Bryan Mason, a former deputy head teacher and now Executive Director of Higher Sports, believes that sport is as vital a part of the church's programme as, say, youth work or women's ministry.  It provides an environment in which people can make friends naturally and share Jesus.
 His book establishes a Biblical and cultural reson for a sports ministry, gives practical guidance on different forms of sports outreach, examples of successful projects and details of relevant organisations.
240 pages, paperback.  £7.99.

Running for my Life
by Lopez Lomong

Lopez Lomong was one of the Sudanese 'Lost Boys', snatched from his mother's arms by rebel soldiers at the age of six.  Years later he was chosen to lead the US Olympic team into the arena at the opening of the Beijng Olympics.  This is his inspiring story.
Thomas Nelson.  Paperback 227 pages.  £9.99

Pure Gold
by David McCasland

Pure Gold tells the larger story of Eric Liddell: his upbringing in China as the son of missionary parents, his deep love for his devoted wife Florence, his zealous and outspoken faith and his tragic death at a Japanese internment camp just months before the end of the Second World War.   Includes 16 pages of photographs and significant supplementary material.  First published in the US and not previously in a UK edition.
Published by Lion.  224 pages. Paperback. £9.99

Complete Surrender
A biography of Eric Liddell
by Julian Wilson

This is a revised edition of Julian Wilson's 1996 biography of the athlete who's achievement at the 1924 Olympic Games inspired the Award-winning film Chariots of Fire.
Liddell refused to run in the final of the 100 metres because it was being held on a Sunday.  However, the sprinter then ran in the 400 metres on a Friday and won Gold. 
Liddell went on to become a missionary in China, where he was interned in a Japanese prison camp in 1943.  He died in 1945, six months before the camp was liberated, but not before making a tremendous impact on his fellow prisoners.

Drawing upon interviews with Liddell's family and friends, Wilson traces his life from childhood in China (where his own parents were missionaries) through his childhood and athletic career to his missionary years in china.  The book includes anecdotes, reminiscences, extracts from his letters and a number of rare photographs.
Published by Authentic,  138 pages, Paperback.  £7.99

Running the Race marked out for us - Lessons from Hebrews 12 by Andrew Wooding Jones  Based around a nine week discipleship course at Ashburnham Place used to train Christians from around the world, this book is a verse-by-verse exposition of Hebrews 12 and includes questions for group discussion. Published by BRF.  Paperback.  96 pages.  £5.99. Other material suitable for GroupStudy Christian Basics Bible Study Guides A series of Bible Study Guides from InterVarsity Press including:- Commitment - Robert Boyd Munger Perseverence - Eugene Peterson Priorities - Charles Hummel  Published by InterVasity Press.  Paperback. 64 pages.

 
Eric Liddell
Something Greater than Gold
by Janet and Geoff Benge

Published in YWAM's Christian Heroes: Then and Now series, this 208-page book chronicles the life of the athlete who refused to run the 100 metres on Sunday in the 1924 Olympics but then went on to win the 400 metres on another day.  Age 10 up.
Published by YWAM.  Paperback.  208 pages  £7.99.

Eric Liddell: Finish the Race 
by John Keddie 

Published in the Christian Focus Trailblazers series, this life of the athlete-missionary is aimed at 9-14 year-olds.  John Keddie was an adviser to the makers of Chariots of Fire.  The book is endorsed by Maureen Moore, Eric Liddell's daughter.
Published by Christian Focus.  Paperback.  160 pages. £5.99.

GOLD - 100 Winning Thoughts
by Richard Daly

This attractive little booklet provides 100 simple thoughts and an associated Bible text for each to provide inspiration and encouragement in the race of life.  It follows a sporting theme throughout - 'nurture your gift', 'learn from your mistakes', 'get up again' etc. 
Suitable as a gift at special sport-related events or to give to somebody who is struggling with life.  Published by CWR.  £4.99. 

