More Than Football: Dmytro Kovalenko's Journey to Faith and Purpose

At Family of Christ, we believe in the transformative power of faith and the profound impact sports can have when paired with purpose. Today, we’re honored to share the incredible journey of Dmytro Kovalenko—a young soccer player whose life was changed by God’s grace, the fellowship of his teammates, and a newfound sense of purpose.

Living Without Purpose

Before I met Jesus, my life felt… carefree, or at least that’s what I thought. I lived one day at a time. There were a lot of parties, girls, friends, and laughter. I’ve always loved football—it's my biggest passion—but apart from mandatory training sessions, I never did anything to actually become better. In fact, the way I was living probably harmed my body more than helped it. I never thought about spiritual things. I believed that God existed, but I had no idea who Jesus was or what He had done for me—and I didn’t care to find out.

A Turning Point

When I was kicked out of my previous club, I thought my life was over. I fell into a deep emotional pit. My confidence hit zero. I started looking for a new team, a fresh start—and that's when I found FC Uzhhorod. I began training with them, just on trial. Soon after, I received an offer from a club in a higher league. But something special happened in that moment. I made the most important decision of my life—I chose to stay in Uzhhorod. Now I know: that was God. He was leading me down the path I needed to walk.

Discovering Faith Through Football

I didn’t know Jesus yet, but through this club—and especially through the club president, Pastor Rudolf, an incredible man—I began to discover who God really is. I started going to church. Honestly? At first, I only went for the good coffee and sweets. I wasn’t paying attention to what was being said. But over time, I started listening. I heard my teammates share how Jesus had changed their lives. But it wasn’t their stories that struck me the most—it was their faith. It was so real, so deep—that their faith started changing me too.

Accepting Christ and Finding Purpose

When the Alpha Course started, I was already reading the Bible. And during that time, I realized that there is something more important in life than football. It's been about four or five months since I accepted Christ. And since then, my life has completely changed. I've found confidence. The fear I used to carry is gone. Things have started going better on the field. Sure, I'm still working on my emotions—but I know I'm on the right path. Because now I know that God loves me—just like He loves every one of us.

My True Family

I love this club with all my heart. The coaches. Every player. The staff. I've never seen a team so united. We support each other—even when things aren’t going well. And I believe that going to church together makes us stronger than any victory on the field. They are my true family.

The Journey of Growth and Forgiveness

After I accepted Jesus, I started to change. I began asking myself: "What would God do in my place?" But it's still hard for me to control my emotions. Every night I pray and ask God to help me not get angry, and to pray for people who irritate me instead of reacting. That’s still difficult for me, but I believe I’ll get there.

As for my parents—especially my father—I still haven’t forgiven them. That’s one of the hardest things for me. But I know I have to do it. I want to. I’m just gathering the strength.

My Dreams for the Future

My dream in football is to play in a top league, maybe even in Europe. But spiritually, my dream is to walk with God for the rest of my life. We talked about this recently at our home group, and it really impacted me. Pastor Rudolf said something that opened my eyes: “It’s great that we’ve received Jesus and are full of Him—but one of our biggest missions is not just to receive Him, but to share Him.” Just like someone helped me meet Jesus—now I want to help others do the same.

I know this: no matter where I go, I will spend my life glorifying God and sharing His love.

Just as Jesus said:

Go and tell the world about Me.

Football With Purpose

At Family of Christ International and FC Uzhhorod, we know that stories like Dmytro’s are the reason we exist. We believe in football with purpose—not only winning games, but transforming lives and sharing the hope of Christ. When you support our mission, you invest in changed lives, strong communities, and a hopeful future for Ukraine.

Thank you for standing with us in this mission. Together, we celebrate transformation—one player, one story, and one heart at a time.

About Family of Christ International

From focusing attention on ongoing humanitarian needs, to coordinating volunteers and planning mission trips, to raising financial support, the purpose of Family of Christ International is to deliver help, hope and healing in the name of Jesus Christ to people and places in crisis. Whether you contribute online, donate stock or mail a check, every gift makes an impact. Learn more about ways to get involved and donate to support.