13 years : Last Sunday as I was sharing what God did in Zambia, He reminded me of how His plan is much bigger than we can imagine. The day after I returned from 5 weeksof travel and training, He reminded me that in 1997 He first put Africa on my heart.When He then took me to Asia and elsewhere, I figured I sorta missed the mark! But last Sunday He spoke into my heart that I am about to walk into what He has been preparing me for since 1997. 13 years isn’ t exactly 40 years in the Wilderness, but it’ s gotta be close! When I look at how I ended up in George, I think I see God’ s humor…and His faithfulness! Here are a few of the testimonies of what God did in parts of SA and in Zambia over the past 5 weeks.
237 kids in Mangete, Durban: I was asked to do a one day training with school andchurch teachers on how to use games to share the gospel for a Zambian pastor in a village outside of Durban. By the time everyone arrived we ended up with a half-day training; not nearly enough time in my eyes, but we made it work. Two weeks later a week-long outreach took place. On the final day they held a game day for kids using what they’ d learned. With over 900 in attendance, 237 made a commitment to Jesus. Discipleship is now being set in place amongst the surrounding villages.
BI GOCA – Sport M inistry partnerships into all of Zambia: A soccer playing pastor friend of mine and I met with the Bishop of the Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) with a proposal for incorporating Sport Ministry into how they reach their communities and impact youth. Every time they plant a church they also start a school. Within 10 minutes the Bishop said: “ Let’ s do it. When can we start?” We said maybe December and he said “ Perfect” . December is when pastors gather from around Zambia for Ordination. He asked if we could do a vision-casting day with them. I asked if we could have the entire day. He said they can arrive a day early and we can have the entire day! Youth camp follows shortly after. He asked us to be a part of this, so we talked about an addition of leadership development through sport, etc. After youth camp we will set up trainings for pastors in the 9 regions of Zambia and network them in with those already using sport as a ministry tool in these areas.
Plant a Church through Soccer? – Kabwe, Zambia: What’ s cool about this…One man I had in a training in Polokwane is a part of a growing church that was planted through the salvation of a group of youth soccer players in Kabwe. They didn’ t want to attend the traditional church environment, so they planted a church to meet them where they are at. This church is now on land owned by BIGOCA so it will be a natural partnership, and I believe a link to what is about to start within BIGOCA. The majority are youth.
A Pub as a House of Worship – Lusaka, Zambia: Last weekend a group of 15 high-level soccer players were led to the Lord through their soccer coach and are now in discipleship training. The field they play on was developed by a man who owns the pub that helps support the team. I met this drunken pub owner when he asked me to buy his boys some soccer boots! When I asked him how many beers it would take to buy one boot, he wasn’ t sure what to think, but after 45 minutes we came to a conclusion that 5 of his beers/day would buy one used boot. I was then invited to come see the activity and the space inside the pub. Why is this a testimony? I believe God is going to turn space in this pub into a place of worship and transform the owner to positively influence the growing number of kids who use the field. Think about this: 15 of his men’ s team are now being discipled. The two coaches who spend the day at the field are seeing theimpact on their men and they are open to the gospel. Boys are being led to the Lord on the field. God says: I am doing something new in your day. Do you not see it? I will make a way in the wilderness…Isaiah 43:19
5 Villages M eet Jesus in December – Chongwe Village, Zambia: We trained a group of youth to do outreach in a village through sport. While there God opened up doors into 5 villages through the youth leader of one village. He saw the impact of using soccer to share the gospel and wants to organize a 5 village soccer tournament in December to share the gospel through, and to train up those who can disciple. We saw young teenage boys sharing their faith with young men and kids on the soccer field.
God’s Church Planting Creativity – Stellenbosch: I was asked at some meetings if I’ d ever consider myself a church planter. My response: only if it involves sport and youth leadership! I soon learned that meetings with about 40 people from several African countries are taking place in November to strategize ways to plant churches through sport. I had missed the email sent a week prior when my computer crashed. Gods’ plan was bigger than mine because I had really wanted to be back in George by this time, but felt I needed to go to Stellenbosch. God won! I’ ll be back in Stellenbosch for these meetings prior to my return to Zambia.
The Man on the Plane – On the way to Stellenbosch I sat next to a man from Malawi who is involved in Children’ s Ministry. He was coming to record his voice-over of the Bible on radio in a Tribal tongue of Malawi. I asked him if he’ d ever been involved insport and listed a few things he’ d recognize if he was a part of the larger sport network. He was keen to know more. When I arrived in Stellenbosch I met another young Zambian who does ministry into guess which neighboring country? Malawi. They are now connected.
More is happening in Thembaletho, Cato Manor, and Limpopo with youth leadership impacting communities related to after the World Cup outreach, but I’ ll stop there for now.