Sports Fun for Messy Churches Resource Book
by Lucy Moore

Enhance your Messy Church experience with fun-filled games and sports activities for families to enjoy together. This little book provides a wealth of simple, interactive games and family-friendly sports ideas for Messy Church leaders to use in their sessions.
Published by BRF.  64 pages.  £5.99

Sports Academy Holiday Club
by John Hardwick

Five complete 2.5 hour programmes plus ideas for a special service or event for a Holiday Club with a sports theme.
Takes the life of David as a model for healthy living and the journey of faith.   Includes photocopy permission.

• Looking after our bodies
• Looking after our self-esteem
• Looking after our well-being
• Looking after our sense of team spirit
• Looking after our minds

Published by BRF.  96 pages paperback.  £11.99

Scripture Union resources for use with young people Decathlon Using sport to share the Gospel with young people. Many young people love sport and it’s a great way to open up the gospel with young people from outside a church community. Decathlon helps you do just that! Using games derived from ten different sports, Decathlon takes young people through some of the essentials of the Christian faith, such as who God is, God’s grace and the freedom offered by Jesus.  Each session offers material to use in an assembly, a youth group setting or a longer holiday-time programme.   Young people explore different truths about God through sport, games, Bible engagement, discussion and more. A4 format,  80 pages  £11.99 On your Marks On Your Marks is a five-day holiday club programme for 5 to 11s, especially suitable for children who are not yet part of a church community. It has a 'Global Games' sports theme and is based on significant events from the life of Jesus as recorded in Mark's Gospel. Materials include:- •  On your Marks Resource book. Designed to help children meet Jesus as he calls his disciples, demonstrates his healing power, shows his authority and reveals himself as the Son of God. They discover what it is like to be a member of Jesus' team.  Price: £12.99 •  On your Marks DVD. Children join real-life sports men and women on location as they share their sporting experiences, their role as team players and how Jesus makes a difference in their lives. The DVD takes them to sports matches and events as the storyteller brings stories of Jesus alive.     Price: £19.99 •  Get Set This 48-page booklet contains the essential Bible text, plus information, puzzles and challenges – to use in the On Your Marks club and as a souvenir for the children to take home.    Price: £2.50 each.   Packs of ten £10.00. Personal Best Personal Best is a resource for use during the Olympics. It is designed for churches to buy and then give to KS1 and 2 children. It can be used as part of On Your Marks, or as a stand-alone resource. It contains puzzles, information on nine of God's champions from the Bible and interviews with Christian sports people, together with space to personalise the content.   Publication in February/March.

DVDs Chariots of Fire The Story of Eric Liddell and the 1924 Olympics Commemorative edition of the movie, starring Ben Cross, Ian Charleson and Nigel Havers, which won four 1981 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The movie focuses on the contrasting athletics careers of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams and the 1924 Olympic Games, in which Liddell refused to run on a Sunday. 1 hour 58 minutes. Eric Liddell: Champion of Conviction A documentary of the life of Eric Liddell including his dramatic win in the 400 meters at the 1924 Olympics and his life as a missionary in China, where he eventually died in a Japanese internment camp.  His story is told by David McCasland, author of Eric Liddell: Pure Gold, Eric's daughter Patricia, and Rev. John Keddie, consultant on "Chariots of Fire," along with fellow prisoners from the internment camp in China.   1 hour 20 minutes. The Eric Liddell Story One of the Torchlighter Heroes of Faith series for children aged 8-12, this is a 30-minute animated documentary.  on the life of the greatr athlete-missionary.  The DVD also includes material for teachers including the 60-minute documentary Eric Liddell: Champion of Conviction, a comprehensive leader's guide with four lesson plans and background information, and reproducible student handouts.  There are also associated on-line resources. The Potential Inside An action-packed movie about (American) cycle racing.  A retired veteran cyclist reluctantly takes on the task of training a young racer.  Alongside the cutting-edge technology and scientific training programmes, the most important challenge he faces is to release the true potential inside the trainee. 1 hour 36 minutes.