A NEW FUTBOL PROJECT FOR GUATEMALA
In Guatemala we are planning a project that would put into the hands of many children a sports bag filled with a Bible, a soccer ball, water bottle, a Salvation tract, a Bible verse booklet, and a soccer training bib. Similar to the ‘Samaritan’s Purse’ project, we would like churches, companies, organizations, Sunday school classes, small groups, and individuals to adopt this venture with Global Soccer Ministries International and the children that they serve and the one’s the Lord will direct in the future.

Our goal for the next two years is to provide 10,000 of these soccer pack and we believe they will be a great part sharing the Gospel of Christ. We believe this will make an incredible impact on the lives of many children.

The cost per child is only $15.00. This project is in God’s hands - as well as those He will use to assist and support it. In the next few weeks we will be sending out more detailed promotion of the project and how you can be involved. If you are reading this article please join us in this endeavor. Tell your friends, church, those at your work place and your family. No small gift is too small. Remember this pack could influence and bring a kid to Christ. Please pray for this project to be a success in helping supply for the needs of GSM and the children we serve.

In 2009 we will be partnering with Compassion International and they are going to be part of this soccer pack program. We met with 140 of their staff regarding this project and the development of training their staff with tools to use soccer to changes the lives in the day ahead of Guatemalan youth by using soccer and the cross.

Our relationship with Compassion International is beginning to take shape here in Guatemala. Compassion International has a dedication to the Great Commission, discipleship, and to a holistic approach in the positive development of children - spiritually, socially, physically, and economically. They are having a huge impact here in Guatemala. Compassion has 140 centers, each connected with an evangelical church, serving more than 14,000 children. GSM Guatemala has been approached by Compassion to consider implementing our soccer programs within their already existing program format.

Our aim will be to compliment the objectives of Compassion while reinforcing their spiritual curriculum and developing our programs of soccer within their centers. The plan begins in March 2009 to do a pilot program in seven of the centers. We will train their staff and build what we hope will be the model for the other centers in the future. This is all a very large undertaking that has the tremendous ability of impacting thousands of children for the kingdom of God.

In addition to starting a partnership with Compassion Internation in 2009 GSM Youth Soccer Academies in Guatemala City have grown for 3 sites in 2008 to eight community programs and will take place in the communities of Santa Faz, Parariso, Otten Prado, SaKerty, Carmen, La Communidad, Cipresales and La Limonada. These 8 academy programs will be strengthen over the next 3 or 4 months with a growing number of youth in our training program.

One of the new programs are in La Limonada that has a reputation for gang violence in the city. Our new relationship with named Tita, the director of two children's centers in this community could enable GSM to reach some of 300 kids she works with. We are praying that this program will help the youth of La Limonada for Christ.

Please keep our staff in your prayers.