Sophie Dianne spent a night in the famous Wimbledon queue to discover the Christian volunteers bringing kindness, conversation and prayer to tennis fans from around the world. She shares why the work of Love All Serve All reminded her that some of the most powerful acts of evangelism happen far away from a church building.
Wimbledon is arguably one of the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, held annually at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in southwest London. Thousands of people from across the globe descend on SW19 each year. The Championships combine glamour with tradition, but what many tennis fans may overlook is what God is doing off the court.
The Championships are unique in their accessibility, as people can queue for tickets each morning. Along with many others, I choose to camp overnight, which gave the queue the feel of a mini festival. It’s here that I found out about one Christian organisation that has found its mission field.
Love All Serve All was set up to demonstrate God’s love to tennis fans. The team goes out each evening, giving away free gifts and Bible leaflets, while also offering prayer and conversation. Their ethos is one of “blessing, not selling”, trusting in God’s kindness and listening to his prompting.
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Love All Serve All is led by Third Space Ministries, whose chief executive is Carolyn Skinner.
Love All Serve All is led by Third Space Ministries, whose chief executive is Carolyn Skinner. Skinner has extensive experience in church leadership and has also served as a sports chaplain at several international events, including the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.
Unlike Skinner, sport has never really been my thing. Within my family, though, tennis has always played a part. My grandparents were active members of their local tennis club, but when it was my turn to pick up a racket, I failed dismally. I quickly became one less child taking lessons at the health club.
That didn’t stop me wanting to watch tennis, or even visit Wimbledon. It was the one sporting event I happily embraced as part of my cultural heritage. Last year I entered the public ballot for tickets but, unfortunately, wasn’t successful. This summer I decided to do things differently.
READ MORE: What does it take to win Wimbledon? Applying biblical wisdom to tennis
To my delight, the train that usually heads straight to London Waterloo from my hometown puts on a special Wimbledon service.
To my delight, the train that usually heads straight to London Waterloo from my hometown puts on a special Wimbledon service. Judging by the packed platform, hundreds of other people had received the same memo. For those choosing to camp, there is a designated section of Wimbledon Park where stewards direct arrivals to their pitching spots. The rules are strict: tents must be small and occupied at all times. Yet despite the regulations, there is a wonderful atmosphere among the thousands of people camping there.
Like Street Pastors, the Love All Serve All team arrives each evening, dressed in branded hoodies and carrying gifts. This year the team consisted of 50 volunteers from 17 different churches. Seeing their faces felt like a beacon of hope; it really seemed as though God was on the move. While one volunteer was unpacking his car, I overheard him say, “We’re welcoming them to Wimbledon on God’s behalf.” It made me smile. What really stood out was how open people were to prayer and conversation. You could see the joy on the faces of both the spectators and the volunteers. It reminded me that Jesus is relevant in every sphere of society, even among those least likely to expect an encounter with him.
One of the ways Love All Serve All engages with people is through stress balls, which are handed out as a lucky dip. Each one carries an encouraging word or phrase, and they’ve become something of a collector’s item among tennis fans. Just one word of warning—don’t let your pets get hold of one. Trust me, you’ll never get it back!
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I watched as a man in his late thirties picked a stress ball that read, “Don’t give up.” His reaction was moving. “I actually feel quite emotional,” he said. “It means so much to me.” Later, I found myself wondering: could this be the beginning of his Christian journey? The experience made me want to get involved with Love All Serve All myself, which suggests their outreach is working in more ways than one. Not only are they sharing the love of Jesus with those waiting in the queue, they’re also inspiring other Christians to step out in faith and serve.
Naturally, I wondered whether people were engaging simply because they had nowhere else to go while waiting in the queue. Or was it because the team demonstrated that Christians are simply ordinary people who genuinely care? I suspect it’s the latter.
Love All Serve All doesn’t begin with an argument or an invitation to church. It begins with kindness, generosity and conversation. By meeting people where they are, quite literally, they reflect the heart of Jesus, who so often met people in the ordinary places of life before inviting them into something extraordinary. Perhaps that’s why this ministry works so well. In a world where many people expect Christians to judge before they listen, Love All Serve All quietly turns up, serves first and lets God’s love speak for itself.
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