Ghana: The Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana is organising a National Youth Sports championship under the auspices of its Youth Desk Office. The sport, named Young Evangelical Presbyterian (YEP) National Cup 2026, will take place from June to September this year.
According to Ghana News Agency, the initiative was outlined in a letter signed by Reverend Dr Lawson Kwaku Dzanku, Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church. The letter, titled 'Official Circular: Young Evangelical Presbyterian National Cup 2026,' was addressed to all Presbytery Moderators of the Church, and copied to the Moderator of the General Assembly, the Presbyter Executive, Director of Programmes, Ecumenism and Social Relations, Director of Evangelism, the Executive Float File, all of the Church, and the Ghana News Agency in Ho.
The letter emphasized that the competition was not merely a sporting event, but a structured evangelism tool designed to reach the youth, communities, and the unchurched through sports. It highlighted the theme 'A Godly and Clean Generation,' and noted that the program has been approved by the leadership of the Church. Presbyteries were directed to begin immediate preparation and implementation.
The YEP National Cup 2026 is a knockout national championship spanning five sporting categories, including male and female football, male and female volleyball, and e-sports: PES/FIFA (1 vs 1 format). All sixteen presbyteries are required to present a team for each event, with matches played on a home and away basis.
The letter instructed each presbytery to attach an evangelism officer to every hosted match. Evangelism activities should include a brief gospel message or devotion, distribution of evangelism materials, public altar calls, and recording the number of persons reached and decisions made. Local community members and the unchurched should be invited to attend matches, with the final in September culminating in a mini crusade.
Presbyteries must appoint a Presbytery sports coordinator to serve as the primary contact with the Presbytery Facilitator to the Youth Desk and the Coordinating Committee. Competing players should possess a valid ID card, and all registration forms must be submitted by June 10, 2026, with no late submissions accepted.
The official launch and fixtures fixing are set for June 20, 2026. The competition will proceed with the round of 16 between June and July, quarter and semi-finals in August, and national finals in September. Presbyteries are responsible for providing jerseys, transport, and logistics for away fixtures, while home teams must ensure suitable venues and basic match setups.
Presbyteries must report match results, player attendance, disciplinary incidents, and evangelism activities to the National Coordinator within 24 hours of each match. The letter urged Presbyteries to view the YEP National Cup as a divine opportunity to preach the gospel, engage youth, and demonstrate Christ's transformative power in communities. It called on Presbytery Moderators, Clerks, and Youth Leaders to take personal ownership of the program to ensure its success.