Tuesday, July 17, 2012

FCA Soccer Tour Reaches 640 w/ the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the platform of soccer



“My family and I saw first hand how the Lord will use you when you make yourself available to Him. This trip has made a life changing impact on how we view missions” Steve Kikendall—Team member from Philly traveling with his wife and two sons.

Dear teammate,

Good morning, hope you are having a blessed start of the week. I just returned from San Pedro Sula, Honduras where I led a team of 14 in our FCA SOCCER TOUR, HONDURAS 2012. God’s mercies and favor were all over us as we shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ to more than 640 people.

There are no words to describe how thankful we are for all of you who partnered with our mission and supported us financially and prayerfully. Thank you for your financial investment, it was through it that God opened the doors for all of us to go serve, train, and equip the people of Honduras and to make DISCIPLES of all nations. Thank you to all as well whocommitted to pray for our team and the people we were serving throughout the week, God was faithful to your prayers. His Gospel was shared, hearts were softened, eyes were opened and lives were transformed for worldly impact and eternal life. 

Thank you for investing in the market of heaven where the return is 100—fold. I trust that God has already rewarded your faithfulness. (Matthew 25:16, 21)

Here is a snapshot of the work done through the FCA SOCCER TOUR. If you are interested in joining our local and international missions please let me know, would love to have you be part of one of our teams.

La Reserva Orphanage
We served 28 orphans and staff, we brought cover mattresses for all the beds thanks to the generosity of one of our team members. Thesemattresses are waterproof so if kids have an accident, these can simply be washed and put back on their beds. They do not have to sleep any longer on smelly mattresses but in a clean bed. These mattresses as well keep their beds cooler in the hot weather where they live. Oh and yeah, there is no AC at the orphanage so that it is going to make their sleeping more comfortable. We shared with them a message from Scripture encouraging them to IMMEDIATELY use their God-given talents for the Glory of Jesus Christ and grab hold to His promise that he who is faithful in the few, He will entrust him with much more. Before leaving we served them lunch and prayed over them. This orphanage ismanaged and run by a lovely couple from Honduras with an indescribable passion for children. There is a big financial need for food and utilities at the orphanage. If you would like to contribute for their monthly food or utilities budget please contact me. They do have a sponsor system for support.

Mundo Futuro FC (Future World FC)
We ran a soccer clinic for a local soccer club that serves at-risk kids. This is the second time in a year that we serve this Christian soccer club. The club's vision is to use the platform of soccer to develop the future of Honduras. Through soccer they teach kids not only soccer skills but life skills. At the end of our clinic we shared a message of using their God-given talents for the Glory of Jesus Christ and grab hold to His promise that he who is faithful in the few, He will entrust him with much more. We look forward to continue our partnership with this club providing training for their coaches and athletes, but also by providing soccer gear for their athletes. If you would like to donate new or gently used soccer items for this club please contact me. I'm coming back soon to bring them more resources and training.

Riviera Hernandez Community
Riviera Hernandez is known by the Honduran people as one of the most dangerous communities in Honduras. There is a big presence of drugs, killings and violence. The day after one of our clinics two people were killed on the same field where we were. We had the pleasure to serve over 180 kids and their families in that community through soccer clinics. During our two-day service we provided soccer games and training, our ladies from the group did hundreds of little girls’ fingernails, and we had the pleasure to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and experience many come to faith. To those who came to faith we provided a New Testament and a bag that kids from the USA colored and donated for the kids in Honduras. Most of these kids played barefoot as they do not have shoes, therefore if you want to donate soccer cleats for this project please let me know. We are planning to go back and bring more resources to this community. 
  
Feeding Program At El Bordo
We had the pleasure to feed more than 100 at-risk youth, play soccer with them, the ladies did hundreds of nails and we shared a message from Scripture. These kids come from another poor community where if they were not fed lunch by this program they probably wouldn’t have a meal during the whole day. Most of these kids come back on Sundays for a children’s program at the local church where they are taught about Jesus Christ. I’m glad to see that not only the program is about physical food but spiritual food. The latter is the one that brings about eternal life transformation.

Soccer Clinic at Campisa
Campisa is a whole different area in Honduras. In this area we had the pleasure to run a clinic for youth of middle class families. Even though these kids might have more material resources they still lack of a personal, real and practical relationship with Jesus Christ. After our soccer sessions one of our team members shared how God has blessed her in her lifethrough soccer, then we shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ and gave them a New Testament. It was encouraging to see kids coming to faith and placing theirtrust in something eternal and not temporal.

FCA Soccer Cup
On Friday we hosted the 1st FCA Soccer Cup at GCA (Greater Commission Academy). Many thanks to GCA for opening their doors for us to serve 12 local high school teams with a soccer tournament. The teams and coaches had a great time. I was SO encouraged to have coaches come to me and tell me this was the best and most organized tournament they have participated on. WE WORKED LIKE IT DEPENDED ON US AND PRAYED LIKE IT DEPENDED ON GOD. We served the teams lunch and shared the Gospel ofJesus Christ to all the teams and their coaches. I asked players to come to me during the day and let me know if they placed their faith in Christ. I had a couple of them do so and it was so encouraging to talk to them and give them hope in Jesus Christ and encouraged them to read Scripture daily. I look forward to stay in touch with those players and see God growing the seeds that were planted. 

If you would like to invest in the great work God is doing locally and internationally through the platform of soccer please let me know, I would love to talk to you. We are praying for 300 Kingdom-minded warriors to join our "Home Team" in the next year and a half to fund all of our local and internacional operations. You can invest your tax-deductible gift online or by mail.

“Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we can ask or think—according to the power that works in you. To Him be Glory” Ephesians 3:2

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