How rugby and Jesus are transforming lives in Kenya

Thinking about sport and Kenya is likely to conjure up images of wiry athletes running long distances… but, perhaps surprisingly, Kenya’s second most popular sport is rugby.

An offshoot of Life Reformation Centre church, Tearfund partner Sporting Chance International (SCI) aims to improve the lives of people, especially young and needy people, through sport, including rugby.

Fred Osore, Country Director at SCI, believes sharing his faith through sport is an amazing way to reach out to poor and vulnerable people in Githurai, on the outskirts of Nairobi.

Last week, Fred and SCI organised a rugby clinic for pupils at a local school. ‘Most of the children and young people had never even touched a rugby ball before – we introduced the sport to the school.’

One of the coaches was a volunteer from the UK, Charlotte Male, a former elite athlete in the England Ladies Rugby set-up for six years. Around 30 children and young people attended the two-day training camp. They were so taken with the sport that the school has decided to form its own boys’ and girls’ rugby teams.

‘We want to establish centres of excellence in local schools to share the love of Christ with everyone we come into contact with,’ says Fred. ‘Through sport, I believe I can know Christ more and make him known.’

Fred asks for prayer...

• That God will move and change the situations of many of the young people we are working with. That he will be a shield and defender to the orphans.
• That God will provide for my needs so that I can fully focus on this work and give myself to it on full time basis.
• That through our work in sports, many people – both the young people and their parents/guardians – will come to know and accept Jesus as their personal saviour.