Attitude of Sport Students and Educators in Latvia towards Christianity and Christian Sport Ministry

The study was carried out as a part of the research “Strategy for Starting the Movement Athletes in Action in Latvia”. Athletes in Action is a Christian sport movement supporting the idea that by having a complete understanding of a person as three part whole (physical, mental, spiritual) we can accomplish the ultimate potential in every area of life, including sport. Strategic management comprises that an environmental analysis and external factors play an important role in strategic planning. Therefore the main aim of our study was to find the attitude of sport students and educators in Latvia towards Christianity and Christian Sport Ministry. The sample consisted of 114 respondents, including students (41 male, 59 female) and educators (5 male, 9 female) of the Latvian Academy of Sport Education (LASE). Surveys were used to collect information and the gained data were statistically processed (SPSS 18).
Answers showed that there is a lack of knowledge about Biblical truth of Christianity among sport students and educators. There is an interest about Christian Sport Ministry and in general there is no
statistically significant difference between the opinions of Christians and non-Christians. According to the results of self-assessment of respondents there is a deficiency of spiritual growth in the model of harmonious personality among sport students and educators in Latvia. Taking in consideration the importance of a holistic approach to accomplish the ultimate human potential, we have come to the conclusion that it is needed to continue deeper practical studies about sport and Christianity as they are
fairly limited at the present moment.