Our Mission

Football Camps are essential to the program for local ministries and for the Christian Football Union of Ukraine. Thousands of kids have gone through our programs since 2008. Christian Football Camps are about growth and development. Development and growth in the sport and in the Spiritual area.
Most of the boys want to become professional players and when we give them a good quality program according to their skills and they get what they want we are in a position to speak into their lives as we are not random coaches anymore but people who are interested in their development and growth in all areas of life. It gives us an amazing opportunity to be heard by this young generation.
Very often camps became a momentum for the spiritual growth of campers. Camps often become a start for ministry in new locations. Camps are always a fun and big reward for kids who take part in them. 

We want to do our camps very strategically so we would be able to:

• strengthen local ministries, 

• help to establish new football clubs or ministries in the community, 

• equip young coaches and assistants to full-time ministry. 

In the summer of 2022, we did 4 camps in Europe and helped to do another 19 day camps in Ukraine. Our ministry was able to provide a program, equipment, and funds to run them. 1050 kids participated and more than 100 coaches and volunteers ran a program for them. Kids received not only physical activities and fun but also a message of hope in this time of war.

In the summer of 2023, we did 4 camps in Europe and helped to do another 19 day camps in Ukraine. 1173 kids participated in a program, and 177 coaches and volunteers served those kids. 

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. 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. 

Christian Football Union of Ukraine (CFUU) was started as a platform for Christian coaches in Ukraine in 2016. Key leaders of 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.
Christian Football Clubs in Ukraine run a year-round program. 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. 

My, Andrii, experience in local ministry helps create resources and facilitate the Christian Football Union of Ukraine. 

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. At this moment of war, we have 22 active ministries that serve 1350 kids from Ukraine.