More than 18,000 world cup fans have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ thanks to a digital campaign of a former professional soccer player-turned-pastor.
Jesse Bradley, the lead pastor at Grace Community Church in Auburn, Washington, said that thousands have professed faith in Christ through his efforts.
“We’re able to create content where we share the Gospel. I share my story, and people are making decisions to follow Jesus,” he told Faithwire in an interview. “We’re reaching millions of people. We’re seeing over 18,000 already make first-time decisions.”
As reported by Faithwire, Bradley also partnered with Global Media Outreach, a company using technology to share the Gospel, to ensure that new converts would get connected to a church.
“They … follow up, and we help those people find a church,” he said. “So, it’s not just decisions; it’s disciples.”
The digital campaign features less-than-sixty-second videos of the World Cup followed by Bradley’s testimony. Bradley, who’s played professional soccer as a goalkeeper for the U.S., Africa, and Scotland, shared how he almost died after taking medication to prevent malaria.
“I literally was fighting for my life for a year,” he said. “And in the middle of the pain, God birthed a new purpose and passion.”
Coming out of the tragedy, Bradley entered the ministry with a desire to reach souls with the Gospel.
“Stories are powerful; everyone has a significant story,” the pastor said. “You have a powerful story, and when you share it, we learn more about God, we appreciate God, we see how God works … and how He transforms our lives.”
“We really go from the secular to the spiritual and then to the Gospel in Jesus,” he added.
Bradley also says it’s been encouraging to see a large and positive reception to the Good News.
“It’s so fulfilling,” he said. “I’ve been in ministry now for two decades, and we’ve never seen more fruit than we have in the last two years.”
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Matthias Hangst/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. He is also the co-hosts of the For Your Soul podcast, which seeks to equip the church with biblical truth and sound doctrine. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.