When a Prayer Goes Viral: How One Coach’s Courage Sparked a Movement

In a country made up of thousands of islands and even more unique cultures, a quiet movement is beginning—one that could change everything for people who have never heard the name of Jesus.

For security reasons, we can’t tell you his real name, but “Adi” grew up loving sports and quietly following Jesus in a nation where being open about your faith can come at a cost. Today, he’s trained in facilitating SportLife—a discipleship tool that uses sports to spark spiritual conversations—and God recently opened a door he never expected.

Out of nowhere, Adi was invited to meet with his country’s national sports federation. They’d heard about his work and wanted to learn more. That conversation led to more conversations—with coaches, athletes, and leaders who hold influence over the sporting world in his country. Then came a stunning invitation: Adi was asked to attend the 2024 Paris Olympics.

While in Paris, Adi and another missionary met with a coach from his home country—one of the few believers involved at that level. Before the games began, the three stood together in a quiet corner and prayed. They prayed for the athletes, for the coaches, for their country, and that Jesus would be known in places He is not yet known.

What happened next surprised everyone.

Someone captured the prayer and posted it to social media. The video went viral. People were drawn to the peace, purpose, and unity shown in that moment. Suddenly, Adi’s quiet work wasn’t so quiet anymore. Invitations began pouring in from churches and communities around the country—asking if he could help them share Jesus through sport.

In a place where over 30% of the people groups are considered unreached, these open doors are nothing short of miraculous.

To support this expanding work, Adi submitted a proposal to receive Hope Balls that could help launch missional sport communities in these newly invited places. That proposal was recently approved, and the first shipments are already being planned.

Please pray for Adi as he travels to new communities and equips local churches to reach young people through sport. And pray for those who have yet to hear—that they would come to know the One who answers when we pray.