Ballers in God founder John Bostock: ‘The pitch has been my pulpit’

It was 2008 when John Bostock first hit the national headlines. The 16-year-old had transferred from Crystal Palace, the club where he had been since he was six years old, to Tottenham Hotspur. But the move from south to north London proved controversial, with a legal battle ensuing over the £700,000 compensation that Palace received for their ‘wonderkid’. Bostock, the youngest ever Eagles player, became the youngest player to make his first team debut at Spurs, too. And he turned down a ten-year contract offer from Barcelona to do so.

Touted as the next big thing in football, Bostock had what so many young men dream of. But when first team opportunities dried up and his contract at Spurs expired, he considered quitting football altogether. 

What follows is a remarkable story of following God’s lead through times of trial and difficulty. Bostock has captained England’s U17 squad, scored goals at Wembley and won Ligue 2 player of the year in France. But he has also been without a professional contract for periods of time and played at 16 different clubs in five different countries. 

It is, he concedes, not what he thought his career would look like when he became a Christian, aged 14. After seeing his sister’s life transformed by Christ and hearing his footballing hero, Kaka, speak of his faith in Jesus, he assumed Christianity would result in a similar route to stardom for him, too. Coming to terms with the fact that God might have other plans was painful. 

I had given God everything but my career

In 2015, Bostock started Ballers in God, a ministry that provides discipleship to professional footballers and helps them grow in their faith. It was borne primarily out of Bostock’s own need for Christian community while playing football overseas. Today, more than 600 players around the world meet regularly for discipleship, Bible study and prayer, and there is even a wives and girlfriends ministry led by Bostock’s wife. Their Instagram account, which is full of inspirational videos and quotes from footballers sharing their faith, has more than half a million followers (@ballersingod).

Bostock admits he would not have chosen the path that his career took. But it has gifted him a wisdom that is, as the Bible says in Proverbs 3: “more profitable than silver…more precious than rubies”. Today, he is more passionate than ever about sharing those hard-won lessons with others just starting out – and seeing the name of Jesus “lifted high” in the world of professional football. 

Has faith always been part of your life, or did you become a Christian later? 

Faith has always been part of my journey, although my faith was in myself, unfortunately! By 14, I had a lot of big questions about life, but no big answers. 

Around that time, I saw my older sister’s life completely change. I asked her: “Tara, what’s happened to you?” She said: “I’m a Christian now.” The next day, Kaka, one of the most famous football players, won the Ballon d’Or. He said: “I give the glory to Jesus.” I thought: Maybe if I go to church, God could help me win the Ballon d’Or. 

So, I went to church hoping God could help me, not knowing that the gospel was what I really needed! I gave my life to Jesus that day, and my life has never been the same. 

So you became a Christian just before your footballing career took off. Was it all plain sailing from there?

I thought it was going to be easy! I thought: I’ve got the talent…a little bit of Jesus on top and this is going to be a walk in the park. I really thought God was going to join me in building my future, not knowing that the call of discipleship is to die to your own desires and build his kingdom. That’s where you find real joy and fulfilment. 

How does your faith help you as a professional footballer?

[There were times when] I felt like: If I honour God, he’s going to bless me. And God does bless you, but the blessing might look like defeat. The most blessed moment in history was a cross. It didn’t look like victory, but it was.

I’ve realised that there’s a temptation to come away from God when things get difficult, but God wants us to draw even closer to him.

No matter what way you look at it, it’s a business, and footballers are commodities. One minute you’re the flavour of the month, the next minute, they’ve forgotten you. For a Christian, football reminds you weekly not to put your trust in people. Scripture says: “Blessed is a man who trusts in God, but cursed is a man who trusts in man” [See Jeremiah 17:5-7). If you live for people’s acceptance, you’ll die by their rejection. 

Football is a team sport, but it’s the most individualistic team sport in the world. It can be very lonely at times and knowing God is with you changes everything. People ask me: “John, faith is a big part of your life, right?” I say: “No, it is my life.” Jesus isn’t just the cherry on top anymore. He’s the whole cake. 

You were 21 when your contract at Tottenham expired. That was a difficult moment for you – what happened?

Not many clubs were interested. I prayed: “God, if you want me to retire now, at 21, and go into full-time ministry, would you tell me? Because I’m done. My confidence is so low.” I sensed the Lord say: “Son, now you’re ready, but do it for me.” I was really confused. I had a cell group at my house. I was in church. I was trying to live a pure life. I never drank alcohol, never went clubbing. I was like: “What do you mean, now I’m ready?” 

I came to understand that I had given God everything, but my career? I was holding on to that so tightly. When I said: “God, I’m willing to let it go”, it was like God said: “OK, do it for me now.” It wasn’t about the John Bostock show. It was about how I could use my talent to glorify God. 

A Christian without a church is like a baby without a home

You still feel the disappointments but the Lord constantly reminds you that you’re doing it for reasons bigger than yourself. I’ve been on a long journey, one that I would never have chosen, but God helped me to realise we’re footballing missionaries. We don’t always go where we want to go. We go where we’re sent. 

I used to think that I would have my career, and then I would go into ministry. But the pitch has been my pulpit. It’s a very unique position to have. A football player has a level of influence that not many people have. 

There have been some incredible highs, but there’s also been lows. But I see now why God has taken me through that. I can understand almost all situations that a player will go through. 

Did you ever feel angry with God?

There have been moments when I’ve questioned God. Look at Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Even he questions the Father. But in the end, he said: “Not my will, but your will be done” (Luke 22:42). That’s the posture I have. God invites us to question and not be fearful of expressing ourselves. He says we can come boldly before the throne of grace (see Hebrews 4:16). We’re not to hide those things away.

