Sharing Faith at the Match: Seattle Ministries Welcome Global Soccer Fans

At 8 a.m. Monday, more than 20 believers gathered in Seattle for a brief time of worship before praying for the day’s ministry activities and all the soccer fans in town for the match. They and many other volunteers from several churches and ministries then fanned out to man tables north, west, and south of Lumen Field or ride the light rail back and forth, distributing information and resources to thousands of soccer fans slowly making their way to Lumen Field from every direction.

Fans streamed down blocked-off streets, filling special pedestrian zones set up by the city of Seattle. They poured out of light-rail stations and bus stops. A large group of international football fans, faces painted and decked out in the team’s red, gold, and black colors, could be heard chanting and singing from several blocks away as they marched south toward the stadium. The opposing team’s fans wore gold robes with black-striped headdresses as they walked or rode in on bicycles and scooters. All the while, Victory Seattle volunteers were handing out free “Try Praying” booklets, offering prayers, giving out water bottles and anti-human trafficking fliers, and sharing God's love through simple acts of kindness. One volunteer walked from north to west to south of the stadium and back, praying while picking up armfuls of discarded foam fingers and booklets to give out again and was thanked more than once for preventing littering.

Other volunteers continued praying for the outreach efforts, the 60,000+ soccer fans inside the stadium, and the thousands watching outside on large screens in nearby Pioneer Square and other venues around the city. Some even offered gratefully-received prayers to the numerous police officers and security personnel patrolling the area on foot, on bicycles, and in squad cars.

This, the first of Seattle’s six global soccer tournament matches, served as a wonderful learning opportunity for the Victory Seattle team. Ask God to give them wisdom and many more volunteers as they prepare for the next match this coming Friday. The next game will draw much larger crowds, providing many more ministry opportunities. Pray, too, for all the churches and individuals around the world planning and hosting watch parties and for thousands more to catch the vision and download or order kits themselves.

If you’re interested in joining in, check out the Victory Beyond the Cup website here. To learn more about what is happening in Seattle, check out this story.