Phil Anderson...

When my original good intention came about to keep up with blogging, one of the things that was going to appear on the site was interviews. Basically, asking questions of people who have a heart for Jesus and are trying to live out their lives for Him where He has placed them, with the gifts that He has given them. Here is interview number 1...as the title suggests it is with Phil Anderson.

-So Phil, to most reading this blog, you will be a new face and name, so tell us a bit about yourself.

Anyone who knows me knows I love football and I love Jesus. Both of these were introduced to me at a young age and both have influenced my lifetyle and how I live my life today.

-What do you do with yourself? Do you work or study or…?

I recently graduated from the University of Ulster Coleraine with a degree in Business and Computing. Now I have entered the ' Real World' and work 5 days a week as the Floor Manager In Cafe Vic-Ryn.

-What would your main interests/hobbies be?

Main interests include football, golf, and most recently PS3 nights with the lads on the recently purchased 42 inch plasma, Fantastic.

-O.K, so I'm not jealous at all or guilty of coveting!! Anyway, from what I can gather football is more than an interest? Is that true? Does it take up more time than a “normal” hobby?

O yes this is true. From I was able to walk ive had a ball attached to my feet. Whether it be on my own in the garden or on the pitch on a saturday I always have a ball nearby and can get endless hours of enjoyment. It takes up more time probably than it should and as a Manchester United supporter I enjoy watching football and also playing pro evo football on the PS3 so I guess yes it is more than a hobby.

-I know that you are a Christian. Tell us a bit about how you came to trust in Jesus and what He’s been teaching you, mainly, since then.

I became a Christian at the young age of 3. Its hard to fully comprehend becoming a Christian at the age of 3 but I feel no matter what age you get saved you will still have an eternity of learning and growing as a Christian as you strive to know more about God. Ive never wandered to far from God and this is due to my upbringing and how my parents faithfully sent me to every meeting at the church for my younger years. I never really had a role as a Christian and found it hard to express my faith with others even in church, untill the age of 19 when I was introduced to Ambassadors In Sport.

-In your Christian life, who would you say has been the greatest influence on you and why?

In my Christian life my Mum and Dad have had a great influence on me. By the way they brought me up and by our family prayers and their reading of bible stories from such a young age constantly teaching me and helping me grow as a Christian. More recently outside of my family Robert Cuthbert founder of Ambassadors Football Club in Ireland has inspired me due to his vision's and his endless work's and effort into seeing people come to Christ through the medium of football.

-For you, there has been a combining and meeting of your love for Jesus and your love for football. How did that come around?

In 2005 I had the opportunity of heading with a team from Northern Ireland to Senegal to play football on a missions tour to Senegal. For me originally I hadnt played football in over a year and this was a perfect holiday to play football. Over the build up to the tour and the tour itself God opened my eyes and touched my heart by showing how effective using football to introduce people to Christ could be. During the tour we played matches where up to 1000 people got to hear the Gospel spoke, each player we played against received their own bible and links to churches were made. We also coached kids football clinics where we gave illustrative Gospel sketches to introduce Jesus to the kids.

-What involvement have you had with Ambassadors since your first introduction? Are you still involved now?

Since that tour I have been back to Senegal and Guinee Bissau on another playing tour where we played a Senegalese Premier League side and a Bissau premier league side where government officials and Football Association Officials have been in attendance sitting beside pastors who built links. Ive coached kids in America last summer with Ambassadors soccer camps where we have spoke to and had bible times with kids who don't come from church backrounds. And Also I cuurently play in the Ambassadors Football Club here in Northern Ireland where we make it our aim to ' do football different' which sets us apart from others in the league even though alot of the time it is very diffcult and challenging to do.

-Did your trips away leave a lasting impression on you? If yes, then how so?

My trips away have giving me such a lasting impression. Ive seen God work in my life in ways id never imagined. My trips have given me a platform to share Christ with others but also given me the confidence to talk openly about Christ and what he has done for me. In Senegal I seen God's hand on us during travelling and for the first time I believe I encountered God being real to me and to the team in how he led us and looked after us throughout both our trips.

-Do you have any plans for continuing to use your love of football as a medium to witness for Jesus?

Ambassadors Football Club has only started and there is endless opportunities and endless ways we can use football as a medium to witness for Christ. In July next year 2008 Ambassadors is heading back out to Senegal and I hope to be a part of that team. Then in August next year I aim to take up the Internship with Ambassadors where I will be living in England for 1 - 2 years working in local communities and schools.

-For those of us who know very little about Ambassadors, or even just the opportunities that exist, in the sporting world, to witness and take a stand for Jesus, how would you guide us to, either, be involved or to pray effectively for the work?

Check out the website www.Ambassadorsfc.co.uk or www.aisint.net for more information. It is a worldwide organisation with offices I think in 15 different countries. Ambassadors have various coaching tours, playing tours and do lots of school work, work with local communities and in some countries have started prison outreach all using football as their entry into places where otherwise it would be impossible to go. There is opportunites for anyone interested but also lots of areas where prayer is much needed.

-In conclusion, if there is one burning message on your heart that you want people to know, what is it?

Simply don't waste your God given gifts. If something as simple as a football can help save so many souls then what else can we do. Even if you think your gift is insignificant use it for God and he will show you how great a God he is.


I met Phil a few months ago when I started to work in Vic-Ryn and know, from brief chats, that his passions are indeed football and wanting to know Jesus more. It's encouraging to read that in avenues where very few of us expect God is doing things, He really is doing things! It's been good Phil for you to break down some of the corners of the boxes we place around God. Let's pray for Phil as he walks with Jesus, and for Ambassadors as they reach out for Jesus.