Sports Testimonies
51 stories of God's work from believers across 47 locations.
Athletics, competition, fitness
All 51 Testimonies
Andre Hal: From Cancer Diagnosis to NFL Comeback
🇺🇸Houston, Texas, USA
Andre Hal, starting safety for the Houston Texans, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in May 2018.
Runner Carried Collapsed Rival Across the Finish Line
2023-03-15•🇰🇪Kisumu, Kenya
A Kenyan runner stopped during a marathon to carry his collapsed rival across the finish line.
Runner Collapsed at KM 39 — Stranger Carried Him to Finish
2022•🇪🇹Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
A marathon runner collapsed at km 39 and cried out to God — a stranger sacrificed his personal best to carry him to the finish line, and both men found faith.
Mexican Wrestler Left Fame to Serve Children Under a Bridge
2019•🇲🇽Mexico City, Mexico
A Mexican professional wrestler quit at his career's peak after God told him children living under a bridge needed him — he has sheltered 43 street...
Paralysed Rugby Player Walked After Team Gathered to Pray
2022•🇿🇦Pretoria, South Africa
A South African rugby player suffered a C5-C6 spinal injury that doctors said would leave him permanently paralysed.
Adam Peaty Found Jesus After Olympic Gold Could Not Fill the Void
🏴Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England
Adam Peaty, two-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in swimming, battled depression and alcoholism after Tokyo 2020 before finding faith in Jesus through an Olympic chaplain — declaring at the 2024 Paris Olympics that his relationship with Christ mattered more than gold.
Bethany Hamilton Worshipped Her Way Back After Losing Her Arm
2003-2004•🇺🇸Kauai, Hawaii, USA
Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack at age thirteen, credits her resilience and recovery to a lifetime of worship.
A Faith Revival Swept Through Ohio State Football — Then They Won It All
🇺🇸Columbus, Ohio, United States
A Bible study led by Ohio State tight end Gee Scott Jr. grew from 5 to 60+ players, leading to teammate baptisms, a campus-wide faith revival covered by NPR, and a national championship season documented in the "Redemption" docuseries seen by 44 million viewers.
AJ Griffin Walked Away from the NBA at 21 to Follow Jesus
🇺🇸Ossining, New York / Atlanta, Georgia, United States
AJ Griffin, the No. 16 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, retired from professional basketball at age 21 after two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks to follow Jesus into full-time ministry — a decision rooted in a faith journey that began during COVID-19 in 2020.
Rugby Player Paralysed in Scrum Collapse Found Purpose Coaching Wheelchair Rugby
2021-10•🇬🇧Pontypridd, Wales, United Kingdom
A Welsh rugby player paralysed in a scrum collapse was furious at God until a persistent hospital chaplain broke through.
Tim Tebow's Divine Game
2025•🇺🇸Jacksonville, Florida, United States
NFL star Tim Tebow's faith journey through career challenges culminated in a miraculous 2012 game where he threw for exactly 316 yards, mirroring John...
Jesus Christ Is Coming Alive in Me
1977•🇵🇷Puerto Rico
Legendary boxer George Foreman had a dramatic encounter with Jesus in his dressing room after a 1977 fight, leading to complete spiritual transformation...
Tony Dungy's Journey of Faith
2007•🇺🇸Jackson, Michigan, USA
NFL coach Tony Dungy became the first African American head coach to win a Super Bowl in 2007, crediting his Christian faith for shaping his coaching...
Russell Wilson's Journey of Faith
2023•🇺🇸Seattle, Washington, USA
NFL quarterback Russell Wilson shares how God guided his career through prophetic dreams, sustained him through his father's death, and helped him...
Bobby Bowden's Faithful Legacy
1953•🇺🇸Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Legendary football coach Bobby Bowden's testimony of divine healing from rheumatic fever at age 13, leading to a lifelong ministry through sports at...
From Gridiron to Global Impact
2020s•🇵🇭Makati, Philippines
NFL quarterback Tim Tebow's journey from missionary kid in the Philippines to using his sports platform to boldly share his Christian faith and serve...
From Grocery Shelves to NFL Glory
1990s-2000s•🇺🇸Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
Kurt Warner's journey from stocking grocery shelves to NFL Super Bowl champion shows how God transforms lives through faith and perseverance during...
