The 2026 Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Youth Games are serving not only as a sporting event but also as a major evangelism drive, with the ministry using football and other disciplines to reach young people across Lagos and nearby communities.
Sport becomes a platform for evangelism
Through its Explosive Evangelism Initiative (EEI), the MFM Evangelism Ministry is taking Christian outreach to places where young people naturally gather. Its approach is built on a straightforward idea: connect with youths through their interests, then create an opportunity for them to hear the Gospel.
The ministry said sporting activities make room for conversation, counselling, mentorship and preaching. Those interactions, it added, allow participants to encounter Christian teachings and make personal decisions about their faith.
More than 1,000 young people have reportedly accepted Christ through the sports evangelism programme. Several others have taken part in deliverance programmes and are now working as changed agents and evangelists.
The campaign has reached a number of football grounds and sports venues in Lagos, including:
- Abete Ground, Iwaya
- IBB Field, Oworonsoki
- Ajayi Field, Bariga
- Argentina Playing Ground
- Sura Field, Eko
- Itire Playing Ground, Surulere
- Police College Field, Ikeja
At those locations, players, spectators and other attendees receive prayers and messages centred on salvation, hope and deliverance while the competitions take place.
Youth Games carry a spiritual mission
At the principal venue, Mountain Top University in Prayer City, the competition has developed into more than a medal contest. The Evangelism Ministry views the Games as an opportunity to plant seeds of faith and inspire young people.
Pastor Bola Aruna, the national coordinator of the MFM Evangelism Ministry, and Pastor Afolabi Joseph Olaniyi, coordinator of EEI Group 5, said General Overseer Dr Daniel Kolawole Olukoya established the initiative with the objective of winning souls for Christ.
They said the programme had enabled the ministry, by God’s grace, to take the Christian message to young people and communities through sport.
Evangelists deliver salvation messages to competitors and spectators, distribute MFM gospel tracts and Fire in Word booklets, and conduct one-to-one outreach. The organisers said the programme combines spiritual engagement with football, basketball, athletics, volleyball and other activities in a relaxed setting.
They added that sport encourages teamwork, unity and peaceful relationships, while giving the ministry access to youths who are deeply passionate about competition. According to the organisers, many converts have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour, completed deliverance programmes and begun leading others to Christ.
The organisers believe the timing is important because Nigerian youths are confronting several serious pressures, including:
- Peer influence and pressure
- Unemployment
- Substance abuse
- Uncertainty over the future
MFM says combining exercise with spiritual direction provides constructive alternatives and supports the development of young people in spiritual, moral and social areas.
As the Games continue, the evangelistic effort is expected to reach additional athletes, officials, supporters and visitors with the message of Christ.
Part of a wider youth development plan
The MFM Youth Games form part of the “Youth Repositioning Agenda”, a 70-point programme for holistic empowerment created by Dr Daniel Olukoya, the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Worldwide. The agenda seeks to rescue young people from harmful vices, confront unemployment and strengthen their spiritual, moral and economic capabilities.
Its broader purpose is to give talented Nigerian youths the chance to develop their abilities to the highest possible level, bring them closer to Christ and help them fulfil their purpose.
More than 1,000 boys, girls and adults from MFM Mega Regions are taking part in competitions across several sports:
- Football
- Basketball
- Athletics
- Table tennis
- Chess
- Scrabble
The organisers maintain that the Games are designed to do more than stage sporting contests. They aim to discover and develop talent, turn ability into productive skills and teach discipline, cooperation, leadership and resilience.
They also want young participants to recognise that their current circumstances do not determine the limits of their future. With appropriate guidance, opportunity and commitment, the organisers said, talent can support personal growth and make a valuable contribution to society.
Athletes and coaches have welcomed the event, expressing happiness about the competition and saying it is drawing them closer to Christ while also helping them discover more about themselves.
By uniting youths through sport and fair competition, the MFM Youth Games are building a community that encourages participants to dream, identify their God-given purpose and pursue it alongside the salvation messages delivered during the event.
