Note from Kenya leader who attended SF Africa Vision Trip last July

*Sports Friends is partnering with the Charlotte Eagles/MAI on a project in a M***** region

on the coast of Kenya. David and Mitch Sanford have been working on training leaders in

this area for several years and planting the seeds for the development of sports ministry. Last

year they invited us to partner with them to assist them in the training of sports ministry leaders and the establishment of strategic initiatives. We agreed only after bringing in their top leader to see the work in Ethiopia in our Arsi Negele region and to share with him the SF long term approach to developing ongoing sustainable CCSM led by nationals. We wanted to be sure he bought into this approach and believed a similar approach could be used effectively in Kenya among the unreached groups. This former Iman now strong Christian leader who is radiant with Christ sweet spirit and love strongly felt a similar approach could bare Kingdom fruit in his region and beyond. A brief note from this leader after a recent training for Pastors and level 2 coaching leaders is below:

Mama and I do hope that all is well with you and your family, and God is blessing you and your ministry. It was good that you came at this time of the year, and ran the training with the key Pastors of *Blank and Blank* Districts. More fire is lit and Pastors have gone back to their respective Churches with fire for starting sports ministry teams!

This month of April, I have visited 4 Churches in the bush and these Pastors have started sports ministry teams– many people gather outside the Churches to watch. I am excited about your returning trip in August for the first ever Football Camp.

Thank you for all the s[ports equipments you sent for all the teams, every team/coach had something to take back home. Our Lamu team is registered for this season’s league – I will make sure we keep you informed….. I went to the boarder of Somalia and Kenya, and started a preaching point (seeds of a church plant) of 39 people by using the ball – we left a missionary there.

***PRAY FOR THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THIS MINISTRY AND FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PASTORS, COACHES AND YOUTH FROM THE EVIL ONE!

^OUR FUNDING INVOLVEMENT WITH THIS SPECIAL INITIATIVE IN AUGUST FOR 70 YOUTH IS $3500. IF YOUR INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN THIS MINISTRY INITIATIVE OF $10 OR MORE THEN PLEASE SEND TO SIM PO BOX 7900 CHARLOTTE, NC 28241 WRITE IN THE MEMO OF YOUR CHECK AFRICAN EXPANSION PROJECT 99803