(July 30, 2014 - by Harold Goerzen)  While millions of soccer fanatics around the world were glued to their television sets during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil this summer, youth teams were using innovative communications technology to share the gospel with thousands gathered at “fan zones.”

There were 2-km (1.2-mile) wide areas outside the stadiums where huge screens were set up so people who didn’t have tickets could watch the games live.

As veteran Reach Beyond missionary Larry Buckman was contemplating ways to catch the attention of the milling crowds in the “fan zones,” he was inspired to use a small remote-control helicopter drone as part of his evangelistic plan.

“I was at a conference of Indian young people in Brazil earlier this year when I heard a buzz,” he related. “Then I noticed a drone flying around, and all the young people with me were watching it as well.”

Upon returning to North America, Buckman purchased a four-propeller Quadrocopter and got lessons on how to fly it. Admitting that the craft has endured more than its share of hard landings, he was ready to use it during the World Cup. His idea was to fly the drone above the crowds, prompting them to see where the noise was coming from.

The strategy worked.

“Flying the drone announcing ‘Wi-Fi’ stopped the fans long enough to listen to the gospel,” Buckman explained. “People were curious enough to test the Wi-Fi downloads while waving and shouting to the onboard camera.” The flags of the playing teams also hung from the struts of the drone.

He had set up a router that generated Internet access for a radius of 150 feet so people could check messages and get online with their smartphones. Solar-powered battery chargers were also available for people to recharge their devices.

“We had 3,000 young people divided into teams of 25 that spread out across 12 stadiums,” Buckman said. “Youth at other stadiums used trash bags to clean the grounds after the soccer matches. That became their FIFA pass inside for the next games.”

The young evangelists would approach the soccer fans, offering them Secure Digital (SD) memory cards to put into their phones. “We can put the ‘Jesus’ film or the entire New Testament on the chips,” he explained. “We’re really going after cellphones. There are more cellphones in Latin America than there are people.” According to the World Bank, there are 135 mobile cellular subscriptions for every 100 people in Brazil.

Buckman worked in partnership with In Touch Ministries which provided 10,000 SD chips along with “new-believer kits” to distribute during the tournament.

In Fortaleza alone, some 10,000 soccer fans gathered in the “fan zone” on a beach. “Flying the drone in 20-mph winds while avoiding power lines and poles was a real challenge,” Buckman admitted.

Although final figures aren’t yet in, In Touch was able to track people’s spiritual responses electronically. Pastor Fabricio Fretes, director of Baptist Mission in Brazil, said the SD chips were a hit as many people prayed to give their lives to Christ.

“I would estimate that there were between 5,000 and 6,000 conversions during the outreach,” Buckman said. New believers are being put in contact with local churches for follow-up.

In addition to using the SD chips, he worked with the Brazilian Baptist Convention to print special red and yellow cards, patterned after the penalty cards that referees use to indicate severe fouls.

The cards contained a “message from God” written in three languages—Portuguese, Spanish and English—and contact numbers for more information. The young people also distributed paper fans—used by people to cool themselves in the hot Brazilian sun—that included a clear gospel message.

“Getting involved with the Brazilians to do missions was very exciting,” Buckman concluded. “We were very glad to be a part of that.”

Sources: Reach Beyond, World Bank