This episode is supported in part by the Christian Standard Bible, a translation designed to be faithful to the original text and clear for everyday readers. And we're just grateful for their partnership in helping bring gospel-centered content to families like yours. And to learn more about the CSB, visit csbible.com. Hi. What does it look like to just relationally love people?
Like, I think that's like at the heart of it. It's just, it's like, are we able to pull ourselves out of what just kind of our agendas, our busy life, and see the people God has put in front of us and be intentional to love them and inviting them into your home is a way to love them? Welcome to Family Life Today, where we want to help you pursue the relationships that matter most. I'm Dave Wilson. And I'm Ann Wilson, and you can find us at FamilyLifetoday.com.
This is Family Life today. All right, I'm a little excited today. We're talking about football. Oh, is it your kind of football?
Well, maybe not. I don't think they spell it the same, do they? Do they? It's spelled the same. It's spelled the same.
I thought it was like an F-U-T, V-O-L. It's in Spanish, yes. There you go. Screwball. This is good people.
This is how much I know about the soccer world. I'm done. You guys go talk about this. No, this is good because you know everything about the whole sports world. Heather Reddy is with us today, but she does know a lot about it.
You do. I do.
So tell us what you do because you do something in the sports world, sort of like we did. Yes. And still do. We still need a Bible study for the Lions. Not officially their chaplain anymore, but since they started winning, we came back.
You know, sort of fun. You'd be happy to know that. Yes. So I work with Athletes in Action, and part of my role is I do chaplaincy work. And so I chaplain the NWSL team, the Orlando Pride, which is Orlando's local women's soccer team, professional team.
And then also am one of four chaplains for the U.S. women's national team. Wow. How'd you get into it? Because you were at.
The great ball state back in the day. Are you happy about this right now, Dave? I don't think we've ever had a cardinal on here.
Well, you're not a cardinal, but you remember. I was, I actually went to the neighboring Taylor University. Oh, you used to hay.
So Taylor's awesome. I mean, yeah, so close.
Now, did you work with athletes there? I did not work with athletes.
So I was actually crew campus.
So we were working on the campus ministry there for about seven years.
So, yeah, we did interact with athletes some, but mainly just with, yeah, and then northern Illinois. Northern Illinois for a few years, which was uh cold.
So somebody told us it was the last suburb of Chicago, and we drove and hit the last suburb of Chicago. And then there were like miles of cornfields, and then we hit DeCalville, Illinois, where northern was.
So we were there for two years. And then we did, we, my husband and I were the campus directors at the University of Central Florida here in Orlando for five years. Oh, wow. With crew campus, and about seven years, transitioned over to athletes in action. Why did you make that transition?
What happened? We were growing our. Family, we have six kids, and so they were very involved in the sport world playing soccer. And we were just found ourselves, we were just on the sideline and we were just interacting with parents and athletes all the time. That was where we were just being pulled.
And I think we were just, as we kind of got to this place, we're like, these are the people that we're around, like, we're seeing God move. And so he is an athlete. I played soccer in college. And so we'd always considered athletes in action, but had just never kind of moved in that direction. And really felt like after that, that we were like, if we could do, you know, kind of Mary Sports and Jesus.
We're like, what an incredible opportunity and how fun that would be.
So that's when we made the transition over and jumped into pro soccer specifically. Have you actually read Away Game Yet by Ed Juzinski and Brian? I have not read the whole thing. You got to get it. It is.
I've read part of it. Isn't it good? Amazing. No, I like my husband and I, we started reading it and we're like, we need to get this in the hands of as many parents as we can because it actually helps think about how do we enter into youth sports as a family. How do we disciple our kids through it in a healthy biblical kind of way?
Yeah, we endorsed him. We had him on. It's really good. I highly recommend it. Especially if you have kids in youth sports and you're just trying to figure out like, how do I navigate this landscape that literally will take everything from you?
I mean, everything. And so it's like, how do we engage as a family? How do we engage? Like, what does it look like to bring Jesus into that space? And so, I just, I highly agree.
Like, highly recommend it. I mean, before we even jump into what you're doing with the World Cup, how do you and your husband sort of navigate the youth sports world? You got six kids. Are they all doing it? And you get to know the parents and families really well, don't you?
We do. Yeah.
So our kids range or their age range is about 20. Our oldest is 23. And then our youngest is eight, just turned eight.
So we have three in college, two are currently playing soccer in college. Then we have our two youngest have been playing soccer. It has been an interesting journey for us because our three oldest, we really did the whole like travel, like. intense sport and it was Draining. It was so draining.
