The World Cup is over with Spain on top — but on the international missions front, there is more to the story.
The International Mission Board partnered with the North American Mission Board to distribute resources and equip volunteers to share the gospel during the games. The strategy involved embedding gospel centered content into the fabric of the tournament.
Over the course of the competition, Southern Baptists rolled out 14 digital ads, distributed QR‑coded bracelets, stickers and patches at fan zones, and hosted watch parties in churches, homes and other venues throughout North America and around the world.
Cities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico hosted matches and welcomed millions of visitors, giving local churches the opportunity to share the gospel through street evangelism or by inviting neighbors over to watch the games.
Wave of gospel-focused activity
IMB’s global digital engagement team reported a wave of gospel-focused activity that spanned stadiums, living rooms, watch parties and social media feeds across five continents.
“We have so much to celebrate at moments like this — moments that have far more value than a golden trophy,” said Brant Bauman, IMB global digital engagement lead. “When we look at all the ways we can leverage a global event like the World Cup to reach people where they are, at the games or on their phones, God does some pretty incredible things!”
The numbers tell a story of rapid, deep engagement, as Bauman reported the following:
See full story and results.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by staff with the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board.
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