Middle-long distance runner Kathryn Archbold says parties, limited time and distrust in God can all throw Christian athletes off track.
Kathryn was one of five athletes who spoke at the "Sports and Australians' conference at St Matthew's, West Pennant Hills last Saturday.
The event was organised by Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic Games chaplain. the Rev David Tyndall who is keen to raise the profile of sports chaplaincy.
"We want to encourage Christians to have a vision for using sport as a way to share the gospel with people," he says.
"Sports chaplaincy is such a simple way to infiltrate many areas of the community with the gospel and there is a myriad of ways that it's being done."
Kathryn, who is a member of St Paul's, Castle Hill, can testify to the value of sports chaplains in her own life.
"Chaplains have an understanding of sport and its demands but also an understanding of God " they know how best to support you and develop both areas of your life."
Kathryn says Athletics NSW chaplain Nett Knox has been particularly valuable in helping her build a support network of Christian athletes.
"I receive regular SMS's and emails from her asking for prayer requests," she says.
"She has also introduced me to other sporting Christians and we meet together to have Bible studies which are sports related."
Having competed at high profile meets like the World University Cross Country Championships in Algeria last year, 21-year-old Kathryn admits it can be difficult to make time for God.
"It can sometimes be a struggle to fit training and recovery and uni work and make enough time for God at the same time," she says.
Kathryn says the strong party culture among athletes is also a personal challenge as a Christian.
It's always hard for me going away to somewhere like Uni Games where you know everyone will be partying hard and you'll be standing out like a loser because you don't really drink," she says.
"But I don't need alcohol to be happy and have a good time, because it is God who brings me happiness. It's also times like these that you have a chance to evangelise."
Other speakers at the conference included rugby league chaplains Steve Stubbings, Stephen Edwards and Graham Crew who shared about establishing and sustaining a sports chaplaincy ministry and building support systems in churches for chaplains.
David Tyndall says the next Sports Chaplaincy Australia conference will be held in Sydney from 22 to 26 October and will be specifically aimed at training people who are currentl,y or want to become, sports chaplains.