Eric Liddell: The Olympian Who Chose His Children
1943-1945•🇨🇳Weihsien Camp, Shandong, China
Olympic gold medallist Eric Liddell sends his family to safety during WWII and spends his final years caring for children in a Japanese internment camp,...
Bethany Hamilton's Unstoppable Faith
31 Oct 2003•🇺🇸Kauai, Hawaii, United States
Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton lost her arm to a shark attack at 13 but returned to competition through unwavering faith.
Jackie Robinson - Breaking Barriers with Faith
1947•🇺🇸New York, Kings County, United States
Jackie Robinson's Christian faith gave him strength to break baseball's color barrier in 1947, enduring hatred without retaliation and changing America...
Faith Beyond the Waves
31 Oct 2003•Tunnels Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
13-year-old surfer Bethany Hamilton lost her arm in a shark attack but returned to competition surfing in just one year through unwavering faith in God,...
A Late Prophecy Given on Time
1 Jan 2024•🇬🇷Thessaloniki, Greece
A prophetic word given for someone named Bradly sat in a computer for two years until God brought it to the right person at exactly the right moment in...
Demario Davis: An NFL Linebacker's Daughter
🇺🇸New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Demario Davis, NFL linebacker for the New Orleans Saints, learned that his young daughter had a cancerous tumour.
The University Sprinter Who Would Not Run on Sunday
1920s•🇫🇷Edinburgh, Scotland / Paris, France
Eric Liddell, a science student at the University of Edinburgh, refused to run the 100 metres at the 1924 Olympics because the heats fell on a Sunday.
Kirk Cousins
2020•🇺🇸Holland, Michigan, United States
NFL quarterback Kirk Cousins shares how God used a career-threatening ankle injury in high school to deepen his faith and ultimately guide him to...
Coach Kennedy: Fired for Praying, Vindicated by Supreme Court
2022•🇺🇸Bremerton, Washington, USA
High school football coach Joseph Kennedy was fired for silently praying at the 50-yard line after games.
From Despair to Cy Young
2012•🇺🇸Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Baseball player R.A. Dickey overcame childhood trauma, career setbacks, and suicidal thoughts through faith in God, transforming from minor league...
Josh Hamilton: MLB Star's Addiction and Redemption
2005•🇺🇸Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
MLB star Josh Hamilton overcame severe drug addiction through faith in Jesus Christ, transforming from a broken addict to MVP player and devoted family man.
Purdue Athletes: 13 Publicly Baptized at "Christ Changed Me" Night
🇺🇸Indiana, USA
13 Purdue University athletes were baptized at a November 2025 "Christ Changed Me" night, part of a broader college football revival.
From Baseball to the Pulpit
1886•🇺🇸Chicago, Illinois, United States
Baseball player Billy Sunday's life transformed in 1886 Chicago when he encountered Jesus at Pacific Garden Mission, leading him to leave his sports...
From Racing Fame to Faith
2016•🇺🇸Owensboro, Kentucky, USA
NASCAR champion Darrell Waltrip found faith after a life-threatening crash led him to question his eternal destiny and surrender his racing idols to...
Reggie White: Minister on the Field
1980s-2000s•🇺🇸Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
NFL legend Reggie White used his football career as a platform to share his faith, experienced miraculous healing from a hamstring injury that should...
From Grocery Clerk to NFL Glory
1990s-2010s•🇺🇸Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA
NFL quarterback Kurt Warner went from stocking grocery shelves for $5.50/hour to Super Bowl MVP, crediting his deepened Christian faith and God's...
From Cricket Star to Missionary
1880s-1931•🏴Spratton, Northamptonshire, England
Famous cricket star C.T. Studd abandoned his successful sports career and fortune to become a missionary after recommitting his life to Christ during a...
Faith and Waves: Bethany's Journey
31 Oct 2003•Tunnels Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton's faith in Jesus Christ sustained her through a devastating shark attack that severed her arm, leading to her...
From Baseball Star to Evangelist
1886 or 1887•🇺🇸Chicago, Illinois, USA
Professional baseball player Billy Sunday's life was transformed in 1886 Chicago when he heard the gospel at Pacific Garden Mission, leading him to...
