Day 85: Praying for Christians in sport (1958)

Join with Salvationists of the Wales Division for day 85 of 150 days of prayer.

• ‘Now I will listen to what the Lord God says. He will give peace to his people, to those who serve him’ (Psalm 85:8, EasyEnglish Bible). 

1958

On 19 June 1958 the Wales football team were knocked out of the World Cup, losing in the quarter finals to Brazil – by a single goal scored by Pelé. The ongoing story of Welsh sport is often the story of David and Goliath. Sometimes the slingshot works, but not always, as the Goliath of Brazil proved!

Brazil went on to beat the hosts, Sweden – an event mentioned in the 5 July War Cry in a report on an Army Congress in Stockholm. Under the heading, ‘World Cup Final No Match for Stockholm’s Salvation Victories,’ it said: ‘The flag-bedecked streets of this sport-loving capital are gay tonight as people from many nations, here for the world football cup final, throng the thoroughfares. If there is disappointment among citizens that the national team failed to win the trophy this afternoon, such despondency did not reach the crowded congress meetings which ended this day.’

Prayer

• Pray for Christians in sport who are proclaiming the name of Jesus. 
• Pray for those who are chaplains to sports clubs and events.
• Pray for those who take part in the Army’s annual five-a-side football tournament for people experiencing homelessness, including residents of Tŷ Gobaith Lifehouse in Cardiff.