Tell us about Ballers in God. What is it and what is the intention behind it? 

Ballers in God is a pro-to-pro football ministry. We’re a disciple-making, soul-winning movement in the beautiful game. It was birthed in 2015 out of a longing in my heart, really. I moved from Spurs and went to Belgium to play for Antwerp. I felt quite isolated in my faith. I prayed: “God, what do I do?” I sensed that if I was struggling, other players must be going through the same thing. So, I called a few players and asked them: “How do you fancy coming online once a month just to pray, read the word, encourage each other?” 

When people see Ballers in God, they might see the online brand, but the heartbeat is a community that serves professional players. We’ve baptised players, won many to the Lord, sowed even more seeds. 

Not every player has to reveal ‘I belong to Jesus’ after every single goal. But at the same time, we need to be unashamed of our faith.

Your Instagram account highlights professional footballers speaking about their faith. Are you praying people might watch those clips and think: OK, if that famous footballer thinks Jesus is cool, maybe I’ll look into him too?

We get messages like that all the time. Parents saying: “My son’s a footballer. He won’t come to church, but he follows your ministry, and through that, he’s given his life to Jesus.” I just think: Wow! Thank you, Lord.

Football breaks down barriers. There’s been Christians in the game for years, but now there’s a centralised place where their voices can be heard. And because of that, players see other players being bold, and it encourages them to step out. In the UK, there’s talk of young people turning back to the Lord, and I think players are recognising that football is an instrument God wants to use.

Do you find it difficult to attend church, either because you’re playing or because of your public profile?

I find it difficult, and other players have told me they find it difficult. When they go to church, people just want to talk to them about football. I get it, but it does provide a challenge. That’s why Ballers in God has been a help. Players realise: OK, I might not be able to get to church on Sunday, but I can still be in the body of Christ. 

How can churches better support elite athletes?

If you support a team, pray for them. At one of our regional hubs, a guy who plays for Fleetwood Town FC has been seeing a lot of fruit. He’s won souls to the Lord. Even the manager and staff have been saying: “Can you pray for us?” It’s incredible. A lady came up to him at church and said: “I’ve been praying for the last five years for a Christian player to come to Fleetwood.” He was just so humbled. He was operating by faith, but in the background, there’s faithful, non-footballing people praying. 

I would take inspiration from that. Whatever your local club is, pray that God would raise people up to be a light and to raise the banner of Jesus high in the world of football. 

It’s also a political minefield for pro footballers, isn’t it? This season, we’ve seen Liverpool’s Cody Gapko sanctioned by the FA for lifting his shirt to reveal an “I belong to Jesus” message. Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi came under fire for writing “Jesus  You” on his Pride armband.

Scripture speaks about having zeal, but also wisdom [see Proverbs 19:2]. Not every player has to reveal “I belong to Jesus” after every single goal. But at the same time, we need to be unashamed of our faith. Was Jesus politically correct? Absolutely not. But the angle he came from was always love, even in his correction. 

We encourage players to be bold. We don’t tell them to wear shirts, although we do sell “I belong to Jesus” shirts! We have conversations around Pride month. What are our thoughts about the rainbow laces? We talk about these things and pray about them. Marc Guéhi wore the armband, but then he wrote “Jesus  You” over it, which was incredibly powerful. There will be persecution when you make a stand for Jesus, but he’s always worth it.

What’s it like for young professional footballers these days? When you’re being paid so much money, how do young Christians retain their faith and resist temptation?

The money in football now is another level. But some things that helped me were: I had a humble family that kept my feet on the ground. I had a pastor who mentored me. I wasn’t just attending church; I was a member of my church. They had the access to speak into my life, correct me, challenge me, disciple me. 

Players need people around them. The word of God says: “In the multitude of [counsel], there is safety” [Proverbs 11:14, NKJV].

A Christian without a church is like a baby without a home. We need to be plugged in somewhere that is healthy for us to grow. 

What challenge do you most often find yourself supporting pro footballers with? 

I think fear of the future. The instability of football, you know? You have a contract, and you’re out of contract. A lot of players have a subconscious fear of: What’s next and will I be OK? Will God keep me? 

Relationships are also huge: being in the right relationship, choosing the right spouse, working out your relationship as a fiancé or partner or husband. When you are married, sometimes your wife takes a backseat. They’re dealing with the practical challenges, like having to take children out of school to move to another country. Even at church, my wife says people would just ask her about my career. It’s like she’s invisible sometimes. 

Originally, I saw Ballers in God as serving the players. But it’s the families, too. Your marriage is your first ministry after serving the Lord. Children are your legacy. It’s not easy to be excellent in your field and also a strong family member. There are countless stories of sportsmen and women who didn’t get the balance right. We are trying to help players ensure that when their career comes to an end, they don’t have a big clean-up job to do.

Have you had to reckon with that in your own marriage?

Many times! My wife has said to me: “John, you’re putting Ballers in God before the family.” I’ve had to repent and say to my wife: “I’m really sorry. I’ve been trying to grow this ministry and serve players, when the people in my home have not been served.” It’s humbling. I can have a big impact through preaching and seeing the Lord move, and then realise I’ve missed the mark at home. 

I’ve got better over the years, by the grace of God. I ask her: “Am I doing OK? Is the balance OK?” But it’s not easy. 

As the football season begins, what is your prayer for the year ahead?

That more and more players would be bold in their faith. And that football followers would be inspired and consider Jesus because of it.  

To hear the full interview, listen to Premier Christian Radio at 8pm on Saturday 9 August or download ‘The Profile’ podcast premierchristianity.com/theprofile