7 Ways Athletes Can Use Their NIL For God’s Kingdom

Student-athletes are already cashing in on the NCAA’s decision allowing them to monetize their NIL (Name, Image, Likeness). Some of the big deals reported already on social media include:

Haley and Hannah Cavinder signing with Boost Mobile and Six Star Nutrition

Bo Nix (Auburn QB1) partnering with Milos Sweet Tea

Henry Miller inking a four-year deal with Web Apps America worth two million

GoPuff appears to be one of the early brands to capitalize on the new NIL rules by offering hundreds (my estimation based on my social media feed) of athletes compensation in exchange for a social media post promoting their company. 

Outside of the athletes, the biggest winner has to be the marketing platform Opendorse. Their app already has 40,000+ athletes with profiles, allowing brands (and fans) to connect with them and make a pitch to endorse their particular product/brand in exchange for an agreed upon compensation. 

This is just the beginning. Student-athletes will continue to have new opportunities. Brands have case studies to figure out what works and what doesn’t, allowing them to dial in on the best strategy. New marketing platforms will launch with a vision to “help every athlete”—while making millions off of their platforms. We’re seeing the last days of the student-athlete. The student-athlete-ambassador is up next. 

And that’s completely ok. These athletes will make good decisions and bad decisions. They’ll learn and get better, just like the brands that pursue them. I just have one encouragement for the Christian-student-athlete-ambassador: In your journey to capitalize on your NIL, don’t forget the ministry opportunities that have now opened up as well. You can use your NIL for Kingdom impact. How? Here are seven ways:

*Disclaimer: I am still learning NIL rules. Don’t activate on any of these without first connecting with your compliance office. 

Sign Autographs and Give Them Away

Sign autographs and give them away to churches, ministries and other non profits. You won’t see a dime doing this, but that’s ok. They will. Your autograph can be used to get people in the door, celebrate someone who needs a boost, or bring in additional funds for Kingdom building initiatives. Pursue a local church or campus ministry and ask if you can sign something(s) and give them the freedom to steward that free gift the most effective way they can. 

Promote Ministry Events

Contact churches and let them use your name and image (just don’t wear your school colors!) to promote an event they are hosting. If your NIL can get someone to sign up for GoPuff, surely it can also bring someone through the doors of a church or a campus ministry event. If you want to go above and beyond, allow them to utilize your NIL and share your testimony at the actual event.

Creative Compensation

Agree to promote a business or product over social media for compensation that benefits a ministry activity. Ex. promote a local pizza place if they agree to provide pizza for an upcoming ministry event. This would be a huge blessing to any ministry—and all it costs you is a social media shout out.

Tithe Your NIL

If you start capitalizing on your NIL, don’t neglect the opportunity to give back a portion of that money to churches or ministry organizations that are dependent on generous people to fund their efforts to share the gospel with the world. 

Launch a Faith/Sport Brand

Seriously. Start your own brand that resources athletes at the intersection of faith and sport. Create content and leverage your NIL to expose athletes and coaches to the gospel through the language of sport. Partner with other Christian athletes and become the next AIA, FCA, or Sports Spectrum. 

Sports Ministry Ambassador

Maybe launching your own sports ministry brand is too much. That’s ok. There are plenty of sports ministries already doing this type of work. What if you approached a sports ministry (like the ones I mentioned above) and offered to become an ambassador of their ministry and let them define the terms? This would probably mean sharing resources, events, and opportunities across your social media platforms and in your locker room. Most sports ministries I know would be extremely blessed by this gesture. We have bible studies, books, podcasts, articles, and resources. One of the biggest obstacles is connecting with new athletes and coaches who don’t know about what we offer. You know who is connected to these types of people? You are. Can you leverage your NIL to help us help your teammates? 

Be an Available Ambassador

Here’s the simplest way to use your NIL for God’s Kingdom: approach churches and ministries, let them know about the new NIL rules, and tell them you are available for whatever they need within those rules. Maybe they don’t need autographs or social media posts. Maybe they don’t need food at their next event. But by making yourself available, you give them options and new categories to think through as they pray about making a Kingdom impact in the city. 

Christian-student-athlete-ambassador, be prayerful about how you can take full advantage of the new NIL rules. Endorse brands that share your same values. Make money. Raise awareness.

But don’t forget to use this gift to find creative ways to share the NIL of your Creator too.