And I just remember so expensive. And so we just remember thinking, we're like, If we're going to do this, like kind of our second, you know, we call it like our oldest and we call them like the littles, which is like our second round. We're like, God gave us a redo.
So we were like, we want to rethink about how do we do this. And so we actually have been really intentional with our younger kids who've been involved of just kind of pulling back and not jumping into the, you know, just the craziness and really trying to actually keep boundaries within our family of like, what are we, how do we as a family want to engage and what do we value? And staying so close to those values, because it is just so easy to let that creep in and just think it's like, my kid has to do this to be the best player. My kid has to do that. If they want to get parents and coaches tell you that.
Oh, yeah. If you want to make it to the next level, you have to be on this team. Oh, yeah. It doesn't matter who you are. And they're like, you're going to, we're going to help you get that scholarship.
And let me tell you, 7% of high school college, like athletes go on to playing in college. 7%.
So it's like so small. And I just think it's so easy to buy into that. Where it's like, I think you have to be, and where we've just even, I mean, in our own walks of the Lord, it's just. Being so rooted in who the Lord is, and even our kids' stories of how they got to play where they're at was totally a God thing. It wasn't this like massive recruiting thing.
It was literally, I mean, it is like our one son, he got. He was looking for a team, and it was the summer. This was just last summer. And he got a call from the coach in the middle of the summer. And he's like, I just had two keepers drop.
Do you want to come play for me? D2 school. Fantastic school. And I was just like, Lord, that is so you. Like, it wasn't through all this, like, which you can do that.
And that's not wrong. It's just determined, I think, as a family of like, how do we as a family want to enter in? No. How do we care for each other? How do we bring God into it?
Yes. Yeah.
And I think too, though, what I love about the away game, even was they're like, when else do you get a friend? It's the book, the away game. Yeah, the away game. Yeah.
Thank you. Yeah.
It's like, when else do you get a front row seat? To like your kids' character and how that comes through. We have, as parents, an opportunity to actually enter in, and we get to see that and enter in with them in a really incredible way to show them like. What does it look like to live out the gospel on the field? Like, what does it look like?
How do you treat your teammates? How do you treat your coach? What happens when you don't play? What happens when you get injured? And I just think it is truly like such a privilege and blessing to be able to see that and walk that with your kids, but also really hard.
Yeah.
Because you're dealing with your own inner stuff. You know, it's like you're trying not to let your, you know, I mean, there's so many of like, I mean, I played in college. And so it's like, Do you want your kids to? I was like, of course, I would 100% say, like, I wanted my kids to play in college. But I'm like, but to what end?
You know, and so it's like, even for me, having to sift through that and knowing how do I come alongside my kids in that and make it more about the Lord and not about like, what are they achieving? What are they doing? Because I think that's what. That's what culture says is like and even to be able to love the families and the friends of your kids and not be in judgment of lifestyle choices and how to navigate. How do we love them?
Yes. How do we present the gospel in a way? That's not offensive, but maybe it is, you know, it's just tricky. I mean, even for me, I mean, Ann knows. How do we separate our identity And our happiness in life from how our, and we have three boys, how they're doing on a, on a field.
My youngest got all the way to the NFL and got hurt in a second year in the NFL. And honestly, he would tell you the same thing. This was harder on dad than it was on me. It was Dave's identity. He knew got it called him into ministry and he's ready to go.
And I'm like, no, no, no. He's like, I feel great about this. I feel great about this. It's the money. Dad, Dad's in the tank.
He can't even function. He goes, Are you going to be able to preach this week? I'm like, no. Can you get one more game in it? It's tough out.
It's so bad, but it's how we live as parents. It's crazy. Yeah, and it's the constant evaluation of, am I holding on to this too tight? Yes. And our kids see all of that in us.
They do. Like for Cody to say, Dad, is it more important to you or to me? Can we get off me? I brought it up, but let's not linger here.
Well, let's get into it. We're talking about the gospel and how to kind of share with family. Families, the World Cup's coming. Educate us because we're not soccer people. Because we're football people and there's a soccer thing happening.
I was like, I'm talking about the real football. Yeah, it is the real football. There's a lot more people in the world that watch soccer than NFL or college people. Than American football. You're right.
I can't believe, but it's true here. I know. It is true.
So, and why? I mean, if you think about it, what they've said is like, as you kind of have heard the stats, is like 5 billion people will watch the World Cup. 5 billion. 5 billion. I didn't know that.
Yes, 5 billion.
