June 11, 2010

Source: HCJB Global (written by John Adams)

There's more to it than meets the eye. Contemporary evidence of this aphorism is about to be realized in the Fish Hoek Valley near Cape Town, South Africa.

While hundreds of millions of soccer fanatics around the world will follow the fortunes of their favorite teams during the 2010 FIFA World Cup that began Friday, June 11, hundreds of children in the Cape Peninsula region of the host country will have the opportunity to hear and see the gospel in action.

"Since the World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world, it follows logically that it has to be the biggest event to reach people for Christ," said John Thomas, pastor of King of Kings Baptist Church in Fish Hoek and vice chairman of the HCJB Global board of trustees. "Here in South Africa we have chosen to reach the children in our poverty-stricken townships. They are the forgotten ones in this."

Concurrent with the daily schedule of World Cup matches, Living Hope, one of the church's local outreaches, is running a program of events and activities proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ through the medium of sport.

During the four-week schedule, children ages 4 to 17 will participate in games-focused sports events twice a week and a competitive tournament each Friday. The centerpiece is the "Two Oceans Soccer Cup" where five-on-five games will be played along with both soccer skill and life skill sessions.

Topics will include teamwork, self-discipline, good sportsmanship and making the best of every day from a Christian perspective. Activities will end by 4 p.m. after which the first of the day's World Cup games will appear on the big screen for all to enjoy along with refreshments.

Picture it this way. Passing drills will illustrate connectiveness within the family of God. Shooting drills will demonstrate the ultimate goal in life - to serve and live for God. Arts and crafts will open doors to other life lessons and applications such as the armor of God, God's way versus our own way, and the knowledge that God cares and forgives.

All of this is being conducted by four churches in various areas, reaching up to 1,500 children during the long South African school holiday that coincides with the tournament.

Public relations efforts have already been done through distribution of leaflets and posters to schools and at traffic lights as well as a banner outside the tournament venue.

On some afternoons each area will hold a community festival providing opportunities for parents and other members of the neighborhood to have wholesome family fun while the love and compassion of Christ is shared. Two evening outreaches for parents will also facilitate a time of refreshments, a guest speaker and then the viewing of the 8:30 p.m. game.

"Please pray for us as we seek to harvest this greatest opportunity of the year," Thomas added. "Pray that many goals will be scored in the growth of the kingdom of God at this time."

So let the games begin ? and may the Lord be glorified as children come to know Christ.