Representing Christ in your sport can take a lot of courage and faith. It can be especially challenging when it comes to playing sport away from home. Whether you go away representing your team, region, or even country, there are always difficulties.

Being away from your family, friends and sometimes normal coaches and training environments means that representing Jesus can be even more tricky than at home. You may be going away to places either within the UK or abroad with people who you haven’t met before and may face new situations and environments that you have never experienced.

For me, when going away with people who I don’t know all that well, I am tempted just to fit in with them and blend in with the team, even if I know that some of the stuff they do is wrong. It can be scary standing out just because you are different or a Christian or don’t agree with some of the things the rest of the team do.  With most tours or competitions away from home, the banter between rival teams can become quite cutting and hurtful. It can be difficult not to join in with this “psyching out” because of the fear of rejection by team mates.

It’s also really common for teams to take over the local bar or pub of wherever they are. Most of the team drinks far too much, especially in other countries where alcohol is cheaper. Not joining in with getting drunk can be a real challenge and test of faith.  Another thing that I find difficult when competing away from home is the pressure to do well. Everyone, especially your team mates, wants you to achieve and it can be very difficult if you don’t perform or play as best as you would have liked. It often feels that you have let down everyone who wanted you to do well.

Another major difficulty that I find faces me is that whilst I’m away is that I tend to spend less time with God than normal. This is because there is a different routine or timetable than at home, and my time with God is more often than not the thing that is reduced or scraped altogether. It is a real effort to find time in the day and it can be very challenging.

When I’m competing away from home, I find it very helpful to remember that I deserved my place in whatever competition, event or tour I attend. Going away with my team is a fantastic experience and often a great learning curve, no matter how well I have done or what I have achieved. Using your God-given talents is awesome opportunity, especially when you’re using them to glorify Him in your sport.  I’ve also found that by standing up for what you believe is right your team mates will tend to respect you more, even if they don’t necessarily show it. Also, by trying to play in a way that honours Christ, members of your team will notice that there is something different and this can provide perfect opportunities to explain about God’s amazing love for us.

Abi  trampolines for a club called Red Kites Trampoline Club based in Bridgend in Wales.  She competes for Wales and then finally this year for GB!