So. Three-fourths of the world's population will be engaged in the World Cup during the, you know, June 11th through July 19th. And so, that is a massive amount of people that were all eyes will be on this sport. I think there's 48 countries that will be represented at the World Cup. And this is one of those things where it's like, when you look across the world globally, countries will stop.
And I'm like, literally, people will stop working. They will gather around TVs to watch their team play. And so you see this incredible unity even within the country of people coming together to watch these games. And it's coming to North America.
So Canada will have games, Mexico will have games, and the US will have a majority of the games. But it is an incredible opportunity for us as believers to engage with those people around us, whether we like.
Soccer football or not. You don't have to. You don't have to. Exactly. But it's an opportunity.
It is an opportunity. It's a Super Bowl times 100. It's like the Olympics, too. It is. And it's like every day for a month.
Yeah, it's like every day, like four games, like, especially in the beginning, there's been like four games every single day. I mean, so you're talking about when to engage and invite people over and come to hang out and watch a game. I'm like, multiple opportunities.
So it's not, you know, just Super Bowl is like one night. Here, you have almost a whole month to plan and invite, you know, host to host a watch party in your home. And so, and it really is that easy.
Now, what would that look like? We have had major watch parties. I mean, over the course of we've been soccer fans for a really long time and just had people over to watch. And so, like you were saying earlier, it's like, you know, I think of when you're your kids who are on, you know, on a sports team and you are engaging with these parents on the sideline multiple times a week, all weekend long. You have tournaments, you know them.
And so, and sometimes you're like, I just need an excuse to invite. People over, yeah, you know, because we often are like, oh, yeah, I'm going to do that. I'm going to have you over. Like, have you, and you know, life gets in the way. We are all busy, like, we all have a lot going on.
Well, now you have a month of excuses to say, Hey, come over and watch this game. And what we have created is we've created this fantastic kit that actually helps you host and helps you have conversations with the people that God's put in your life.
So, it's a kit, it's a how-to kit? Yes, yes. And we have we actually tested it last year. Like, we got some feedback from pastors and other hosts because we really wanted to make it as user-friendly, as plug-and-play as we could. And so, every item that is in the kit is designed to help you have either, I mean, one, just invite people over to have a spiritual conversation or have a gospel conversation.
And really, it's not about forcing anything. We're just saying, we're like, who are the people that God has put in your life? And we're asking people, even in the beginning, who are the five people that you want to pray for? Like, who are the people that God has put in your heart that you want to say, I want to see him work in their life? And so, for some, it might just be inviting them over.
Their house for the first time, you know, that might be the first, that might be your step, like that. And that's a step of faith. And like, we want to celebrate that. And for some, it's like, I have like, we've been having these conversations. We've had a few spiritual conversations, you know, we've had, and I feel like we're ready to kind of have that spiritual conversation.
We have training that goes along with that. And then, same with the gospel. Like, we have ways of how do you bridge into that gospel conversation. And so we have a kit and we have videos, like five, five-minute videos that actually walk you through kind of each one of those things so that you feel what we're praying is one people would feel equipped and that they would be expectant that God is going to work during the World Cup. It's so fun.
And it doesn't have to be awkward. No. It's not like you're going to stand in front of the TV at halftime and say, let me tell you. You're going to walk up and grab a guitar and sing a worship song and say, Jesus loves you or you're going to hell. No.
We're not looking to be awkward here or weird. Or weird. We are looking to what does it look like to just relationally love people? Like, I think that's like at the heart of it. It's just, it's like, Are we able to like pull ourselves out of what just kind of our agendas, our busy life, and see the people God has put in front of us?
And be intentional to love them and inviting them into your home is a way to love them.
Well, I was just talking with Bruce before we started recording our audio engineer, and he was saying, It's such a perfect first step because we all have wanted to invite people over for a small group, like even a marriage small group. Yeah, I have a reason, but this would be even a better first step because it's just neutral ground. Yep, we're all watching this. This is fun, it's just easy conversations, and it doesn't have to be weird or awkward when they're coming into a Bible study. I don't think small groups need to be awkward or weird, no, but it can feel intimidating for a person walking into your home.
Yes, force doesn't feel intimidating, yeah. Yeah, I think when people hear the word small group, they kind of like they're like things like you know, kind of perk up and they're like, Oh, right, have these expectations and things. Whereas this is just like, hey, come over and have a meal, yeah, like just have a meal with us. And even in the kit, like, we have like there's a size one because of their operation. I know it's coming, it is an actual box, and we.
