‘It Blew My Mind’: Diana Morales on Leveraging Soccer for the Kingdom
"I saw the word 'soccer,' and I just had to be there,” Diana Morales said. "It blew my mind — how beautiful and intentional this is, that we can share the gospel in a very different way and in different languages."
When Diana Morales, a staff member with Global Institute for Transformational Leadership, a ministry of Cru’s Global Church Movements, read about Victory Beyond the Cup (VBTC) in a newsletter, she immediately wanted to help. A lifelong soccer fan, she equipped her Orlando church, Faith Assembly, with VBTC resources and even brought a kit to her home country of Colombia.
“Moving in my circle of influence is what I can do,” Morales said.
She started emailing the VBTC team and reading and exploring the website. What could come of using this tournament for more than just viewing a sporting event overwhelmed her with possibilities.
"I've been a soccer fan most of my life," she said. "It's the first time I've seen two beautiful things combine — the gospel and using this as a platform."
At a training in Orlando, Morales met Heather Reddy, leader of the VBTC initiative. They connected instantly, and Morales did what she does best: she made an introduction.
Reddy met her pastor, Pastor Estany, at Faith Assembly, one of the largest churches in Orlando, and from there about 100 kits arrived at the church. Morales and others began inviting people to sign up for trainings and free kits. As a result, one of the chaplains from the church hosted a watch party for the final match and was able to lead a guest to accept the Lord. Two more visited the church for the first time.
Morales also hosted a watch party at Faith Assembly, with church members bringing food and snacks to share. Then she trained two of her close friends on how to host a VBTC watch party so they could continue the initiative while she was out of town.
This summer, Morales flew to Colombia with her daughter Gabriella and a full VBTC kit.
"I wanted her to see where everything started," she said. She returned to the church Canaan, where she had given her heart to the Lord at 18 — now led by Pastor Julian, the son of her spiritual mentor, Pastor Patricia.
“Wow, this is awesome that we can do this in Spanish," Pastor Patricia said.
The church began hosting watch parties, utilizing the VBTC Spanish kit. Pastor Patricia shared that the church loves the tool, is grateful for it and is planning to keep using it.
For Morales, the watch parties are about more than the game — they are about opening the door for people to experience the love of Jesus. She shared that the global soccer tournament is a time when people from many countries gather to watch soccer, and they need a safe place to do so. She saw an opportunity for the church to be that safe place.
Morales shared that she loves soccer, but even more, she loves sharing her faith. “This is more important than soccer. It goes deeper.”
As the interview ended, Morales prayed aloud — thanking God for the leaders who said yes, for everyone who came to a watch party, and for the athletes sharing their faith before millions.
"We only plant the seed," she prayed. "God, You are the only one who touches hearts — and You have a plan for every single one of us."
Next steps:
Who is in your circle of influence?
The tournament is over now. But planting the seed, as Morales would tell you, was never really about the soccer tournament. There are always more opportunities to share God’s love in everyday conversations. Take your next step today.
