Victory Beyond the Cup: On Ramps of Connection
People are loving the world’s biggest soccer tournament with billions of eyes locked in at stadiums and watching on big screens and their devices this summer. A shared passion for sport connects diverse cultures and communities across oceans and country borders.
This is a strategic time as many are engaging with the opportunity, like several churches and organizations in the Hudson Valley area of New York. They partnered together for a community-wide outreach called 3v3 Soccer Tournament on June 20.
They used the Victory Beyond the Cup strategy of equipping believers to become key players who can turn a shared moment, like the 2026 global soccer tournament, into a meaningful connection.
Through the event, organizers desired to create “on ramps of continued connection” for parents and their families to get to know multiple churches in the area who helped sponsor the event.
About 600 people attended, with 33 soccer teams and a total of 141 players from ages 10 to 18+ participating in the 3v3 games.
Keni Epp, a campus pastor with Echo Grace Church, one of the partner churches who helped sponsor the tournament shared, “I want people to come and find community that they see here, that’s one thing that we stress in preparation for this — that we’re gonna be kind, we’re gonna be welcoming, and that’s who the church should be … they can come into church and know that they are loved, they’re cared for, they’re accepted right where they’re at and that we have the greatest message in the world to share with them.”
Vincenzo Pepe, Fellowship of Christian Athletes® Hudson Valley NY Multi-Area Director, shared that the “on ramps” following the event that organizers desired are taking place through tangible items and conversations.
“I heard one story from Harmony Church that an individual went up to their booth because he recognized the church name from some of the inner city outreach that Harmony does in Middletown and thought it was cool they were involved with this event as well, and that turned into a conversation and an invite to church.”
Each person received a postcard when they left the tournament that included all the partner churches and ministries with their websites and locations.
During the event, Vincenzo explained how people could begin a personal relationship with God and observed that there were 100+ people in the stage area when he presented.
“We also handed out a Four bracelet to everyone, and most left with a postcard that had a QR code, which brought them to the FCA page with The Four® that has professional athletes sharing it in videos as well.”
Mark Jaloszynski is the Vice President of 12th Rock Sports, which hosted the tournament on their property. He shared that learning how to relate to other people can create connections through events right where you are and a lot of the ministry in sports can happen with parents.
“We’ve coined a phrase at 12th Rock, ‘Sideline Conversations’ … it’s just building relationships with people. Use that gift that God’s given you, find that particular community that it revolves around, and just plug yourself in. It doesn’t need to be hundreds … just getting down to that relationship, that one-on-one conversation.”
To learn more about what God is doing in Middletown, check out this story.
If you would like to get involved, consider hosting your own watch party. Download a free host kit on the Victory Beyond the Cup website.