We do have some great pictures that have everything in it. But so the soccer brothers, different sizes, a size one is smaller. And there's a QR code on there that when you scan it, like just fun conversation questions come up.
So it's something to like just toss around. Like again, you're just, you have a group of people over and like throw the ball around, scan a question, ask it out to the group. Like what? Get together. Just like get to like get to know you, like fun questions of like, what is your dream vacation?
Just really ones, like really fun get to know you things. And then we have another piece in there is what so crew uses. I don't know if you're familiar, solarium cards. Have you guys talked about?
Okay, fantastic. I've used those with the professional teams that I showed you. I use those with the Detroit Lions wives for years. They are, yeah, they are great. And it's an easy way, again, of just like throwing a bunch of pictures on a table and just like asking fun questions.
And what I love about Solarium is they can go as kind of fun, easy to like as deep as you want it, as deep as you want to take it. And these pictures are random pictures. It could be a hot air balloon or a bike or a field. Very. Random.
Yes. And I remember doing this, Heather, and some of them are like, Oh, yeah, I just said, Pick one that today you're relating, like this picture. And so people will say, This is kind of a funny one, but then. You can get to the point where this girl picked a card and it's this broken-down bicycle. And she said, This is me right now in my life.
Everything feels broken down and just. Bent and I don't even know how to get on the bike because it's so broken down. And then she said, and honestly, that's my marriage.
Now you're thinking, that would be awkward. You know, how do we do another two game? You're like, I'm not pulling those cards out. USF is up 5-1. That's what you blew that way.
You're like, no, we're not going there. But I'm saying for that, for our context with our Bible study, It was great. It's like great get to know you. But most of the time, people aren't going to go that heavy. They're not going to go that heavy.
And it's evergreen. Like, you get to take that with you. And so it's like, maybe you might not use it during the game, but now you've kind of established that relationship. And so it's like, have them over for dinner another time. And it's like, hey, you want to just, you know, I mean, there's just, we've, we've really tried to do it where.
We're trying to remove as much as the awkwardness as we can so that people really feel comfortable. And it really is that relational engagement is like, yeah, we want people to come like for people to know, like, you are loved. Like, we see you and we love you. And this is one of those ways we can do it. It's fun.
It's just fun. People want to come do something that's fun. Yeah.
And, you know, you always got to say, be yourself, don't be weird. Yeah.
You know, like, oh, I'm watching World Cup, but it's really an evangelistic meeting.
So I brought some people over that aren't always at my house. I mean, we all know, as a preacher, I know this, you don't receive the message until you like the messenger. Yes. And so if you're a weirdo Christian person and you know, you have a big cross in front of your, I don't know, you know, you just you're freaking weird people out, not even watching the game. I think you're going to repel them rather than, man, I should leave your house, get in their car, and say, that was really fun.
Yes. I like those people. We laughed. Yes. I like their friends.
Yes. I hope we do that again. Exactly. And maybe it's the second or third game where something goes a little. Deeper spiritually.
It doesn't have to happen in the first 10 minutes of the first game. Exactly. Yeah.
Because that's the whole thing, even as we thought about like, how do we want to approach doing just engaging in the World Cup? And really, as we thought about it, it's like, and our goal is to actually equip 100,000 believers in 10,000 churches. Wow. Because really the thought is like, okay, if we, if people are equipped and trained in how to share their faith, the World Cup is a moment and it is a big moment that we don't want to lose. Yeah.
But you now can share the faith for share your faith for the rest of your life. And if I need a kit, where's the kit? Victorybeyondecup.com. You can go on now and you can sign up for a free kit. They're free.
Oh, they're free. They are free.
So we'll have a link in our show notes. Yes. So they are free. And so there are only 25,000 physical kits, but we have digital kits that will also be available that have some fun things like soccer bingo on there as well. Do we have the rules of soccer?
We do have a soccer for dummies on there. I want it. We do. I want it. We do.
I should know better. I remember, I literally got asked to be a Goalie for this rec team years ago. I'm like, yeah, I can play goalie. It's got to be easy. I mean, come on.
You could tease your hands. I put on my NFL receiver gloves and I walk out there and they're like, What are you doing? I'm like, Don't you guys wear gloves? They're like, Not those gloves. They were like shocked.
I didn't know half the rules.
Okay, I have to ask this. We don't have much time. But Dave does not like to invite people over for the Super Bowl because I want to watch the game. You want to watch the game. Yes, seriously.
You want to talk, go in the kitchen. I'm watching. I had a friend come in and she's like, oh, so does this happen every year? This thing called the Super Bowl? Dave gives me this look of like.
