God Continues to Build His Ministry in the Czech Republic

As Lisa and I returned to Czech in March we sensed a new openness and were excited about the things God is doing there.

In the small town of Podebrady where we lived for the first 5 years of our time there we witnessed groups of high school students meeting regularly to study the Bible, ask questions about spiritual things, or to worship together! The work there is being done Tomas and Misa Moijiz. Misa is the daughter of our friends Jana and Ivan who came to faith through MAI teams visiting in 1989-90. Tomas left Czech when he was 13  and moved to the US. He served as a youth pastor in California. Tomas and Misa met online and later married. After living in the States for several years they felt called back to Czech to minister to youth. Their gathering is called Remedy International Church.

Tomas (next to Bill) and Misa far right with some of the students they minister to

Part of our time in Czech was a celebration of MAI's 26 years of ministry there. The first visiting team went in 1988 to, then, Czechoslovakia. Bill's first visit was 1989, still in the Soviet era just ahead of the historic Velvet Revolution. Subsequent summer visits laid the groundwork for us to move there in 1993. We played on local teams, did personal evangelism, hosted MAI teams in the summer, taught in local churches, helped churches run outreach soccer camps, and held training conferences for Czech Christian athletes.

Former pastor Marcel and his wife Stepanka with whom we worked way back when!

Czech soccer ministry staff and volunteers in Prague are expanding the work.

The work continues and grows. This summer in the city of Breclav we will once again be assisting a church to run a week of camp in a housing project. The church has built on the camps by starting a twice a week kids club. In addition to the camp we will be playing a friendly match against a team of gypsy young men to whom the church is also reaching out.

Part of the housing project where we will be ministering this summer.

 Thank you all for your prayers and financial support. As you pray and give you go alongside of us in all the ministry activity we are part of!!!

A Season of Training for a Lifetime of Service

2013 Seahorse Premier Development League Team

"One of the positive lessons I learned this summer was realizing that God protects you when you get out of your comfort zone and take a leap of faith." Quote from one of our players who stepped out in ministry in a way he had never done before.

Our goal for the players that spend three months with us during the summer is that they be challenged at several levels, to see them integrate faith and sport, to become the Body of Christ for one another, and to see themselves as ministers. At the beginning of the 'season' we share this statement with them:

Value Proposition to Players:

As a player for a MAI team you will have a life-changing experience that integrates excellence in soccer, an authentic community, ministry involvement and spiritual growth. You’ll have opportunities to impact peoples lives through soccer both on and off the field. As a result of your time with MAI, you will be better equipped to love God and serve others.

At the end of the 'season' we ask them for their thoughts and reflections on whether the experience delivered what the Value Proposition promised.

Virtually all of the players agreed that this was the highest level of soccer they had played at with the toughest competition.

The spiritual growth among the players was especially exciting to see!

"I have regained a good portion of my faith after slipping away for a while. I find myself praying more often and reflecting upon myself with a Christian mindset. Working camps and travelling to Mexico have been incredible experiences to reach out to other people." Player from a secular school.

"This has been an extremely unique community because everyone was so open and not afraid to share their deepest trials in life. This has been pretty much the start of my real serious relationship with Christ. Thanks Seahorses!!!" One of our seekers who came to faith during the season.

"This has been an amazing spiritual summer that has helped me mature in my faith. I would love to come back and be part of the Seahorses again." Quote from one player reflecting the thoughts of many others.

2013 PDL staff: from left, Mark Schrock (general manager), Todd Elkins (head coach),  Josh Kimball (on loan from Charlotte office), Johnny Jackman (assistant coach), Bill (director of sports ministry training)

For many, ministry was not part of their experience or even a consideration for them. Through our training and then the 'hands on' ministry experiences of camp, Mexico outreach, and other opportunities, the players were sharing their faith (many for the first time) and challenging others with the claims of the gospel.

"The camps were awesome. It was my first time leading someone to Jesus Christ and I literally got chills when kids accepted Him for the first time." Player who made the transition from bystander to minister.

Coming together from a variety of locations, backgrounds, and denominations it is no small task to make these guys into a cohesive unit. But the Holy Spirit's work and the openness of the guys created a very close bond which made for a wonderful witness to all who observed our team.

"This was one of the best communities I have had the pleasure to be a part of. I will honestly miss each and every one of the players and staff I worked with." Player observation.

"While some teams have some great individual players, you guys were the best 'team' in the division in how you played together and supported one another." Paraphrase of comments by the coach of the first place team in our division.

What made this level of unity even more meaningful was our record of just 2 wins 11 losses and 1 tie. While we were very competitive (6 of our losses were by 1 or 2 goals) we were not "successful" in the world's view of success. That record would spell disunity and apathy for most teams but our team remained motivated, unified, and positive at every practice and game.

"As far as being a unit, being a team that is unified for one common purpose – this is the team to be on!" Player comment. 

Thank you for your prayers and support that make all this possible!!!