In the heart of eastern Asia, a remarkable event has quietly grown into a powerful movement of hope and transformation.

The Christmas Cup, once a small gathering of members from a local underground church, has become a staple event in the city. This year, it welcomed over 2,000 people for three consecutive days of competition, celebration, and connection.

This annual event brings together influential sports officials, coaches, and athletes, creating a rare and valuable opportunity to deepen relationships within the sporting community. The 2024 Christmas Cup carried even greater significance as it celebrated the inaugural season of the country's first women's professional soccer league. For years, the Christmas Cup has provided competitive opportunities for female athletes and supported the growth of grassroots women's soccer clubs. Now, with national recognition and professional opportunities, a new era for women in sports is emerging.

This year's women's division was filled with trailblazing athletes who made history during the league's first season. After months apart since the season concluded in September, they reunited in an atmosphere of excitement and camaraderie, reflecting on how far they had come and looking forward to what lies ahead.

Yet, the vision behind the Christmas Cup goes far beyond advancing social change. The event's leaders are deeply committed to seeing hearts and lives transformed by the message of Christ. Each year, after days filled with sports, shared meals, singing, and dancing, the organizers boldly take time to share the true meaning of Christmas. In a country where openly sharing the Gospel is dangerous, this holiday offers a unique and culturally accepted opportunity to speak about Jesus. Despite the risks, the organizers faithfully reveal the hope found in Christ, and many lives have been changed through the annual telling of the Christmas story.

The impact of the Christmas Cup has rippled beyond this city, inspiring other regions to host similar holiday tournaments. Teams have been sent out to help launch these events across the country, spreading both the joy of sport and the message of Jesus. As these teams go out this month, we ask for prayer—that hearts and minds would be open to the Gospel and that, despite strong spiritual opposition, the power of the Holy Spirit would bring widespread transformation.

What began as a small, quiet gathering has become a beacon of hope and change. Through the Christmas Cup, God is working powerfully, using sports as a bridge to reach hearts and share the greatest story ever told.