How Prophet Owuor's teachings and faith have shaped Justus Madoya's golfing career

After any major triumph on the golf course, you will hear his teammates celebrating him while shouting ‘Pastor, Pastor!’

However, what sets Great Rift Valley Golf Club player Justus Madoya apart from his teammates is that after the win, he will not chug a beer or two, instead, he will head to preach the gospel.

Unknown to many, Madoya is a member of the Ministry of Repentance and Holiness church which is under Prophet Doctor Owuor.

Madoya in an interview with Mozzart Sport revealed his journey on matters of faith and the great role it has played in his golfing career.

The golfer first heard of Prophet Owuor in 2009 while representing the national team in South Africa as an amateur.

As he described, the Owuor's teachings intertwined with his values and principles, and it was then that he joined the church.

“I found out what he was preaching was very true and it was something that people did not like. When I realized that the truth could help me even in my game to be a straight person and not indulge in disruptive things, I became his follower,” he told Mozzart Sport.

Fifteen years later, Madoya remains a staunch believer. He believes that faith plays a vital role in any sportsperson’s life.

“You need faith in playing every sport. Sports sometimes can disappoint. If you lack faith, you can give up after a loss,” he disclosed.

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According to Madoya, being a believer demands an all-around approach to his personal development as he strives to be the best version of himself in every aspect of his life.

He pointed out that the only way to preach the gospel on the golf course was to be a role model for his teammates in how he approaches challenges, exhibits discipline, and maintains a positive outlook.

“It is so easy to spread the gospel in golf because many times, it is not how you preach and tell people about God, but your behavior speaks a lot about your faith. How I carry myself around reveals myself to the rest of the guys because they will not find me in a bar taking beers. You will find me in golf and after that, I go to do my ministry,” he averred.

The golfer who has been competing in the Magical Kenya Open since 2013 underscored the importance of faith in any sportsperson’s life.

He insisted that faith is key in instilling values like humility, discipline, and self-control in the lives of players.

“Faith makes you have self-discipline. You will not do stupid things because you know that you are respecting someone. That helps a lot in your game and how you control things even at the family level. It also determines your attitude towards money. For example, if you get 60 million that the winner of the 2024 MKO is going to get here, the discipline will be crucial in controlling that money,” he offered.

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At the same time, Madoya will be hoping to go one step further in this year's MKO slated for February 22-25 at the Muthaiga Golf Club.

He revealed that he was working on the areas that let him down last year to perform better.

“In the last qualification tournament, I did not gather enough points to make it to the top eight. Fortunately, I have secured a slot and I will be the ninth Kenyan to play in the MKO. I have changed my gameplan and I believe it will be better,” he revealed.

He was crowned the winner of the Muthaiga leg of the Safari Golf Tour a fortnight ago and there is shared optimism that he will live up to the billing come next week.