Source: United Bible Societies, December 19, 2017
History was made last month when Pakistan’s first national Christian basketball team—Koinonia Love Pakistan—toured Malaysia. According to the Pakistan Bible Society, which was instrumental in the team’s formation last year, it was the first time that Pakistan’s Christian community has officially represented their country in a sporting event abroad.
“I feel honored that our Christian boys represented Pakistan,” said Bible Society General Secretary Anthony Lamuel. “We thank God that through sport we have been able to promote the disciplined use of the Word of God as a strength in the growth of our Christian faith.”
The team was formed by the Pakistan Bible Society, the Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBF) and the Peace Ambassadors Society (a Christian sports organization) after last year’s Christian sports festival. This annual event, organized by the Bible Society, has become the country’s largest Christian sports festival, attracting around 1,000 people who compete in a variety of sports, including cricket, football, athletics, and basketball.
The festival’s guest of honor, PBF Vice President Colonel Naseem Butt, was so impressed by the standard of the basketball being played that he suggested forming a Christian team to play on a national level. The young team, who are mostly aged between 15 and 25, went on to play in several national basketball matches, all of which they won.
“Our emphasis is to help young people to use their sporting talent and time to glorify God and share his love, peace and Good News,” explains team manager Irfan Francis, who works for the Pakistan Bible Society. “Through this work we provide spiritual, educational, physical and professional training to young Christian sportsmen, and help them to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through sport.”
Please pray for the Pakistan Bible Society’s work to use sport to share the Bible and promote peace.
» See also a story from Uganda, National Rugby Team Sings Christian Hymn before Every Game (God Reports).