Soy grew up in Japan where soccer was the obvious sport for everyone. Fast forward many years later and Soy is living in small town Alabama where everyone breathes football, basketball, and baseball.
We always lived with the “wherever, whatever, whenever” mentality to serve others and show the love of Christ. What if we started a soccer league in our church? Soy liked soccer. I like administration. How hard could it be? Sure, we had no soccer field, no coaches, and possibly no interest, but we were willing to give it a shot.
Our local middle school graciously allowed us to use the football field for practice and games. I set up a pathetic concession stand. We had a few people who helped coach and be the referees. It wasn’t much but we were going to make it work.
Soy and I knew that we would soon be leaving for a permanent move to Guatemala. In reality, we could only commit to three seasons of soccer. We worked full time and had small children. Spending our “extra” time trying to organize and run a soccer league was not ideal, but it was a way to teach the children about Jesus and invite families to our church. It allowed us to build relationships with people who will come to watch soccer, but will not walk into a church.
(I will never forget walking into our house and hearing Soy’s voice while he talked to an upset mother about soccer. He was out of patience. He hung up the phone confused about how someone can complain about volunteers willing to coach/teach/help her child. We had not even started practice! He almost quit this day because of dealing with the noise from the sidelines. Thankfully, he did not quit. If someone is investing in the life of children–the referees, the coaches, the concession stand workers, the lawn care, etc.–Say thank you to them. Encourage them. It is a lot of time and work!)
Of course when we moved to Guatemala, we anticipated the soccer league fading away. There were some people who volunteered to organize the games, but it requires a lot of effort, time, and energy to coordinate everything.
Six years ago, Bro. Abel Garcia came to serve at Friendship Baptist Church. He loves soccer! Bro. Abel has done an excellent job with the soccer program. There are hundreds of children playing soccer. There are hundreds of people who come to the games. Not to mention, the concession is a huge success as the proceeds help the youth participate in missions and ministry.
In March 2024, I had to return home for a very brief time. I had not seen the soccer league since we moved in 2017. Fortunately, I was in Grand Bay on a day with soccer games. I stood behind the church and looked at the multiple soccer fields on the “back forty”. I looked at many games being played simultaneously. I saw a ton of people lining the field to watch the children play soccer. I watched the children of all ages playing, laughing, and celebrating. I thought about all of the people who would hear about Jesus because of the soccer league. In 2016, Soy was just willing to try a new way to reach others for Christ—Wherever We Are, Whatever It Takes, Whenever He Calls.
What does this have to do with ministry in Guatemala?
This week, Bro. Abel will host a three day soccer clinic on Grace Mountain. He will motivate, encourage, and love on our students.
This past June, the soccer leagues at Friendship Baptist in Grand Bay collected enough money to build several houses in Guatemala.
What started in Grand Bay, Alabama by Soy is continuing in Guatemala. I do like seeing God’s hand in every detail.
It’s just soccer, right?
It’s so much more than soccer. It is having the privilege to use a soccer game for the opportunity to tell the children and adults about the love and salvation through Jesus Christ. It is using a soccer field to preach the Gospel. It is pointing toward Jesus.
On Wednesday, the children will receive a special prize for participating in the clinic. We will all cheer for them. But more importantly, they will hear about the greatest story ever told–the story of Jesus Christ!
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