From Paralysis to Praise
Dec 2022•🇺🇸Colorado, United States
Ethiopian runner Naomi Bogale was completely paralyzed after a car accident broke her back, but through faith and prayer, she experienced miraculous...
Faith Through the Waves
31 Oct 2003•🇺🇸Lihue, Hawaii, USA
Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton lost her arm in a shark attack at 13 but found God's peace immediately after. She returned to surfing 26 days later.
A.C. Green
2013•🇺🇸Herston, Oregon, USA
NBA star A.C. Green's testimony of how God transformed his life at 17, giving him strength to maintain his values and virginity throughout a 16-year NBA...
Derek Carr
2025•🇺🇸Fresno, California, USA
NFL quarterback Derek Carr's testimony of returning to faith after drifting away during college, sparked by his future wife's challenging letter and...
From Cricket Star to Christ's Missionary
1885•🇨🇬Cambridge, England; China; Ootacamund, South India; Ibambi, Belgian Congo
Famous English cricket star C.T. Studd abandoned wealth and sporting fame after his conversion to follow Christ as a missionary to China, India, and...
Faith Fueled Olympic Triumph
June 2018•🇺🇸East St. Louis, Illinois, USA
Olympic champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee overcame poverty and asthma to win gold medals, crediting her faith in God for her athletic success and founding a...
CT Studd: A Life of Sacrifice
1800s•🇨🇳Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
CT Studd played for England in the famous 1882 Ashes match before encountering D.L. Moody.
From Athlete to Evangelist
1950s•🇵🇷Camuy, Puerto Rico
Olympic athlete Yiye Ávila from Puerto Rico experienced miraculous healing from severe arthritis through faith and prayer, transforming from bedridden...
Bear Grylls
2023•🏴Isle of Wight, England
Bear Grylls found faith at 16 after his godfather's death, leading to a personal relationship with Christ that sustained him through dangerous...
Saquon Barkley: NFL Star's Unexpected Conversion on a Golf Course
🇺🇸Pennsylvania, USA
NFL superstar Saquon Barkley revealed his recent conversion to Christianity while filming a YouTube golf video in 2025.
John Metchie III: From Leukaemia Diagnosis to NFL
🇺🇸Houston, Texas, USA
John Metchie III, a British-Nigerian-Canadian wide receiver drafted by the Houston Texans, was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) in 2022.
Scott Hamilton: Fear Flipped to Peace
🇺🇸Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Olympic skater Scott Hamilton faced testicular cancer and three brain tumours. Fear flipped to peace when his wife prayed — the most powerful moment of his.
From Soccer Stardom to True Fulfillment
2025•🇦🇷Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
Lucas, a professional soccer player from Rosario, Argentina, struggled with emptiness despite his fame. After a profound encounter with Jesus through the guidance of a chaplain, he found true fulfillment and purpose, transforming his life and career.
Grant Teaff: The Miracle on the Brazos
1972•🇺🇸Snyder, Texas / Waco, Texas, USA
Football coach Grant Teaff experienced God's direction after a near-death experience, transforming Baylor's losing football program into the 'Miracle on...
Stephen Curry
2020s•🇺🇸Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
NBA star Stephen Curry's faith testimony shows how childhood faith in Christ shaped his basketball career and leadership, overcoming setbacks through...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jesus still doing incredible things today?
Yes! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Grace Record contains testimonies from believers in Jesus spanning from the early church to today. These are real stories of God's faithfulness, the power of Jesus, and the work of the Holy Spirit across generations and around the world.
Are there testimonies of sports?
Yes. The Grace Record contains 51 testimonies of sports through faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. 44 are from the modern era (2000-present).
How can I share my testimony of what Jesus has done?
Download Doxa to submit your testimony of what Jesus has done in your life to The Grace Record. Your story of God's faithfulness can encourage other believers facing similar situations and demonstrate the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.
God is still doing amazing things around the world
The Grace Record is a growing archive of testimonies demonstrating God's faithfulness across generations. On Doxa, you can explore testimonies, save stories for encouragement, and record your own testimony to strengthen others.
“I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old.”
Psalm 77:11