Living out our faith in today’s world, especially in public schools and weekend sports, can be a real challenge. Sundays are no longer automatically reserved for church. Our family has been seeking ways to stay grounded in our faith while still participating in activities like club sports. We’ve also asked ourselves: How can we set an example for other families? How can we bring Jesus into these moments?

Recently, we had the opportunity to do just that.

Our daughter Aaliyah plays on a club volleyball team, and about a month ago, her coach invited her to play in a tournament that would take place over Easter weekend. At first, our answer was no—Easter is a sacred time for our family, and we serve at church. But after a heartfelt conversation with the coach about the life lessons this experience could offer, we took time to pray and reflect. We began to see it not as a conflict, but as a ministry opportunity.

Aaliyah embraced the challenge. She designed clothespins decorated with Bible verses and the message “Christ is Risen.” She planned to be an evangelist ninja, sharing the clips with other players and families throughout the tournament. She also prepared special Easter snack bags for her team, each telling the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Before every game, she prayed with her team. On Easter Sunday, she handed out the snacks and Easter messages—boldly and joyfully witnessing to the hope we have in Christ.

We may not have been in the church building that weekend, but we were absolutely in God’s presence. We opened His Word, shared His message, and saw how He was at work in the people around us.

We are so grateful for the way God turned a sports tournament into a mission field. Our hearts were full of joy as we remembered and celebrated the hope of Easter: