Paul joins team celebrations after the Super League Grand Final victory

Dream comes true... after a 40-year wait

As a child, Paul Johnson wanted to become part of the team at St Helens rugby club. Now Paul, who is a leadership team member at an Elim church, has achieved that – as the club’s chaplain

Paul Johnson’s dream job was 40 years and 500 yards in the making. Paul, who is part of the Leadership Team of King’s Church in Warrington, grew up on the same street as St Helens RFC and he has been a supporter as long as he could say “c’mon you Saints”.

While Paul admits he was “never a very good player myself”, he has followed the club through all its ups and downs – and he is the first to say the Saints have enjoyed more ups than many other clubs recently.

Most recently the team won the World Club Challenge in Australia although Paul was unable to fly out to watch the thrilling extra time victory in person.

“It would have been wonderful to have been there but I was cheering the lads on from my house,” he smiles. “Winning the World Club Challenge is hard enough but winning it in Australia, especially in extra time, was just amazing.”

Discovering a love of rugby was not the only thing which Paul encountered as a child – he was only seven years old when he became a Christian.

“In 1983, there was a children’s mission at my primary school organised by the Anglican church,” he explains.

“I remember a man telling us just because we went to church that didn’t mean we were Christians. It really struck home with me and I wanted, despite my young age, to know more.”

Paul’s older brother, Darren, had started to attend the Elim church in St. Helens and, unknown to Paul and his family, had asked members to pray that his family would accept Jesus.

“Within a year, mum, dad and myself all became Christians at a mission organised by that great teacher and preacher, Eric Delve. The prayers of my brother’s home group were answered.”

Paul joined the St Helens Elim church where he joined the youth group: “I really grew in my faith and over time became senior youth leader.

“It was like the Bible came alive in my life right here in St Helens. My dad suffered from industrial deafness but he was instantly healed.”

At St Helens RFC, which has over 500 employees, Paul’s official title is Chaplain and Wellbeing Manager although he is better known as “Chappers”. He laughs when asked the question too many people ask him: “No, I don’t offer up prayers that St Helens will win every game.

“God does not support any particular team, and he doesn’t favour one team over another because more of their players attend church or read the Bible. I pray with the players before every game. I pray they will do their best and that they stay safe from injuries.

“I know some Christians don’t like competition or even victory celebrations in sport. But winning is not about crushing the opposition or goading them over their defeat. I believe Christians should win with class and lose with class.

“It is good to celebrate success but we should never put the other side down. On the pitch, teams are at war for 80 minutes but they are friends when the final hooter sounds. That’s how it should be.”

Paul says his chaplaincy role is a combination of a confidant, a confessor and a friend: “I am the lead chaplain and every day is different.

“Players confide in me about all sorts of issues, from injuries to personal issues. They know I will keep their confidence and, like any club in any sport, players often find it easier to talk to the chaplain than the coach or manager.

“I never force my faith on anyone but I am always ready to discuss it if asked.” When he was invited to become chaplain at St Helens, Paul said it took him “all of two seconds” to accept.

At the same time, he became a member of Sports Chaplaincy UK which was launched in 1991 and now has over 500 chaplains working in all sports.

“It provides chaplaincy to sports clubs, both elite, professional and amateur, and encourages local churches to engage with the sporting clubs in their own community. I love hearing about those who are being God’s hands and feet, coaching kids and helping in a whole host of other sports.

“Something else I’m proud to be part of is Iron Squad. It was originally launched out of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Chaplains there provide a place for professional sportspeople (not just rugby league) to explore and grow in their faith together.

“It inspired a group of chaplains in Yorkshire to do the same. In the 2019 season, we launched Iron Squad for players, coaches and chaplains on the western side of the Pennines. Before Covid, we met fortnightly, in various locations. Some players have even become followers of Jesus after completing the Alpha course.

“It has been really encouraging to see those who are part of Iron Squad, gathering at the end of matches, whether they’re on the same team or not, huddling together to give thanks to God. This has even been picked up by TV reporters and printed press. We hope to relaunch Iron Squad soon.

“Jesus didn’t just tell us to go to different nations. He called us to go to all people, everywhere, to make disciples. If we can see church as being more than a Sunday meeting, there’s plenty of time in the week to show God’s love to people who are involved in sport.”

This article first appeared in the June 2023 edition of Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.

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