luke Hamilton, Vice-Chairman rugby and football across Europe, and shares how he is changing lives. Asia, Africa and the Middle East. With For us this means being good Such a range of content available to gardeners in God’s kingdom and produce, we rely on being led by the investing in fruitful areas of ministry Holy Spirit in what and how we cover and report. Our team regularly pray … we rely on being led over and seek spiritual guidance to select and deliver the right stories by the Holy Spirit in and personalities to our audience. what and how we cover I want to give thanks for the and report. strengthening of our board in wisdom and expertise, with additional time committed by the What a glorious summer of sport. and growing them, while being good trustees, and the prospect of new England finished 4th at the FIFA stewards of our income and also members joining. We continue to ask World Cup, Geraint Thomas wins constantly pruning our work. and pray for those remaining skills the Tour de France, Europe regained A good example is our programme currently missing to be filled in the the Ryder Cup and Lewis Hamilton Planet Sport Football Africa. Each coming months; please pray with us. won his 5th World title. Add in week we receive 75-100 messages Finally, I want to thank you as Wimbledon, the Commonwealth from our audience, along with Passion for Sport supporters for Games and events in cricket, rugby, responses on social media. your continued encouragements, boxing, it’s a wonder any sports fan Altogether, we now have about prayers and donations. We are managed to find time to breathe! 450 PSFA active contacts. We dependent on you for this work, and But as Jesus demonstrated with time continue to look at ways to develop thank God that our mission continues, away from his disciples, time put aside relationships with these contacts; grows and changes lives. for reflection is key to life and invest in building networks around MAJOR EVENTS 2019 Africa Cup of Nations 7–30 June, Cameroon Norman Brierley, Africa Development Manager

Africa’s biggest football team, Egypt, who have tournament, the Africa won the trophy seven Cup of Nations (AFCON) times and from Morocco takes place in Cameroon the current holders of the next June. This is the African Nations Championship, also known tournament that as CHAN, for Africa-only features all of the top based players. The three- African players from week tournament will be within the continent and spread over six venues in those playing in other Cameroon including two parts of the world. stadia in the capital Passion for Sport Yaounde. reporters Liam Flint Planet Sport Football and Tom Ellis will be Africa is broadcast on providing reports and over 50 stations in 14 interviews for our weekly countries including on five Planet Sport Football teams. Cameroon, the current AFCON stations in Cameroon. Africa programme produced by champions, have won the tournament Please pray as we plan this visit to Steve Vickers in Zimbabwe. five times before but the Indomitable Cameroon and for the impact the For the first time the finals have been Lions can expect fierce competition reporting and interviews will have in expanded from 16 to 24 national from the most consistent national listeners’ lives.

Listeners have also had the chance to hear Christian Planet Sport Football Africa – testimonies. These include former Ghana and Bayern Munich defender Sammy Kuffour on how he coped with Engaging with Africa’s losing the 1999 Champions League final to Manchester Football Fans United, and how his faith helped him to cope with the death of his young daughter. Steve Vickers, producer, Planet Sport Football Africa All of this makes PSFA a unique programme, connecting Planet Sport Football Africa was launched in May 2013 with football fans around Africa, and demonstrating the and since then the show has grown and matured, with hope that Jesus offers us. content that resonates with fans of African football, and testimonies that highlight the difference that Jesus makes in the lives of players and coaches. Our big-name interviews this year include Alex Iwobi (Arsenal and Nigeria), Christian Atsu (Ghana and Newcastle) and Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria’s three-time African Women’s Player of the Year). Our experts Solomon Ashoms and Stuart Weir provide weekly analysis on issues in African and European football. Along with our reporters across the continent they help us to address issues that frustrate fans in Africa, such as poor infrastructure and administration and the way that players are mistreated. Fans have their own voice on the show too, sharing their comments through social media.

Photo: Steve Vickers (right) broadcasting pitchside, Ghana 2017 STEP UP TO Prayer Points

THE PLATE We asked various members of the Board and staff teams for points to share with you for your prayers. Stuart Dearsley, trustee, writes: Thank you to those who support us Adrian Barnard, Content Manager: through prayer and giving as this is Pray for all the logistic involved in planning our gratefully appreciated, and we reporting trips to the Africa Cup of Nations in value each and every one of you. Cameroon next June and Rugby World Cup in Japan Passion For Sport continues to attend in September. Give thanks for our freelance sports events and speak to players, producers and ministry partners who will be coaches and fans about their sporting working alongside our staff members these events. passions and faith in Jesus and your Liam Flint, Digital Media Manager: donations kindly help us to do that. Prayer would be really appreciated in the area of our digital platforms and the relationship that we are cultivating with our audience. Please pray for more people to come into contact with our programmes, be affected by what they hear through our content and ultimately become engaged listeners as we seek to introduce them to Jesus.

Norman Brierley, Africa Development Manager: Pray that we will get more outlets for our programmes on commercial and Government radio stations in Africa and that the testimonies of Christian sportsmen and women in the programmes Liam with Tonga captain and Bristol Bears player, will produce spiritual change in listeners lives. Siale Piutau

Sports lovers around the world are Chris Lawther, trustee: hearing about Jesus through our At a recent combined Board and Staff meeting, we ministry, many hearing about the love were reminded of the words of Isaiah 43:19a: “See, I of Jesus for the first time. Please am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not continue to pray that God will provide perceive it?” We are presented with more options in all the resources that we need as we where to focus the PfS ministry than ever before; continue this great journey and seek God is indeed doing new things! However, we need out the path ahead that God has for us. wisdom and discernment ‘to perceive’ what options are appropriate to our present staffing, skills, time and resources. Please pray that God’s path PLEASE PRAY: see the prayer becomes clear to us all, and we step forward in unity and confidence. points on the right. PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH: we enjoy Luke Hamilton, trustee: hearing your Passion for Sport Please pray for a treasurer to join the board by January. We’ve related news, views and stories, been praying for one since our last treasurer left, while one of and so welcome your feedback in the trustees has temporarily taken on the role. An experienced whatever form you contact us via: treasurer would be an invaluable resource to the board and twiiter, Facebook, What’s App, e-mail staff team; they’d find their skills highly praised in our ministry! … even by snail mail! If you would like a visit to your church, so we can Stuart Dearsley, trustee: MISSION STATEMENT share our message, do contact us. Give thanks for all those Using media to introduce PLEASE GIVE: to support our work who support Passion for a dynamic, relevant Christ- and serve our audience on the ground Sport through their giving centred lifestyle to sports fans http://www.passionforsport.com/ and prayers and pray that the Lord will around the world. giving/ continue to meet all our need.

Passion for Sport, Enterprise House, St Austell Bay Business Photos in this edition are courtesy of Norman Brierley, Steve Park, Par Moor Road, St Austell, Cornwall, PL25 3RF Vickers, Liam Flint, Adrian Barnard, www.enigma-sports.com

Email: [email protected] • Tel: 01392 580624 Passion for Sport is a working name of 2K Plus International Sports Media, a registered charity in Visit our website www.passionforsport.com England and Wales. Charity no 1091941 and UK registered company limited by guarantee no 4286195. Registered office:Whittingham Riddell LLP, Belmont House, Shrewsbury Business Park, twitter @pfsworld Facebook: pfsworld Shrewsbury, SY2 6LG