Graduating from university and heading into the world of work can prove one of the biggest challenges life throws up. You may no longer be in a familiar place and you will probably find yourself with far more pressure on your time. Even more so now as we move into a world in the midst of a pandemic.

The world of adult club sport is vast, yet many stop playing sport after university. How can we as Christians in sport continue to take the gospel to this sports-mad country after graduation, even if sport hasn't started up again?

Here are six top tips to help you as you make that transition:

Find a good church

Look out for a church where the Bible is taught faithfully. This will be somewhere you can be well supported and serve and a place you can bring friends.

Researching ahead and then cracking straight on with visiting churches is really helpful, and the best plan is to settle quickly rather than ‘shopping around’ for too long.
Use your time wisely just now to get a feel of churches through their online services. It won't give you the whole picture but it will give you an idea of the teaching before you head to your new place.

No church is perfect! Get in contact with us as we can always help link with you up with people in churches we have contact with.

Find a club

1. Get involved in a club quickly and get stuck in. With lots of potential time commitments in a new place, it’s really important to make sure you prioritise investing in those who don’t yet know Jesus. Set aside time to get to know your teammates. Don’t expect that time to appear naturally, you’ll have to prioritise it and get it in your diary.
   
2. Persevere in this club. Moving from university sport into adult sport is difficult enough as people have less time to socialise and you don’t spend every day together. Many also have families. This can make it difficult to settle and even more so now, in a covid world. For some, sport may not start up at the usual times and those opportunities to spend time together may not be as numerous. Our advice – persevere – for in the long run these friendships will flourish.
   

Be bold

Speak of your faith naturally and normally straight away in your new place and club. Starting on the front foot is really helpful in living and speaking for Jesus in a new setting.

Team up

Look out for those in your church, and other local Christian sportspeople, who can help encourage you to pray, play, say in all of life, including your sport.

Be patient

Often relationships do not form as quickly as we’d hope and we lose heart. Be patient in these moments and continue to invest in church and sport. It is through patience, honesty and vulnerability that relationships grow and we must trust in the Lord’s timing.

Pray

God will sustain and use us wherever we go. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promises His disciples He will be with them always. This is true too for us, wherever we end up.