Aotearoa Sports Sunday,
May 17th, 2026.

Each year, Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand collaborates with Global Sports Sunday - a call for churches to express God’s love for people in sport through prayer/karakia.

Every day, people of all cultures and communities around the world gather and enjoy sport. Here in Aotearoa New Zealand, around 4 million people of all ages and ethnicities engage in sport or active recreation weekly, with a large proportion of those in an organised sport. With this number of people involved in sport, praying for people in sport is very much an opportunity to pray for our nation.

Are you ready to get in the game? You can pick any day that works for you, or join in on our national date, May 17th 2026. Join us on Aotearoa Sports Sunday to pray for the world of sport!​​​​​​​

 

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

We would love 100+ churches take up this initiative and focus one Sunday on the sports community on their doorstep.​​​​​​​ Aotearoa Sport Sunday is a simple, practical way for your church to serve your local sports community. Whether you give five minutes in your service or shape the whole Sunday around sport, we make it easy. Registration is free, resources are provided, and we support you to build a service plan that fits your context.

From city churches to rural fellowships, Sport Sunday helps your church step into its community with purpose. Join the movement and discover how sport can open doors for connection, care, and prayer - registration and resources are free!

How it works in three easy steps...

Step 1
Register your interest

Fill out our registration form to let us know if you're keen to run a Sports Sunday at your church.

You can join us on May 17th 2026, or choose a week that works best for you and the church you're running Sports Sunday at.

Step 2
Get prepped

Speak to your church leader to plan the service outline.

Then, download our free resources in preparation for your Sports Sunday. We have lots on offer from sermon outlines through to ads for the church notices/screens.​​​​​​​

Step 3
Sports Sunday!

Sport Sunday will help you focus your church on the amazing opportunities for community engagement that sport presents.​​​​​​​

Register, get prepped, and ask the people in your church if they are willing to
GET IN THE GAME!

Last Year's Aotearoa Sports Sunday - A Nation United in Prayer.

Aotearoa Sports Sunday 2025 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.