The news: When the 2026 FIFA World Cup opened on June 11, Iglesia Bautista Estrella de Belén in Mexico City gathered 100 people to watch the opening match together — the first time in the church's 66-year history it had hosted a sporting event. Churches across Mexico are intentionally using World Cup excitement as an outreach and evangelism opportunity, creating natural entry points for unchurched neighbours and friends.
Why it matters for church leaders: You don't need a World Cup to borrow this idea. Indian churches sit inside one of the world's most sports-passionate cultures — cricket, kabaddi, football. A well-run community watch event or sports outreach can open doors that a Sunday sermon alone cannot. Meeting people where they already gather is classic Jesus-style ministry.
The takeaway: Plan one community sports or cultural event this quarter specifically designed to welcome people who would never walk into a Sunday service on their own.
Source: Christianity Today
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