How could you invite her to our Super Bowl? He might have said, You guys, can you go in the other room? I'm getting a really bad reputation today. And I earned it because I was like, If anybody can take it, it's you. But because there's so many games going on.
This is a great opportunity. Maybe it's not Super Bowl is like the finals. Yeah.
But this doesn't necessarily have to be like that. Yeah.
And I love what you said. It's like, maybe be strategic about the game you pick. You know, if you are a soccer fan, don't pick the team that you really are invested in because that's going to be really hard for you to engage. I mean, it's funny because I actually was talking to somebody and they were saying they're a huge Argentinian fan and they were just like, yeah, I'm not going to invite people over when Argentina plays. And I was like, yes, I wouldn't either.
Exactly. Like, you're not going to. And so, so be strategic. It's like, think about like, go through. And that's what we love is like, we actually have it in the kit even.
It's just like, who are the five people? And then look through the schedule and choose, like, actually write down the date of the game that you want to invite people over to. And so kind of just even like a little mini planning thing. And even in, we have like a hope, it's called a key player guide, which is our host guide. And it really is step by step takes you how to host.
Again, like very step big, very clear. And let me say, as a parent, this is a great opportunity to share this whole idea with your kids. To pray as a family, my kids, like because families are into these sports, like soccer. When you're into a sport, as your kids are, the whole family is involved.
So invite the whole family. Maybe you can't do a lot of families, depending on how big your house is or apartment, but this is a great thing to bring your kids into for discipleship. Guys, we care about Jesus, we care about people. And so, what if we prayed, Lord, who are some families, or who's a family we can invite over? This gives your kids a vision for how Jesus can use their lives.
You know, and we know because we were chaplains and you still are in this area, sport is such a common, you know, it brings us together. And you don't even have to be like me. I don't know soccer as well as I know other sports. Could I still see God use that in our home? We got to get the kit.
We're going to invite people over. I'll let them teach me soccer as we're watching the game. That's a good idea. Which movie they'd probably go, well, I like this more than anything. Sport is strategic.
Yes. It connects you to people. It does.
So why not use it to lead them to Jesus? Can you imagine hearing stories from all around the country? I hope we do hear them. Coming to Christ because you. Use the kit and use the World Cup to say, let's make it a bit more.
Why wouldn't you? Like, the kit's free. Yeah.
If the box isn't available, you can get it digitally. Yes, I love what you said. And I love, too, just the thought of like, Even as you were sharing, just thinking it's like you might be passionate about soccer. Great. You get to share that.
But if you aren't, there are people around you. If there's 5 million people engaged, there's somebody around you that you know that cares about this. And so then you get to learn and experience their passion. And I just think, like, what a gift that is-like that we get to give other people to come in and teach us and help, you know, help us understand the game that they love so much. And it just is like it's that mutuality that we get to experience.
It's that bond, that bringing together that sports really uniquely. I love it. Yeah.
Here's one last thought. Yeah.
If you don't host at your house and somebody invites you to their house, go. Yes. Go. Go. Yeah.
You're going as an evangelist. Don't be a weird evangelist, but go and love and enjoy. Yeah.
Be a friend. And then they might invite you back. And then later you can invite them to your house and see what God does. I love it. Yeah.
Why wouldn't we? Yeah.
So, Heather, what would you say if I'm listening or watching and I'm like, I'm in? What are my next steps? What do I do? Yeah.
So, your next step is go check out victorybeyondthecup.com. And on there is a place where you can sign up for to receive a free kit. And so from there, you will get the kit. And even in the kit, there's going to be QR codes that are going to take you to videos and how to, you know, just. Quick five-minute trainings that you can watch, you know, individually, or if you even want to bring your small group in and watch it together, like it's a great option to just train and so you feel prepared and ready and expectant to see God move during the World Cup.
Here's what I would end up doing. If I was doing this, I'd order the kit. I'd get the kit. I'd call my friend Michelle. Yes.
And our kids are similar ages. And I said, Hey, let's do this together. It's always fun to do something together with one of your friends. And then you can start praying. It's not only just your family, but their family too.
And catch a vision. Like, God wants to use you, He wants to use your gifts, your passions. And maybe you're not so into. Football, soccer. But as you said, there's a lot of people that are.
And if this is your thing, start praying and inviting them. But first of all, get that kit. Yeah, we've got the link in our show notes. Go to familylifetoday.com, click on that link, and start the journey. Family Life Today is a donor-supported production of Family Life, a crew ministry celebrating 50 years of helping you pursue the relationships that matter most.
Yeah.
