Our Mission

Christian Football Union of Ukraine (CFUU) was started as a platform for Christian coaches and clubs in Ukraine in 2016. Key leaders of existing soccer ministries agreed to work together to develop and grow soccer ministries in Ukraine. Through CFUU we provide educational programs for coaches in the sport and discipleship. Mentors and friends of CFUU have many years of experience and a lot of practical knowledge that helps us become better coaches and disciple-makers.
Approximately 90% of the kids and families from our clubs in the network don't have any other connections with followers of Jesus except a COACH. Christian Football Clubs in Ukraine provide year-round programs. Most of the clubs in our network participate in local, regional, or national competitions.
CFUU is a platform for leagues, tournaments, and camps for Christian clubs. Through these events, we encourage new ministries to grow and strengthen Christian values and good sportsmanship in a world where sports are run by other rules. 

Within our network, we share available resources and help each other according to each Union member's ability and need. 

My, Andrii, experience in local ministry helps create resources for camps and practices and facilitate educational programs for coaches of the Christian Football Union of Ukraine. Also, because of our partners, we are in a position to support clubs and individual coaches with resources and equipment for ongoing ministry. 

Before February 24, 2022, there were 34 active soccer ministries in Ukraine, where around 1800 players participated on a regular basis. War influenced all coaches and ministries. As of December 2024, we have 24 active ministries that serve 1460 kids in Ukraine.

Sport is a language of this world. Many people are involved in sports at different levels. We use sport to make connections and disciple kids and families.

Since 2006, I, Andrii served as a coach at 3 soccer ministries in Ukraine, Budapest, and the USA. As a Coach, I am able to fill the role of mentor and role model for the players on my teams. It is important because many players grow up without present fathers and as coaches, we are able to speak into the lives of young people. In our clubs, we teach life, not just sport. We have a year-round program where we have opportunities to influence our players 24/7. 

As a coach, I want to grow all the time. I want to be the best version of myself so all the players would grow the most. We often provide the best learning experience in soccer and that makes our program more appealing to parents. 

We do our Bible teaching every practice. All the kids have the opportunity to hear and learn the whole story of the Bible from a very early age. When parents see positive changes in the lives of their kids some of them become more interested in God. One of the key values of our ministry is the involvement of the parents so the whole family can hear the Gospel and become followers of Jesus.

We consider our part of the Great Commission of Jesus as going into the world of soccer; building life-long relationships with kids and parents and helping them become disciples of Jesus.

Ministry in Budapest

After the war began we ended up in Budapest, Hungary. In the beginning, we partnered with local churches and helped refugees from Ukraine find a safe place in Hungary and Europe. 

In April 2022, when we already had so many people from Ukraine in Budapest. We thought about ways to serve them. Most of the people were women with kids. Kids didn’t have many friends, they didn’t have their fathers as role models, there were not many opportunities to do sport, and many of them had traumas because of war. Through sports, we were able to do discipleship and answer those needs.

120+ kids participated in the program since April 2022. We used the same approach to teach kids the Bible, develop character, and bring hope by using football as a tool. 

Ministry in San Antonio, USA

In December 2023, we arrived in the USA. We do soccer camps with churches and schools, and we continue to use soccer as a tool to communicate the most important message of salvation here in the USA.