August 2012

If given one word, how would you describe your summer? Warm. Friendship. Fun. Renewal. Time. Devotion. Encouraged. Team. Grow. Trust. Enjoyment. Wonderful. Humble. Excellent. Here in my city, that is how our visiting US softball coaches and our resident young leadership team summed up their experiences at the first ever official softball training course and the 2-day Adaptive camp led by our young local leaders (also a first)! Thank you for being a part of making these camps a success! Each has afforded opportunities for future partnership and engagement, as these camps have given us a solid base to build upon in both hi-level softball training and in utilizing our young team of leaders to do kids' camps.

Some things you lifted up, which we saw answered were:

- Perseverance in the heat! Everyone did well and even managed to thrive under the conditions, like the long, hot drive home every day with the windows down and a "hair dryer" blowing in our face - Safety and protection. We did not have any incidents this year, and our national partners were extra cautious with security issues. PTL! - We were given opportunities to share His Truth. In fact, through these camps, we identified and encouraged a young brother who is now an active part of our sports team and is being guided in the Word by a like-minded male friend of mine here. - It was fun and rewarding to watch our young leaders rise up, grow in confidence, and learn to work together through challenges as they led the Adaptive camp. - He provided, and funding did come through for the camps! - Many reasons to praise Him, as He continues to do great things!

Overall, I would sum up this summer with the vs the Holy Spirit showed me in early June leading up to the camps: "...JC our L, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to JC." Rm.1.5-6

We continue to run obediently in His path, humbled at His hand of favor (grace) upon our work, as He has chosen us to be His vigorous and pioneering advocates (apostles) for the sake of His name in this place.

Grace. Apostleship. Obedience. His name. Enough said.

March 2011

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Cor. 9:8

In Dec 2009, God gave me this verse specifically in regards to my girls’ basketball program. Today I continue to claim that promise of His provision. Over the past 3 years my national staff and I have faced countless opposition as we have run the program. Through those many mountains and valleys, God has only proven faithful to sustain and provide for our every need, such that the program has been a huge success! While our sports work here began with girls’ basketball in the North, God has blessed and expanded our work to include various other sports throughout the country... basketball, soccer, volleyball, paralympic... throughout the country. With the blessing of growth comes transition and change, and at the end of March I will be moving to the country's capital. In the desire to finish well, one thing He has heavily impressed upon my heart is the importance of visiting each of my girls in their homes before I leave. During these visits, I want to seize the opportunity to encourage and affirm the girls in front of their families, share more of the Way, the Truth and the Life with them, as well as present them with a gift of the NT in their language. I am also writing a card to each girl, encouraging, affirming, and expressing my love for each of them.

August 2010

A testimony from a short term project volunteer during his trip to the Middle East: "I had a chance share the Gospel to a young woman during a softball playoff game here! Often I will watch the games in the evenings and pray for God to open chances for me to talk to people in the stands. I know my friends and family must have been praying that night because of the way this opportunity came about. Earlier that week I misplaced my Bible and so the night of the softball game I walked over to find it and bring it back with me. I think she must have seen me carrying it on the way back. I hadn't originally planned to stay for the entire game, but when I got to the softball field I felt a strong urge to stay in the stands. It seemed like no more than twenty minutes had passed before God had her come my way and, when she did, I shot up a quick prayer for God to give me wisdom during the conversation. She was writing some sort of paper for her school on different denominations in religions, and she opened with the question, "Can you tell me about the Baptists?" It seemed like God was directing things the whole way. I wasn't even pushing for chances, but the conversation allowed me to share the Gospel three different times! In the end I was able to tell her that what is important is an individual's relationship with God through Jesus."

Please pray for effective follow up and more opportunities to share the Truth.

July 2010

The Lord is currently doing a powerful work in the Middle East through our youth and adaptive sport camps. Through these camps, our representatives have built relationships that are paving the way to future projects in this area and more opportunities to share Christ! As we move forward with the relationships formed and doors opened, we ask you to consider how you can help. There is a real need for wheelchairs in war-torn countries, particularly where we currently work in the Middle East. We can put one wheelchair where it is needed most for about $150.00. If you would like to partner with us in this way, please call or email our office directly for further instructions. Join us as we praise the Lord for His continued favor in these closed countries and pray for our representatives as they spread the light of the Gospel through SPORT!

June 2010

The following is an excerpt from an email we received from one of our US-based reps who was able to attend a meeting with several of our reps from the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa: "Please pass along my thanks to all who helped organize the meeting and make it an invaluable experience. What an amazing team (staff and reps). I am humbled and honored to be associated with you all. I sat among obedient, risk-taking GIANTS and was humbled. It is time to "get in the game" 100%."