“I’m the Only Christian on my team,
how do I deal with that?”
Hello Team,
The reality is, in many situations in life, you might be the only Christian—on your team, in the classroom, in your friend group, family, and later on in your workplace.
TLDR: Show your team what it means to follow Christ through your actions and the way you support others.
Let me give you a real-life example. In my circle of friends and family, I am the only Christian. So, depending on where you live, you might also be the only one, and that’s OK. Now, this can certainly feel lonely if you are the only Christian on your team and this can be especially true when we are younger, because we want to fit into our peer group.
Being excluded or seen as the odd one out is not fun. Your friends thinking you’re the weird kid who prays to God and goes to church on Sunday, adds a lot of social pressure to stop following Jesus. If we perceive our friends as viewing our faith as something strange, of course it can feel threatening to our sense of identity, and that’s something we need to acknowledge honestly.
Just know, you are not the only one who has felt this way, and it does get easier over time. But for now, I can understand that your situation might feel uncomfortable and even lonely.
Be Encouraged
However, as Christians, there are often going to be times when things in life feel difficult for us because we are Christian, since we are called not to conform to the pattern of this world (Romans 12:2). Now, this doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy things your friends do, or that you should isolate yourself. It just means don’t let the pressure of other people decide who you are or what you believe. So, when Jesus tells us to carry our cross daily (Matthew 16:24-26 LSB), that’s not to minimize what you might be feeling, but to encourage you to know that personal hardships will happen because of whom we believe in. But in that sacrifice, we also grow and trust God more.
So, what can you do if you are the only Christian on your team?
Well, don’t continually preach the gospel, hoping everyone will suddenly change. That’s not a good strategy. Instead, the best thing you can do is show them what it means to be a Christian through your actions (1 Peter 2:12 LSB). Live your life in front of them with your faith on display. Show them who you are, and in doing so, you are sharing Christ in a very real and meaningful way.
You can show your team what it means to be a good teammate.
You can offer to help other players improve.
You can cheer them on, even if they are competing for the same position as you.
Every day you want to show them that you are there for them and that you are willing to sacrifice to help them grow.
Love Your Opponent
You can also show them what it means to love your neighbor—including your opponents. Don’t disparage the opposition, but respect them. Pray that they bring their best, because it is through the challenge of competition and excellence that we grow. When your opponent gives their best, it draws the best out of you.
If your team loses, don’t tear down the other team, calling them names, or dwell in frustration. Instead, congratulate them. Show your team what it means to be a good sport—someone who values others regardless of the outcome.
What you may find happening is that your influence begins to spread among your teammates. They may start to notice how you act, and over time, they too, may even begin to imitate you because of your example (1 Timothy 4:12 LSB). And in doing so, they are, in a sense, imitating Christ.
This can open the door to meaningful conversations about faith. When people see something different in you—something steady, something genuine—they may start to ask: “Why do you act this way?” And you have the perfect answer in the gospel.
Be You—Show Christ
So, for now, just know this: it isn’t only through our words that we share the Good News, but through our allegiance to Christ, and how that allegiance is lived out in our everyday relationships.
Being the only Christian on a team may feel uncomfortable at times, but it also gives you a powerful opportunity to be an ambassador for Christ—at every practice and every game.
Scripture Verse—Legacy Standard Bible translation:
Matthew 16:24-26 (LSB)
1 Peter 2:12 (LSB)
1 Timothy 4:12 (LSB)