Calvin student-athlete uses World Cup commercial to share the Gospel with millions
Scoring the golden goal in the final might seem like the pinnacle moment for an athlete competing at this year’s World Cup. But Matthew Torrell is using the airwaves on the world’s biggest stage to convince millions of viewers otherwise.
Torrell, a senior studying sport management and business at Calvin University, and his friend and business partner Owen Moore produced a 60-second commercial with the goal of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with many nations.
The project wasn’t planned out … at least for long. But the way it came together over the past three months seems providential.
“I didn’t know how to produce a commercial. I didn’t know how to buy a commercial. I didn’t know what the commercial would look like,” said Torrell.
“I get chills thinking about it … There are so many testimonies of the Holy Spirit guiding and God blessing this project.”
Starting with an idea
The idea began while Torrell was scrolling Instagram. He came across a filmmaker named Toby and he was intrigued by his storytelling. Initially, Torrell – who runs a small apparel business – reached out for help with branding.
But minutes before their call, while talking with Moore, a new idea surfaced.
“The World Cup is coming up, and there’s never been a Jesus commercial during it,” recalled Torrell.
The conversation with Toby shifted from helping their brand to finding a way to share the Gospel on national television. “He loved the idea,” recalls Torrell.
They moved quickly. After hiring Toby, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker, Torrell traveled to Philadelphia the week before finals to shoot footage in the city and at the Philadelphia Union’s soccer stadium.
And then, he prayed, wondering: “how do I share the gospel in 60 seconds?”
Developing the story
He credits the Holy Spirit with giving him clear direction, reminding him of his own story of transformation two years prior.
“Most of my life literally depended on soccer. My mood for the day would depend on how I played in practice. If I scored in the game, I’d feel great. And then I wanted the next goal. That’s how my identity was determined,” said Torrell.
Then, about two years ago, he said he realized that the identity he was taking on paled in comparison to his true identity. He was finding his identity in soccer and then was transformed to having his identity in Jesus Christ.
“It’s been so freeing to be able to play soccer now knowing that my whole day doesn’t depend on how I play,” said Torrell. “Using my story and how athletes are always searching for more inspired me to share the gospel through the game of soccer. It always leaves you searching for more, searching for what you were created for, which is relationship with Jesus Christ.”
That message became the underlying theme for the 60-second commercial’s script. But even with the script done and the commercial shot, one major hurdle remained: getting the commercial on air during the World Cup.
Getting the story out
A connection with one of his professors would help open the door.
“During Marketing 301, he told me about his dream to produce a Gospel-centric TV spot and air it during a World Cup game this summer,” said Brian Scharp, who teaches in Calvin’s School of Business and is the chief strategy officer for Grey Matter Group, a marketing and design agency in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Scharp connected Torrell with media agencies, who outlined costs and airtime options.
Torrell began reaching out to donors and asked friends to pray.
Then, less than two weeks before the planned debut, Brennan Joseph, a musical artist and co-founder of MBL Worship, reached out. He said he’d been praying about the situation and asked Torrell if he had considered opening donations to the public.
Though he hadn’t seriously considered the idea at first, Torrell embraced it this time. Joseph suggested getting a bunch of Christian influencers and starting a campaign.
So, Torrell and Moore got together to produce content for the campaign and with the help of a Calvin alum they started a GoFundMe campaign, with the alum agreeing to match the first $10,000 received.
Discovering a community of support
The news spread like wildfire with millions of views of the commercial being shared across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
“We had thousands of comments of people saying, ‘they get chills, they tear up,’” said Torrell.
In six days, they raised $55,000.
“We just trusted the Lord, whatever He had for the commercial, He was going to do … and then He completely provided,” said Torrell.
Keeping the Gospel front and center
On Friday, June 19, Torrell hosted a watch party in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, to see the commercial air during the USA/Australia game.
“The feeling of watching it live was so cool,” said Torrell. The spot will air 60 times in the Grand Rapids market over the course of the World Cup, including at halftime of the U.S. and Turkey game on June 25.
“I'm so impressed by his vision, Christ-centered purpose, and the persistent innovation he displayed in both producing the commercial spot and getting the funding to get the spot aired during the world's largest sporting event,” said Scharp.
Torrell will graduate as part of the Class of 2027. His goal is for his small apparel business, Faithful Champions, to become the Christian Nike.
In the meantime, he says “I wake up every day, and I love what I do.” And while his accomplishments on the field remain strong – evidenced by being named the league MVP and an Academic All-American this past fall – his time at Calvin is helping him love soccer for what it is and reminding him of what it should never replace.
“I just enjoy soccer a lot more,” said Torrell. “The transfer was definitely worth it. This is a good place for sure. I am super grateful and blessed.”
