Churches across England now have access to free resources to help them engage with the Commonwealth Games, which is to be held in Birmingham in summer 2022.
Basketball Sports Ministry Diocese of Norwich Sports Factory, Norwich

Sports Chaplaincy UK, in partnership with the Church of England and others, has created the KITBAG suite of resources. 

KITBAG will prepare, train, educate and empower the local grassroots church for a life of sports mission before, during, and after the Commonwealth Games 2022.

The Games, which bring together 72 nations, are being hailed as a unique opportunity to showcase the West Midlands on the global stage when it begins on July 28 next year.

Developed by representatives from the Church of England, Salvation Army, Scripture Union, and Sports Chaplaincy UK, KITBAG is not simply resources and will begin as a monthly prayer meeting in order to seek opportunities offered by the Games. 

Natalie Andrews, National Sport Project Officer in the Church of England's Evangelism and Discipleship department, said: "'I am looking forward to Christians coming together in this intentional way, to listen to God, our contexts, one another, and the opportunities for mission that the Commonwealth Games offers in each place.

"I'm sure that the KITBAG will be a helpful journey and resource to discover how we might join in through Sport with what God is already doing."

The Church of England already champions efforts to reach people via sport. Seven dioceses, including Birmingham, have taken part in a pilot project to include sport and wellbeing into the “mission” activities. 

Previously Sports Chaplaincy UK have supported communities across the world at previous Games beginning in Delhi in 2010. 

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Source URL: https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/stories-and-features/commonwealth-games-resources-churches-launched