Sports Chaplaincy
Using the platform of athletics to share the Gospel
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Sports Chaplains
Chaplain John Williamson and his wife Sharon have been using the platform of athletics to share the gospel since 1993. John and Sharon were both collegiate athletes at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville-John played football and Sharon ran Track. Their ministry started in 1993 as Chi Alpha Sports Ministers at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Campus. In 1998, the Williamson's began a partnership with Athletes International Ministries in Phoenix, Arizona and became the campus pastors at The University of Arizona. Continuing the partnership with Athletes International, the Williamson's moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma to work with the Cowboy athletes through FCA and Chi Alpha. As their ministry grew to reach beyond the college campus, the Williamson's moved to Texas and in 2003 transferred their US Missions appointment to Chaplaincy and became the first Sports Chaplains for the Assemblies of God. Now Chaplain John provides pastoral care to U.S. Missionary Sports Chaplains in area of trail hikers, MMA, cutting horse, rodeo, horse racing, gamers, college & professional athletics, trainers, coaches and referees.
Why Sports Chaplaincy?
Using the Platform of Athletics to Share the Gospel
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1. Athletics Creates Influence and Access
Sports are deeply woven into culture—athletes, coaches, and teams have influence far beyond the field. A chaplain in that space has natural access to people’s lives during both their victories and struggles. That influence opens doors for meaningful conversations about faith.
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2. Shared Struggles and Pressures
Athletes face intense pressures—performance expectations, injuries, identity struggles, and transitions when their playing days end. A sports chaplain meets them in those vulnerable moments, offering biblical truth and hope in Jesus that speaks to those very struggles.
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3. Community and Team Culture
Teams are tight-knit groups built around trust, discipline, and shared goals. Chaplains who step into that community model servant leadership and Christ-centered love, showing how faith can shape culture and relationships in a way that athletes instantly understand.
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4. Global Platform
Sports transcend age, race, and culture. From local youth leagues to professional sports, athletics are a global stage. A chaplain who shares the gospel in that context has the opportunity to influence not only athletes but also the fans, families, and communities connected to them.
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5. Living the Gospel, Not Just Speaking It
Chaplaincy in sports is about presence. By showing up consistently—in the locker room, at practices, during crises—a chaplain demonstrates the gospel through service, encouragement, and integrity, often long before words are spoken.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24