The Glory of the Impossible: October 2010

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Eli is in the house.....

We loved having Eli visit us this weekend. I think Nell and John were hear too!

Asia and New Staff

In southeast Asia, Sports Friends is exploring a partnership with Compassion International where SF would

train Compassion’s youth workers in sports ministry. This will add to the toolbox of those already

respected in communities all over the country, and because Compassion already has an extensive network

in place, it will be a way to rapidly reach thousands of young people.

Three new people are in the process of joining our SF team in the U.S. Jason and Heather hope to write

curriculum that SF can use around the world for training. Erin plans to use her skills in photojournalism

to capture stories about what God is doing in the lives of young people through SF. We’re excited to

welcome all 3 to our team, and praying for God to raise up others who can serve with us worldwide.

Our New Sports Friends Ethiopia Vehicle

What do you think? Nice, huh? Please keep these two fantastic leaders in your prayers, who have served Sports Friends faithfully for 8 years. Berhanu, our national director, has just been named Ethiopian Football Federation VP. It's a volunteer position, so he will continue to serve our ministry faithfully as he attempts to lead the EFF forward. He will have a tremendous opportunity to significantly impact many people in high positions (in the federation, gov't, and in business) in the name of Jesus who currently make football their religion (FIFA SOCCER 11: "We Are 11" Series, Episode 5 - "D10S") Check out this sad sad example of what it means for some people to make football their religion and their hero their god...sad!). Who knows how he could be used mightily by God in this position for the Kingdom. He will be attacked as well so PLEASE pray for him -wisdom/patience/against those who will want to undermine him and more. This summer our Ethiopian camps will double in number. Pray for Ephraim who is an OUTSTANDING camp leader....Specifically pray that he can see the camp grow in number and continue to make deep spiritual impact in the lives of each youth participant. Also, pray for those who were deeply impacted in the name of Jesus at the camp in 2010. Thx everyone for praying for these two FANTASTIC SFE leaders. ps the car was at Disney when they visited Florida last year.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Pray for Tripp and Alison as they travel to Africa

Tripp and Alison Johnston are back from Asia and located once again out of the US office (Charlotte) for Sports Friends. Currently they are on a trip to visit 3 of our African works : Nigeria till this Monday, then in Ethiopia to the 28th and then Kenya to the beginning of the month. Pray for wisdom as they lead discussions with our SFN staff on many different topics pertaining to the development of each of the ministries. We would really like to find a Nigerian man of God to lead our work from Jos. With the ministry really escalating in regards to teams (10,000 plus youth) and camps our level 4 leaders who oversee the entire work really have their hands full. Pray for them and their coaches. The Ethiopia agenda is a particularly full one which includes the hosting of some key leaders from a closed country. Pray for their visa's to be finalized and for their visit to be "SPECIAL." Also thank God for what he has done in Ethiopia over the last 8 years and pray for our SFE staff as we move forward with recruiting new leadership for 2011 camp ministry (we will go from 40 per week to 100 next year). Kenya leadership will be in Ethiopia. Pray for that time to be productive and helpful for the future development of the work in this country targeting a certain region. We need a trainer for coaches to join this staff soon.

Friday, October 15, 2010

If you like numbers.....

Here is the latest report that I got from SF staff member Danny Imes recent update:

In Nigeria there are now 10,000 youth involved with Sports Friends teams. Nigerian youth are growing

up surrounded by violence and conflict between ethnic groups, but God is using SF coaches to reconcile

communities and develop godly leaders. About 500 youth were able to attend camp this summer (see

some of the happy campers below). Seeds were planted, and lives were transformed.

And a note from SFN staff member Kyle Abts:

The breakdown from the camps. Obviously these campers were from various denominations under specific coaches and L4 leaders.

Kaduna: 88 Boys 15 yrs and under, Aug 13-16
Gombe: 113 Boys 17 yrs and under, Aug 18-21
ECWA Camp Youth Alive (ECYA) #1: 113 Boys 15 yrs and under, Aug 23-26
ECYA #2: 131 Girls 15 yrs and under, Aug 30-Sep 2
ECYA #3: 117 Boys 17 yrs and under (10 were m$lm) Sep 6-8

Week of Champions
Jos: 135 boys and 20 girls 18 yrs and under, Aug 2-6

Biliri (Gombe State): 115 boys and 26 girls 17 yrs and under, Aug 30 - Sep 3

Trophies of Grace:
There are so many great things coming out from these camps! They had breakout time with their coaches each day to review the teaching (practical and lessons). They showed videos each night like "Facing the Giants" and "The Spirit of the Python" (by Jentezen Franklin Media Ministries). These opened up some serious dialogue!

One girl at the Girls ECYA #2 camp there were 34 girls who gave their lives or rededicated them to Christ. One young girl came up to one of our helper coaches Coach Monday on the second night (he is a SF Champion leading 2 teams at ECWA Bishara 2 in Jos). The photo has her in the extreme right (just to the right of Coach John with her eyes squinted). She shared how she was a "party girl" but wanting to change. She had done so many bad things with men that she couldn't remember her salvation. She came up to be prayed over and rededicated her life to Christ! The coaches linked her up with a local church - operaiting a SF model for discipleship and follow-up!!!

Blessings!
Kyle

In Ethiopia there are now over 50,000 youth involved with Sports Friends teams. This summer’s camp

experience was the best yet, with 380 youth involved. Camp Langano itself has been transformed over

the course of several years. Thanks to generous donors, it now boasts new camper cabins, a games

pavilion, staff housing, a soccer field, and a bath house. Next summer, camp staff expect to be able to

accommodate double the number of campers.