Salvos officer to represent Australia – and Jesus – at world championships
- deansimpson7
- Jun 24
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 24
BY LAUREN MARTIN
If you know Salvation Army officer Major Darren Kingston, you’ll know he loves basketball. And Jesus! And people!
So, he sees it as a huge blessing to have those three loves combined in an opportunity to represent Australia at the World Maxibasketball Championships this month in Switzerland.
Maxibasketball, also known as ‘Masters’ basketball, is a competitive form of basketball specifically designed for older players, typically those aged 35 and over.
“Green and gold – it’s going to be so exciting!” says Darren, who is the Team Leader at the Salvos’ Macquarie Fields Mission in western Sydney. “There will be a village and an opening ceremony where you get to walk in with your Australian team, it will be so amazing to be part of that.”
Darren is flying out today to the Ticino region of Switzerland as part of the Australian team competing in the FIMBA World Maxibasketball Championship (over 50s category).
He has been playing basketball since childhood, and his passion for the game has never wavered, even passing it on to his two sons, Josh and Ben.
“I have two boys, and, not surprisingly, I’ve raised them to love basketball as well,” Darren says. “I’ve had the privilege of playing on the same team with them, and it was a fantastic moment when we won a championship together.
“Also, while I was serving in an appointment in Newcastle (NSW), I got invited to be a chaplain for the Hunter Pirates team in the Australian National Basketball League. That was a great experience.”
Age hasn’t held Darren back from competing, and he now plays in Australian Masters tournaments. Last year, he heard that a national team was being assembled for the world championships, and he was invited to try out. “And I got in!” he laughs.
Wherever Darren goes, he asks Jesus to show him opportunities for ministry. Those in his basketball circles are aware that he is a chaplain and Salvation Army officer, and he has had unique opportunities to pray and come alongside people.
“We had a situation on the Gold Coast once where there was a player in his 80s who had a heart attack on court, and he was lying there for a long time. I went over and just started praying for him, and he ended up coming back to life.
“A lot of times people get hurt, they might hurt a particular muscle, and I will go over and say, ‘Can I pray for you about your injury?’”
Darren has bought a number of small Bibles and has had his testimony printed and placed inside. He looks forward to meeting new people from around the world in Switzerland and sharing God’s word with them.
And, of course, he’s looking forward to getting on court to represent his country in green and gold. Keep Darren in your prayers as he competes from 27 June to 6 July.
