E63 - John Bostock, Founder of Ballers in God

The Christians in Sport Podcast

John Bostock debuted for Crystal Palace at just 15 years old, still their youngest-ever first-team player. He signed for Spurs a year later but his career wasn't straightforward, spending years on loan and playing abroad.
He came to faith as a teenager and, in 2015, founded Ballers in God, an organisation that aims to disciple professional football players and to make Jesus known in the world of football.
Danno caught up with John at Notts County's ground, Meadow Lane to talk to him about his career as a professional player, and his mission to share the good news of Jesus in the world of football through Ballers in God.
Find out more about Ballers in God 👉 https://ballersingod.com
(0:00) Intro
(2:55) How do you connect your sport and faith?
(4:35) How is normal for you to be a Christian and a pro football player?
(6:19) How did you become a Christian?
(7:54) How becoming a Christian quickly transformed John
(12:29) Growing in church and learning to love the Bible
(16:05) Moving to Spurs at 16, going on loan, and faith deepening through hardship
(23:09) Being rebuilt and moving to Belgium
(24:15) Christian mentors within football as a young player
(28:15) How Ballers in God came to be
(32:28) Managing time and the power of prayer
(35:20) Coping with 6 months without a contract in the UK
(36:28) Landing at Notts County and helping them back into the EFL
(41:05) What's the future for Ballers in God?