Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand

Every day, people from all cultures and communities come together through sport. In Aotearoa New Zealand, around 4 million people take part in sport or active recreation each week. Praying for people in sport is, in many ways, praying for our nation.

In 2025, churches from all over Aotearoa united to support and pray for sports clubs in their local communities. It was encouraging to see congregations learning more about the people, stories, and needs within the sporting world right on their doorstep. The day was filled with engaging content: interviews with chaplains and athletes, inspiring videos, thought-provoking sermons, fun New Zealand sports trivia, and heartfelt prayers, all contributing to a successful Sports Sunday.

Sports Sunday is more than just an annual event; it’s a fantastic opportunity for churches to connect with their communities in a real and relevant way, building bridges of support and sharing God’s love through the universal language of sport.

Aotearoa Sports Sunday 2025 - A Nation United in Prayer.

This year’s Aotearoa Sports Sunday was a powerful reminder of the connection between faith, community, and sport. Across the motu, 28 churches of all sizes came together to pray for their local sports communities - players, coaches, supporters, and clubs.

From Auckland to Invercargill, congregations embraced the opportunity to learn about the needs and opportunities within sport. Many churches featured video stories from local Sports Chaplains, shared New Zealand sports facts, and offered prayer during their services. Some even invited local athletes and club members to join in and share their experiences.

It was inspiring to see churches actively reaching beyond their walls to celebrate and support the people who gather weekly on courts, fields, tracks, and sidelines across the country.

Whether through themed sermons, shared resources, or moments of connection with local teams, Aotearoa Sports Sunday 2025 was a vibrant expression of God’s love for the sporting world, and a step toward building stronger relationships with our communities.

What if your church could make a real impact in your local sports community, just by showing up in prayer?

Aotearoa Sports Sunday is your opportunity to do exactly that. On May 17th 2026, we would love 100+ churches take up this initiative and focus one Sunday on the sports community on their doorstep.

Each year, churches across the country unite to pray for the people in sport - players, coaches, whānau, volunteers, and entire clubs. With nearly 4 million New Zealanders involved in sport or active recreation every week, this is one of the most relevant and powerful ways your church can serve its community.

Whether it's a 5 minute slot within your Sunday service, or a whole service dedicated to the world of sport, Aotearoa Sport Sunday will help you focus your church on the amazing opportunities for community engagement that sport presents.

Whether you're in a city church or a rural fellowship, you can be part of something bigger. Let's stand with our communities, lift them up in prayer, and show the heart of God through sport. Join the movement!