4 things parents can learn from Christians playing in the football World Cup

As a teen growing up in the 1990s, football culture was very different to what it is now. Even as a non-player, I couldn’t miss the headlines: drinking too much, trashing hotel rooms, getting into nightclub brawls, and partnering with a string of A-list females.

Whilst such a high-profile sport will never be entirely free from controversy, there does seem to have been a sea-change in the last few years. Today’s players seem more humble, grateful and level-headed. I wonder whether, in part, it’s thanks to the large number of Christians in the professional game today, and the impact they’re having on their teams.

It will not have escaped anyone’s notice that the vast majority of today’s Christian footballers come from backgrounds with African heritage

Players like Eze, Guéhi, Saka and Madueke are bold about their faith. They are sincere, dedicated and disciplined in their training. They are quick to glorify God and humble themselves - whether in interviews, on-pitch demonstrations or simply in what they wear. Far from letting fame go to their heads, their humility and peace shines through every interaction with the media.

It will not have escaped anyone’s notice that the vast majority of today’s Christian footballers come from backgrounds with African heritage. As someone who works in the field of family discipleship, I’m fascinated by what those of us with a White British heritage can learn from how these players were raised, and the way their parents have helped shape their own faith.

These footballers have a deep commitment to Jesus, to the study of God’s word and to prayer

Of course no Christian culture is perfect. We all have lightbulb moments as well as blind spots. But that is why we need to be open to watching, listening and learning from different cultures - particularly in the realm of family discipleship. Here are four things I’ve learnt from researching Christian footballers of Black African heritage.

1. Church is a crucial part of family life. It is easy, as busy families, to push church out of our increasingly-hectic schedules, in order to make time for our children to become ‘accomplished’ in a plethora of different sports, instruments and skills. But when Marc Guéhi’s family moved to London from the Ivory Coast when he was one, church always came first. Guéhi did not play football games on a Sunday until he turned professional. Many have described him as a disciplined, committed and grounded player, crediting these qualities to his tightknit family, and the role God plays in their lives.
2. We can be bold in claiming God’s promises for our children. When Eberechi Eze was released from Arsenal aged 13, he could have given up his dreams of playing professionally - many do. But it was his faith-filled mother who got on her knees, pleading with God to reverse this decision. Fourteen years later, Eze was signed by Arsenal, becoming part of their Premier League victory just a few weeks ago. Hearing this story challenged me as a [less] faith-filled mother: am I bold in petitioning the Lord for the needs of my children, however impossible they seem? Am I leading my family in stepping into God’s promises of fulfilment and blessing? Or am I happy to simply shrug my shoulders and plod on with life the way it is?

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1. The Christian culture we develop in our homes is important. Bukayo Saka has spoken of his family’s strong belief in God, their bible reading culture, and commitment to church. It matters that what we do and say on a Sunday matches up to the rest of our lives, because our children are watching. They will either see a distant God we begrudgingly placate once a week, or they will see the true, living God who we have made Lord over all of our lives. Are we going all-out as Christian parents? Or have the mundane responsibilities of paying the bills and sorting out car insurance extinguished the fire of our youth?
2. God is interested in all the details of our lives. It can be tempting, as Christian parents, to model to our children a prayer life which is only for the ‘big’ moments - the exams, the healing, the new school. But Noni Madueke has said about Arsenal’s matches: “We believe we have God fighting for us”. He has faith that the God who created the heavens and the earth is also interested in his football game, and the things that matter to him. Are we encouraging our children to talk regularly to the God who designed them and their passions, and is always keen to hear them enthuse about what they’re interested in?

These footballers have a deep commitment to Jesus, to the study of God’s word and to prayer. They have found worldly success most of us can only dream of - yet dedicate it all to the Lord.

Sometimes, as a parent, it can feel like we must choose between our child’s faith and their excellence - whether it’s ditching church to become brilliant in a Sunday morning football league, or simply prioritising hospitality and community living over learning an instrument to a high level.

These families show us the important truth that both are possible - but that one is always the foundation for the other. Chase excellence for your children, and you may find them excluding God from their choices. Chase God, and ‘he will give [them] the desires of [their] heart’ (Psalm 37:4).

We can’t all become professional footballers. But when we raise our children to put God first, we can have peace that he will guide them into a life which is fulfilling for them.