July 2, 2010

Sources: COICOM, HCJB Global (written by Ralph Kurtenbach)

It's a different "pulpit" but the same purpose for soccer correspondent Pedro Arias who is filing timely reports and interviews from the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa that air on the ALAS-HCJB Spanish satellite radio network.

Proclaiming God's kingdom is Arias' purpose, just with a broader audience in mind than his Hispanic congregation in the London area. A missionary with HCJB Global-UK, he spends most of his time as a pastor.

In Latin America, Arias' Spanish-language reports, "The Essence of Soccer, South Africa 2010," air on about 100 stations in South and Central America as well as on a few U.S. stations. His "The Other Side of the World" reports have covered World Cup and Olympic events for the past two decades.

"Why did you make a decision to receive Jesus as your Savior?" Arias asked Brazilian midfielder Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite (commonly known as Kaká) during a radio interview. "Because everyone needs Jesus," the young player replied.

"Many people say to me, 'I feel an emptiness inside.' The only way to fill that emptiness is with Jesus. That's what I believe, and that's why we have a need for an abundant life that is spiritually filled by Jesus," Kaká continued. "It's only He who can fill our emptiness."

Arias and his wife, Stella, founded a London ministry, Bendiciones a las Naciones (Blessings to the Nations). Through the Christian sports media agency, 2K Plus International Sports Media, Arias is covering the World Cup. Office and studio accommodations and production staff, provided by Trans World Radio, help 2K Plus in its World Cup project.