Champions for Christ (CFC) is a ministry dedicated to outreach among college and professional athletes. Founded in 1985, it began as part of the controversial Maranatha Campus Ministries before later being absorbed into other organizations, most recently the Every Nation group of ministries. At different points, it also operated under the Texas-based Mid Cities Christian Church, formerly known as Word of Life Church.
The ministry was established by Greg Ball, a former kickboxer, and Rice Broocks, both active leaders in Maranatha. In October 1986, the name and logo “Champions for Christ” were first trademarked by Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc. Although CFC was not yet a separate entity, the group became increasingly active. On November 28, 1990, Maranatha transferred all rights to the name and logo to Word of Life Church in Midland, Texas, Broocks’ home congregation.
CFC describes its doctrine as orthodox, its practices as evangelical, and its worship as charismatic. The ministry’s stated mission is to deepen athletes’ relationships with Jesus Christ, using their influence to spread the Gospel.
By the early 1990s, CFC had expanded its reach to 40 college campuses. It also organized annual conferences and sports camps both in the U.S. and abroad. In 1992, the ministry created a subsidiary, Executives for Christ, Inc., with leaders including Greg Ball and Ben Broocks. Later, in 2001, Force Ministries, Inc. was also incorporated as another subsidiary.
CFC came under national scrutiny in 1998 when at least two NFL teams — the Chicago Bears and the Jacksonville Jaguars — asked the league’s security office to investigate the ministry. Team officials worried that players were being pressured financially or manipulated by CFC leaders.
Concerns intensified when Chicago Bears running back Curtis Enis was reportedly pressured to change agents after a religious conversion. He soon fired his representative and hired Greg Feste, a financial planner and CFC associate who had earlier co-founded Executives for Christ with Greg Ball. Meanwhile, quarterback Mark Brunell of the Jaguars, a prominent CFC member, was linked to the controversy through his marketing team.
CFC leaders denied the allegations. They emphasized that the group did not act as player agents and suggested that complaints came from rival agents upset about losing clients. They also denied requiring athletes to tithe 10% of their salaries, though they recommended giving that amount to churches or ministries of choice.
According to tax filings, CFC received more than $800,000 in donations in 1996. Much of the funding reportedly came from businessmen supportive of its mission, not athletes themselves. Leaders insisted that contributions were voluntary.
Although the NFL never fully publicized the findings of its inquiry, league insiders said the central issue was not faith but control. Officials worried about players pledging allegiance to an outside organization and about divisions within locker rooms, fueled by some members’ aggressive recruitment. Another concern was that certain athletes might object to playing on Sundays.
Over the years, CFC attracted well-known athletes, including Curtis Enis of the Bears, A.C. Green of the Los Angeles Lakers, Darrell Green of the Washington Redskins, and quarterback Mark Brunell. Leaders maintained that their sole goal was to nurture athletes as role models and committed Christians.
Critics, however, pointed to the ministry’s roots in Maranatha Campus Ministries, long accused of cult-like tactics. They viewed the transition from Maranatha to Morning Star International as an attempt to rebrand away from controversy. Skeptics also questioned CFC’s focus on wealthy athletes, calling it a form of “religious zealotry” in a high-profile industry. CFC countered that only about a third of the athletes they worked with were professionals, stressing that their mission was to reach anyone God placed in their path.
Key Sources:
Freeman, M. (1998, August 2). Teams seek Inquiry into Religious Group. The New York Times.
Maraghy, M. (2002, February 27). Jacksonville Jaguars Champions for Christ church connections. The Jacksonville Times-Union.
Mason, M. (1998, August 9). Making Money, Serving God. The Jacksonville Times-Union.
Matthews, W. (1998, August 23). No Zealots need Apply: NFL Clubs Worry Religious Group will cause Schism. The New York Post.
Morrissey, R. (1998, August 3). To Some Agents, Champions for Christ is a Holy Terror. The Chicago Tribune.
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